Torreys Peak facts for kids

Torreys Peak is a tall mountain in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is part of the Front Range. This mountain is one of Colorado's 53 "fourteeners." A fourteener is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet (about 4,267 meters) high. Torreys Peak is near the city of Denver. It sits right on the Continental Divide, which separates rivers flowing to the Atlantic from those flowing to the Pacific. The mountain also marks the border between Clear Creek County and Summit County.

Quick facts for kids Torreys Peak
Torreys Peak seen from I-70
Highest point
Elevation	14,267 ft (4,349 m)
Prominence	560 ft (171 m)
Isolation	0.65 mi (1.05 km)
Listing	Colorado Fourteener 12th
Naming
Etymology	John Torrey
Geography
Torreys Peak Location in Colorado
Location	Continental Divide between Clear Creek and Summit counties, Colorado, United States
Parent range	Front Range
Topo map	USGS 7.5' topographic map Grays Peak, Colorado
Climbing
First ascent	1861 by Charles C. Parry
Easiest route	4.5 mi (7.2 km) hike on Grays Peak Trail

How Torreys Peak Got Its Name

The first European to climb Torreys Peak was a botanist named Charles C. Parry. He named the mountain after his friend and fellow botanist, John Torrey. Interestingly, John Torrey did not see the peak himself until 1872. This was 11 years after it was named, and just one year before he passed away at age 76. Torreys Peak is often talked about with its close neighbor, Grays Peak.

Hiking to the Top of Torreys Peak

There are three main paths you can take to reach the summit of Torreys Peak. Each path offers a different adventure for hikers.

Starting from Grays Peak Trail

One way to reach Torreys Peak is by continuing from the Grays Peak Trail. This trail begins in a place called Stevens Gulch. You can find more details about how to get to this starting point in the Grays Peak article.

The Challenging Kelso Ridge Route

For experienced hikers, there is a popular and more difficult path called Kelso Ridge. This route splits off from the Grays Peak trail about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the start. It climbs up to a saddle, which is a low point between two peaks. This saddle is between Torreys Peak and Kelso Mountain, at about 12,400 feet (3,780 meters) high. From there, you follow a rugged ridge for about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the summit of Torreys Peak.

The Loveland Pass Trail

A third trail starts at Loveland Pass, which is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the northwest. To get to Loveland Pass, you can drive west from Denver on I-70 for about 55 miles (88.5 km). Then, US Route 6 branches off and heads south. Follow Route 6 for about seven miles until you reach the trailhead at Loveland Pass. The elevation here is 11,990 feet (3,655 meters).

The Steep Start

The trail begins with a steep climb right away. You will go up about 1,000 feet (305 meters) in just half a mile. The path then follows the Continental Divide. It gently takes you down into three saddles and up two more peaks. These peaks include Grizzly Peak at 13,427 feet (4,093 meters) and Mount Sniktau at 13,234 feet (4,034 meters).

The Final Climb

The last saddle on this trail is around 12,600 feet (3,840 meters). From this point, it is a 1-mile (1.6 km) climb of about 1,800 feet (549 meters) to reach the very top of Torreys Peak.

Continuing to Grays Peak

Once you are at the summit of Torreys Peak, many hikers choose to continue their adventure to Grays Peak. It is only about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) away. The trail between Torreys Peak and Grays Peak dips down to a saddle at 13,707 feet (4,178 meters) and then climbs back up to 14,270 feet (4,350 meters).