Quandary Peak Trail, East Approach
Starting Elevation: 10,995Ft
Summit Elevation: 14,295 Ft ( 3300ft total elevation gain)
Trail Length: 6.5- 7 miles miles officially ( my fitbit said 8 miles at the end) It took us 6.5 hrs; 3:45 hrs going up 2:45hrs coming down
Trail Uses: Hiker, Biker, Horses
Degree of Difficulty: Strenuous
Bathrooms: There are at least 2 parking lots and the first one does have port-o-potties, the one we parked at did not
Pets: On leash
Fees: None
Quandary is really close to Breckenridge where we were staying and one of the easier 14ers you can do in Colorado. I can’t lie in that I wanted to try a really easy one for our first 14er. After our reluctant turnaround so close to the summit of James Peak a few days before, we made sure to not chance weather coming in at the wrong time when we tried Quandary, so we got up at 2:30AM and to the trail head at 4AM. We have also heard that the trail is crazy crowded the later in the day you go and we kinda wanted it to ourselves so we could go at our own pace, breathing as heavily as we needed. Plus we could barely sleep anyway because we were so excited for our first attempt at a 14er!!!!
As we pulled up there were already 3 cars in the parking lot, we got ready in record time and right before we started , there were people in one of the cars and one came over to talk to us. He said that he was a camp counselor that had brought a group of kids to hike Quandary to catch the sunrise and one of their kids got altitude sickness so he was sitting with him. apparently this was a surprise since he had done Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive earlier in the week, just a reinforcement that you never know when altitude sickness is going to hit.
Here are the pictures I took of the parking lot and trail head when we got back down around 11:30AM
There is something weird about hiking with your headlamp on, it feels strangely exposing in that we don’t know who or what is watching us. At the same time, it forces you to only to pay attention to the trail lit up in front of you and not dread what you see up ahead which kinda makes the incline seem much easier, for me at least. Plus it means coming back down will be like doing a loop hike because it will be brand new for us.
We actually made surprisingly good time to get for the first 2-2.5 miles and as the sun started rising we were just at the tree line.
The colors as the sun rises always take my breath away, as we were approaching the gravel we could see the top of Quandary lit up in a beautiful pink gold.
The trail at this point was a nice steady climb with some rocks mostly dirt, it did get steep on occasion but not too bad.
As we moved to the next part of climb, it is through a ton of rocks all sizes and gravel, to me it seemed like the steepest part of the trail. Which coincidentally, is also the hardest part of the trail both going up and coming down. The ground is pretty unstable and then the steep grade, well it makes the trip down more challenging.
After the gravel climb it levels out for a nice comfy traverse which lets you catch your breath and feel more comfortable with the altitude, in fact I felt so good that as we approached the summit climb I figured it would be cake. We hit the summit climb a little before 7AM.
The path up the ridge to the summit is totally hidden until you are on top of it and I was kinda worried we would be bouldering up the 1000+ feet in elevation left to go, but as you follow what you are on, you see it clearly and it is very well planned out. It is steep and you can find yourself bouldering a little on accident, but then spot the trail just ahead. The hardest part was just plain old breathing, we found ourselves stopping every 20-30 feet just to catch our breath.
The last little bit was over a small snow field, it was well used and already slick. Aaron’s issue with heights kicked in here so we did take the time put our yaktrax on but I don’t think they are necessary. It did help us get to the summit, and put Aaron more at peace although once we took a few pictures together on the summit, he sat in a wind shelter and didn’t move until we went back down, asking me like 10 times to watch out….not so close… Trust me the summit is plenty big no fear of falling off.
It was pretty emotional for me when we got to the top, I felt so incredibly accomplished after losing almost 2/3s of the weight and training for a year and a half, we did it! I totally cried happy tears! Then I cried tears of amazement because of the views. I am already planning for our next 14er! We got to the summit right at 8AM, because we were so early we had it to ourselves almost the whole time, there was just one other person who came and went. On the way down, the trail was super crowded, like I am guessing we passed over a 100-200 other hikers. Going early was the best decision we made. After the directions will be our favorite pictures!
