Quandary Peak - 6.2 Miles Round-Trip

Quandary Peak (14,265') is located 7.6 miles south of Breckenridge, Colorado in the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest. Quandary Peak is the highest point in Colorado's Tenmile Range, and 13th among the state's 14ers.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

It's considered among the easiest 14ers to reach for its modest distance and well built trail. Still, the 3300' climb in just 3.1 miles is no small task, and rocky terrain will challenge even the fittest hikers.

Visitors will enjoy exceptional views that extend across the Mosquito, Gore and Sawatch ranges:

The trail climbs steadily across two marked jeep roads to your first glimpse of Quandary Peak, Hoosier Pass, and distant peaks of the Tenmile Range (.85 mile - 1.0 mile). It clears treeline and wraps to the south face of Quandary Peak's east ridge (1.0 miles : 11,721').

Here you'll have views of the Blue Lakes, Monte Cristo Creek and North Star Mountain looming high on the Continental Divide. The relatively even, dirt path to this point transitions to rugged talus on a steep, winding climb up the southeast flank of Quandary Peak (1.25 miles : 11,975').

Climbing intensifies to Quandary's well-defined E-W spine. The trail blends easily into the landscape, but is well-marked by cairns and intuitively followed when not. It levels briefly along the east ridge across a wide tundra bench at the base of Quandary Peak (2.15 miles : 13,102').

Here you'll have big views down McCullough Gulch, south across the Continental Divide and due west up the formidable and final summit push. Look for mountain goat along nearby ridges, and moose and elk in the adjacent valleys.

At 2.3 miles (13,168') the path narrows and steepens considerably on a tightly wound, rocky path headed directly for the summit. Those with a later start will likely face a good deal of downhill traffic.

Methodical climbing over variously large and loose talus crosses 14,000' (2.9 miles) and relaxes on the final steps to the summit (3.1 miles : 14,265').

Views from the summit are awesome, particularly across the upper drainage and half dozen unnamed lakes in McCullough Gulch. To the west are jagged peaks and ridges that perpendicularly meet Quandary's west ridge and define the Continental Divide, Monte Cristo and McCullough drainages.

Nearby 14ers include Mt Lincoln (14,291'), Mt Bross (14,172'), and Mt Democrat (14,152'). Peer down the Cristo Couloir - defined as a steep gorge or gully on the side of a mountain - a celebrated winter route to the summit that begins from Blue Lake.

The summit is large enough for weekend crowds, but with limited room to explore. Take a few steps west from the summit to find a small wind shelter along a rugged, tapering ridge.