Redcloud Peak, with an elevation of 14,034 feet, is the 46th highest peak in the state of Colorado. The standard route to the summit of
this Fourteener, which gets its name from the red color of the peak, is along the Silver Creek Trail, and most climbers hike over to
Sunshine Peak after Redcloud. The standard hike involves a bit of scree towards the end.
Note that reaching the Silver Creek trailhead (the standard starting point) involves some hairy driving; see the Sunshine Peak page for an
alternative route to Redcloud's summit. To reach the Silver Creek trailhead, head south 2.2 miles from the bridge crossing Henson Creek in
Lake City. At the Lake San Cristobal Road turn right and head up the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Take a right where the road forks
14.3 miles into your drive from Lake City and head up Cinnamon Pass Road to mile 18.3, at which point you'll see the Silver Creek - Grizzly
Gulch Trailhead parking lot. Note that Handies Peak can be climbed from the same trailhead.
The Redcloud Peak/Sunshine Peak combination involves 11.4 miles of hiking with an elevation gain of 4,700 feet. You'll pass the South
Fork of Silver Creek, heading east before heading south through several switchbacks and up Redcloud's northeast ridge. The trail is steep
after the pass at 13,020 feet, but becomes less steep as it approaches Redcloud's summit. The trek beyond to Sunshine is easy, with a
drop of only 534 feet.
Sources: peakware.com, summitpost.org, Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, Volume 2: The Southern Peaks
