A Couloir That Keeps Its Secrets
Rising from the quiet world of Grizzly Gulch, the Grizzly Couloir carves into the north-facing flank of Grizzly Peak (13,427 ft / 4,092 m). The line begins high on the mountain near ~12,800 ft (3,900 m) and descends toward the basin around ~12,000 ft (≈3,650 m), dropping roughly 800 vertical feet (≈245 m) in a sustained, narrowing corridor of steep, focused skiing.
It is not a spectacle from afar — no massive amphitheater, no dramatic fan. The Grizzly hides its seriousness until you’re standing beneath its shadowed walls, tracing the crease that pulls straight upward into the sky. Only then does its character reveal itself: steep, confined, and quietly intimidating.
A Line of Precision & Commitment
The couloir begins in a narrow upper throat, often rimmed with a seasonal cornice and flanked by steep rock buttresses. The opening pitch pushes toward 45–50°, demanding clean footwork on the climb and total commitment on the drop-in.
As you descend, the chute gradually widens, but never enough to relax the mind. Every movement is magnified between the walls. The fall-line stays direct, efficient, and honest, a classic piece of Colorado steep skiing where finesse matters more than brute strength, and where the best turns are the quietest ones..
Access: Earned by Patience and Pace
The Grizzly Couloir is a true backcountry objective.
- Start: Grizzly Gulch Trailhead, off I-70 and the Stevens Gulch Road.
- Approach: A 3.2-mile (≈5 km) tour through forest, open glades, and rising alpine basins.
- Final climb: A steep bootpack into the upper slot, often requiring careful moves around a cornice.
- Ropework: Generally not mandatory, but in firm or thin years, parties may use a short rope for security at the entrance.
Nothing about the approach screams “famous line” and that’s exactly its charm. Quiet, remote, and steadily physical, the climb sets the tone for the focused descent that follows.
Snow, Shape & Seasonal Rhythm
This is a true north-facing couloir steep, shaded, and often holding winter’s cold longer than surrounding terrain.
- Slope: 45–50°, with a steeper rollover at the entrance depending on cornice formation
- Width: Often just ski-length narrow in the upper choke (≈3–5 m), then widening modestly lower down
- Vertical: ≈800 ft / 245 m
- Length: Short, intense, and sustained, no benches, no breaks
- Hazards: Cornices, hardpack, wind slabs, and tight, no-fall terrain
The line improves dramatically after storms have settled and the upper snow has bonded.
Best months: March to early May, when coverage is reliable but surfaces are still wintery or transitioning to spring corn.
Crowds & Atmosphere
Unlike its famous neighbors around Grays and Torreys, the Grizzly Couloir remains quiet and seldom skied. Its approach weeds out the uncommitted; its narrow, steep upper section filters the rest. Those who stand in the choke often do so alone, with nothing but rock, snow, and their own breath for company.
Difficulty
Rating: 8.5 / 10
Technical, narrow, and mentally intense. A short line, but a serious one ideal for skiers who crave precision over fanfare and who find beauty in steep, disciplined movement.