The standard, most heavily used route up Grays Peak, the highest point on the Continental Divide and one of the most accessible 14ers from Denver.
From I-70 westbound, take the Bakerville exit (Exit 221) and turn onto Stevens Gulch Road. The first stretch is maintained dirt passable to most vehicles; the final approach to the upper trailhead is rougher and benefits from high clearance. The road forks partway up at the Grizzly Gulch Trailhead — stay left/uphill to reach the Stevens Gulch (Grays Peak) trailhead. From the trailhead at about 11,230–11,280 feet, cross Stevens Gulch Creek on a wooden footbridge and follow the well-defined trail up the gulch. The grade is gradual at first, steepening noticeably after about 1.7 miles. The trail switches back up Grays' east side to the summit at 14,270 feet. There is a fork near the top of the switchbacks leading toward the Grays–Torreys saddle for hikers combining both peaks; stay left/uphill on the direct Grays trail to summit Grays alone.
Reverse the route. Hikers combining Grays with neighboring Torreys Peak instead descend to the shared saddle (about a 500-foot drop) and climb Torreys' ridge before returning via the same Stevens Gulch trail.