Directions: From I-70, take Exit #203 for Breckenridge – Highway 9 and travel south through the towns of Breckenridge and Blue River. Travel 18.3 miles from Exit #203 to State Road 850( Blue Lakes Road) and turn right (west). Make an immediate right on McCullough Gulch Road (State Road 851 north) and travel .3 miles up the maintained dirt road to the trailhead. Spaces are limited, but roadside parking is permitted. There is also a parking lot immediately after turning onto Blue Lakes Road with the port-o-potty but we opted to go to the Official trail head parking.
hiking to healthy 
Good job! I’ve hiked this same route twice: Once with my brothers, one of whom had never hiked a 14er; and then later with that same brother and his family, plus another one of my nieces. It was their first time up a 14er as well. Can’t beat Breck as a great place to stay (and eat), and I think the summit views from Quandary are pretty great.
Well done! So what’s going to be you next one? 😉
Thank you! Actually it was the account with your bother’s family and niece that originally made me put Quandary at the top of the list as the one to try first and I checked out the one you did with your brothers as part of my research. Both were very motivating and educational!
I am thinking we try Grays and Torreys or Biederstadt next. I have also been mulling over mt. Massive and Elbert.,.. Any suggestions?
It really depends on what you want to do. If you don’t mind the crowds, G&T or Bierstadt are good choices. Same with Elbert. Haven’t done Massive yet, but I know the route to the top is pretty long so that would be the toughest of your choices.
If you don’t mind the drive, I’d also suggest Uncompahgre Peak in the San Juans. Absolutely incredible scenery on a unique peak.
Ok, I will check that one out. It will be a couple of weeks until the next one due to scheduling conflicts but I cannot wait to get back on a summit!
Can’t wait to hear about it. Have fun up there!
Wow! Tough workout; great hike!
it was both! We are still on a high from it!
Congratulations! Good for you.
Thank you!
Congratulations on finishing your first 14er! Was going down scary? What time did you get down?
Going down is always harder for me, it is also when I tend to fall. On this one the toughest part is in the middle and it took us about 3hrs 45min to get to the summit and like 2:15- 2:30 to get down. we were right around 6-6.5 hours total for the whole trip. Thank You!
Congratulations! Such an exciting milestone! I haven’t hiked a 14er since my first summer in Colorado and you’ve got me itching to go for another one.
Thank you!!! You are so close to do many! I am getting excited for our next one!
That’s some feat. Congratulations!
Thank you!
Congratulations! That is wonderful for you. Keep it up- one down and many more to come!
Thank you! We can’t wait to get to our next one!
I know what you mean about happy tears and tears of amazement. We climbed Quandary (my first 14er) as my 40th Birthday celebration. It is the best party and gift all in one to experience the top!
It is a great first 14er( mine too)! It was our 15 years together celebration so it held special meaning for us too. So glad you preserved through that weather to see the top! You are inspiration! Thanks for checking out my blog.
Great trip report, photos, details, everything! Congratulations on your first 14’er too! You all have a superb blog.
Thank Mike, climbing it was just amazing!!
Yep. Quandary is beautiful, but that rock is crumbly the way down, isn’t it!
Yes! That is by far the hardest part of the hike in my opinion!
Congrats! Quandary is an amazing hike!
Thank you! We were so proud of ourselves that day!!! If only we could have gotten in one more 14er before the end of the season! Ahh well the nice thing about mountains is that they will be there tomorrow! Can’t wait to see what more you do! Thanks for checking out my blog!
Awesome job on this one! Looks like a fab hike! I’m heading to Colorado over Christmas – looking forward to seeing a bit of your part of the world! Take care, Kazza
Thanks! I can’t believe you are going to be here in my corner of the world… let me know if you need any suggestions on things to do or places to go!!! I hope you like Colorado as much as I do!
Great report, thanks for the descriptions, photos and all the info. If all goes as planned I will be attempting Quandary Peak on September 26th as my first 14er. I will be in Denver for the IACA conference. A member on the 14ers.com site has offered to guide me up and back. I will be in Denver for a whole week before the attempt and hope this will help my body acclimate to the altitude. I know I’ll still have some limitation and have to take it slow and steady but so excited to have this opportunity.
Maybe see you on the trial sometime.
JT
Quandary is a great first 14er and I love the 14er.com website as well, so much great advice there! Good Luck! I hope we do meet up on the trail on day!