Quandary Peak

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 7/20/2025, By: tlgold1990
Info: Some patches of snow, all avoidable by staying on the rocks so it's def summer conditions out there. Everything was super solid in our opinion. We found it easier to wedge ourselves in the crack and then climb to the left. On the downclimb right before the crux, it says you can either right or left. If you are shorter and/or not too comfortable with downclimbing, go RIGHT!!! Going left is definitely a little more sketchy and I was not comfortable since I was out of practice (14er finisher but hadn't been on class 3 in about 2 years, also after finishing maybe my risk tolerance is less??). If you go right there is easy access to exit, just don't go too far down. Thankfully another climber was able to spot me on my spicier decison going left. Overall this is a great and fun class 3! Would repeat... just going RIGHT and not left haha 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 7/18/2025, By: danpayne17
Info: Gate is closed .75 miles before the Blue Lakes dam. Started from the gate at 3am. Some snow on route in the upper basin but all easily avoidable except one patch but was able to hop rocks through it. Didn't actually touch any snow. Brought microspikes but didn't need them/wouldn't bring them if I did it again. No snow present on the ridge. Descended via Christo Couloir, which made for an easy shortcut back to the Blue Lakes parking lot. Back at car at 8:30am. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 7/12/2025, By: Lonewolf88
Info: Perfect weather! Started shortly after 4am. It must have rained the night before, because I got soaking wet walking through the willows at the beginning of the trail. I brought spikes but didn't use them, though there were a couple sections of icy snow near the top of the basin where they would have been helpful. Otherwise, summer conditions all along the ridge. I think there was literally four feet of snow I had to traverse in the crux, and it was easy-peasy. Everything else was dry. Shout out to two AWESOME young men I met along the way: Cohen (sp?) and Isaac, of Colorado Springs. They kept me motivated and gave me a ride from the standard route trailhead to my car up near the dam! Absolute SAINTS!!! 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 7/13/2025, By: chaddleton
Info: If you lost an InReach Mini on the East Ridge route (standard route) on Saturday July 12th, the Quandary Shuttle Office has your device. Please contact 970-977-7231 or 970-668-4060 to provide your ID, identify your device, and claim your device. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 7/1/2025, By: lukealtorfer
Info: Beautiful day on Quandary Peak. There is no more snow on the trail. We parked at the paid parking lot for $30 and began our ascent. The trail is a light ascent until you reach the end of the tree line. After that it gets steeper for about a mile, then flattens out following the first false summit. The last 1 mile / 1,000 ft is incredibly steep and narrow, so beware of crowds as this is a popular climb. Hang in there and you’ll make it to the top! There’s lots of wildlife on the trail so be careful and give them space. We saw mountain goats who seemed very used to hikers. Give them space and get some cool photos! 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/29/2025, By: jmanley003
Info: Beautiful sunny day, not too crowded at all. Some snow patches up top but none on the path. Everything was nice and dry. For any first-timers out there, the last mile or so up to the summit is very steep and challenging. Conserve your energy! 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: Caitlin123
Info: The ridge is largely free of snow. The gullys between the crux towers contain snow and one crossing would be tricky if the snow was soft. The climb from the valley to the ridge went without traction, but spikes would've made the last little bit to the ridge much easier. The lower bowl was fine without traction as the snow was nicely textured. It would be possible to bypass the snow in the upper bowl by following a gravel band to climbers right of the stream, but it looked pretty loose. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/21/2025, By: Redelectric3
Info: Amazing blue sky day on the mountain! It was pretty crowded, with dry conditions, only two small snow sections at/near the top. No need for micro spikes. The top still is covered in snow. Not too windy today, it was a great way to get out of the Denver heat. Thanks 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 6/24/2025, By: evan-bersch
Info: Some large snowbanks in the valley but they are pretty avoidable. Along the ridge its mostly snow free aside from one short crossing. We had spikes and would recommend them if you intend to be stay strict to the posted route 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/16/2025, By: CookaMan
Info: Large snow patch above 13,200ft, but the trail avoids almost all of it. Summit covered in snow still. 

Route: Say Hi to CFI (Colorado Fourteeners Initiative)!
Posted On: 6/17/2025, By: chaddleton
Info: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is out on the peaks chatting with hikers about Leave No Trace principles and sustainable practices to lessen impacts on the ecosystem. It was a great day on Quandary this past weekend! Say "hello" when you're out hiking and see a CFI Peak Steward! 

Route: North side ski lines
Posted On: 6/13/2025, By: Jcinco
Info: See my update for Atlantic Peak for ski beta and pics. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/13/2025, By: nmal14
Info: Quandary Peak in great condition! I got about a 7am start and summitted just after 10am. The trail was clear and in good shape. There is still a snow field as you approach the summit, but it was packed down with plenty of foot prints to follow. I did not have to put my microspikes on. Weather was great all morning - storm rolled through right as I got back to the parking lot. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/10/2025, By: hawhitt1
Info: Intermittent snow fields on the ridge. Frozen enough around 7-8am that post-holing wasn’t a problem and micro-spikes weren’t really needed until the last few hundred feet below the summit (totally doable even then without spikes, but they were nice to have). Headed down around 10-11 with snow starting to warm up. Was able to glissade in other people’s tracks most of the way to the flat spot on the ridge. The few small sections of “unavoidable snow” past there were pretty soft and well tracked with holes, but not long lasting. Everything below the ridge is dry. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/8/2025, By: GUTstring
Info: Small snowfield at ~12,800 feet where you gain the E Ridge proper that was nice to have microspikes for in the morning. Short patches of snow on the route until you reach the final feet below the peak where another snowfield remains. Microspikes might be nice to have here, but not necessary.