Grays Peak, Mountain summit at Clear Creek County, Colorado, US
Grays Peak is a mountain summit on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, reaching about 14,270 feet (4,350 m) in elevation. The peak features rocky slopes, alpine tundra, and expansive views across the surrounding high-altitude terrain.
Botanist Charles C. Parry completed the first recorded ascent in 1861 and named the peak after his colleague Asa Gray. This early climb marked the beginning of documented exploration of this high-altitude region.
The Arapaho people called this peak and its neighbor Heeniiyoowuu, meaning Ant Hills in their language. This name reveals how indigenous peoples viewed the twin summits as connected landmarks in their world.
Access to the peak starts from Stevens Gulch where a trail leads to the summit and takes roughly 3.5 miles to complete on foot. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to reach the trailhead parking area along the access road.
The summit hosts a specialized alpine ecosystem with mountain goats, pikas, and marmots adapted to extreme high-altitude conditions. Specialized wildflowers also bloom across the tundra zones in different seasons, surviving only at such elevations.
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