Discover Just How Tall Grays Peak Really Is

Grays Peak is a mountain peak in Colorado. This mountain is very tall, and it is also a popular place for hikers, climbers, and sightseers. Today, we’re going to look at how tall Grays Peak really is, including its total height and how it measures up to other mountains in the Centennial State. We’ll also show you some of the wildlife that people can encounter if they choose to climb this mountain.  

Where Is Grays Peak on a Map?

Before we look at the height of the mountain, it’s important to look at where the peak is located. Grays Peak is in northern central Colorado, about 40 miles west of Denver. The mountain is in both Summit County and Clear Creek County, and it is a part of the Front Range, a part of the Southern Rocky Mountains. This mountain is accessible through the Arapahoe National Forest.  

Several other mountains are nearby. Grizzly Peak, Torreys Peak, Revenue Mountain, Glacier Mountain, Decatur Mountain, and many others are just miles away from Grays Peak. The map above shows just how many different peaks are in this part of the state.

How Tall Is Grays Peak?

Grays Peak is 14,278 feet tall, making it the highest point on the Continental Divide. The mountain’s prominence is 2,770 feet. Grays Peak is one of 53 mountains in the state of Colorado that rises above the measure of 14,000 feet. Such mountains are often referred to as “fourteeners.” The United States is only home to 96 fourteeners, and all of them are west of the Mississippi River.

About Grays Peak

Grays Peak was named after Dr. Asa Gray, a 19^th-century botanist. He was not the first person to summit the mountain or name it, though. Instead, Dr. Charles C. Parry, another botanist, was the first person with a recorded ascent of the mountain. He then named the peak after Gray, his colleague.

Many climbers summit this mountain each year. The area is not always accessible before summertime due to its high elevation. However, people who climb this peak often use the same trailhead to reach the nearby Torreys Peak.  

How Does This Peak Compare to Other Mountains in the State

Although tall, Grays Peak is not the tallest mountain in Colorado. Several other mountains are taller than this one, but not by that much. The highest point in Colorado is Mount Elbert, and its peak has a total elevation of 14,440 feet. That is only 162 feet higher than Grays Peak.

The interesting part is that Grays Peak is the 10^th highest in the state. As the chart above shows, the difference between Grays Peak and the fourth-highest mountain in the state is a mere 73 feet!

All in all, the state is home to many fourteeners, but they fall within a few hundred feet of each other in terms of their overall height.  

Comparing the Colorado Peak to the Tallest Mountains in the United States

Now that we know how tall Grays Peak really is, it’s a good idea to compare its height to the tallest ones in the United States. Grays Peak is just 14,278 feet tall. That makes it the 39^th tallest peak in the country.

Meanwhile, the highest mountain in the entire country is Mount Denali at 20,310 feet. That is over 6,000 feet taller than Grays Peak. Mount Denali is about 2,000 feet higher than the 2^nd-highest mountain in the U.S., Mount Saint Elias. So, Grays Peak is very far down the list of the highest mountains in the country.

What Wildlife Lives in This Part of Colorado?

Colorado is filled with various kinds of animals. People who hike in the region can encounter many types of wildlife. Some of the creatures that people may see in this area include:

• Mountain goats
• Marmots
• Elk
• Cougars
• Coyotes
• Green rat snakes
• Mule deer
• Canada jacks

These are just a few of the various animals that thrive in this part of the state. Many other animals live in this area. Hikers in this area should learn how to handle encounters with large mammals like mountain lions and coyotes.

We’ve shown you how tall Grays Peak really is, and it’s an impressive figure. However, the mountain is still not counted among the tallest in the state or the country. Still, thousands of people hike this mountain and the neighboring peak for fun. If you decide to take a trip out to this part of Colorado, then it is important to engage in safe hiking practices to ensure you return from the journey unharmed.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Images by Dr. Alan Lipkin/Shutterstock.com