Trip
Summit 2026 – Sunshine Peak via Redcloud Peak
(OPEN ENROLLMENT) A special commemoration of 250/150 on Colorado Day to summit the state's 14ers. This classic San Juan climbs Redcloud first, then follows the airy ridge to Sunshine before returning over Redcloud. Expect a long day at altitude on a well-used trail with talus and some loose footing near the summits. There is nothing harder than Class 2 hiking. Watch out for standard San Juan summer hazards like storms and exposure.
Contacts
- Sat, Aug 1, 2026
- Summit 2026
- Hiking
- Adults
- Challenging
- Mileage: 12.25 mi
- Elevation Gain: 4,800 ft
- High Point Elevation: 14,043 ft
- Maximum Wind: 25 kts
- Pace: 1-2 mph
- 11 (11 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
-1) All participants and leaders are REQUIRED to sign the State of Colorado's liability waiver. Please click here to fill out the waiver.
-2) 4:00AM: We'll begin a pre-dawn ascent of the Silver Creek trail to minimize exposure to afternoon thunderstorms. The trail begins at 10,476', ascends 3,750' over 4.7 miles to arrive at Redcloud Peak, 14,039'. We continue from Redcloud for Sunshine Peak. The distance is 1.3 mile to the Sunshine Peak summit with 570' GAIN and 601' LOSS. We'll retrace our steps from Sunshine Peak, to Redcloud Peak, and finally return to the trailhead. The total distance of 12.2 miles will require ~7-hours. I expect the group to return to the trailhead by 3:00PM.
-3. SKILL/FITNESS EXPECTATIONS: I expect all trip participants to have either completed a 13er/14er within the previous 90-days OR describe your level of conditioning and exercise routine that qualifies you to safely participate on this hike. I also welcome those participants with special skills-mountaineering, map and compass, first aid skills. Let me know if you bring any special skills that maximize team safety and welfare.
-4) VIEW: "So you want to hike a 14er?"
-5) Participants can register for their preferred 14er through the Colorado Mountain Club website, www.cmc.org, where you will be placed on a waitlist for your chosen peak. From there, trip leaders will reach out to gather more information about each participant's experience level and interests. For trips where the waitlist exceeds the allotted group size, participants will be selected by lottery.
-6) For questions about your trip, please reach out to your trip leader directly. For general questions about the Summit 2026 project or any relate event, please reach out to summit2026@cmc.org
-7) LEAVE NO TRACE: Review the Leave No Trace principles as we'll adhere to these principles during the course of the day, Home - Leave No Trace.
-1) Here is the link to the trailhead from Golden, CO to the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead from the Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride, 18560 US-40, Golden, CO 80401, Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead - Google Map
-2) FRIDAY, July 31, 2026: 7:00am: MEET: Wooly Mammoth CDOT Park-N-Ride, Section BB, 18560 US Highway 40, Golden, CO 80401. 7:15am: Form carpools and depart for the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead, Hinsdale County Road, Lake City, CO 81235. We'll have the opportunity to take stops along the US-285 and US-50 routes in Fairplay, Salida, and Lake City, CO. The drive distance of 263-miles will take at least 5-hours, 15-minutes to 6-hours. High vehicle clearance to traverse the rough Hinsdale County Road 30. Inform trip leader if you have a high clearance vehicle available for carpooling, To Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead - Bing Maps
-3) Carpool reimbursement rate: 30 cents x 265-miles = $160.00 divided among the driver and passengers. Example: $160.00/4 = $40.00/person. CASH ONLY!
