Total Distance: 5 km
Return Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 499 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Region: Tombstone
Traditional Territory: THFN
This route is a short side trip from the Grizzly Lake backountry campground. It climbs to Grizzly Pass and then further up a ridge to a spectacular viewpoint of Mount Monolith with the Twin Lakes below. To complete this hike you will likely need to stay overnight at the Grizzly Lake campground (where registration is required).
This route starts from the Grizzly Lake backcountry campground, in Tombstone Territorial Park. See directions and trail description to the campground from the Grizzly Lake trail.
From the Grizzly Lake backcountry campground head southwest of the lake towards a small creek that drains through an opening between two ridges. There are rough trails leading up the scree along both the right and left sides of the small creek. Following along the creek leads to a small lake. Stay on the left side of the lake. From the lake head southeast up to a saddle on the ridge, this is Grizzly Pass (1,616 m). From here there are some beautiful views down into the valley of Fern Creek, which eventually drains into Wolf Creek.
To continue to the Twin Lakes and Mount Monolith Viewpoint, follow the ridge southwest (right) from Grizzly Pass. The ridge becomes a little steeper and rockier as you need to go another 267 m higher to the viewpoint (elevation: 1,883 m). There are some rock cairns along the ridge and some steep cliffs to your right, so watch your step! The views from the viewpoint are spectacular as you gaze down at the dark turquoise waters of the two Twin Lakes with Mount Monolith towering above them. There is some additional scrambling you could do to reach a higher point along the ridge if you have more time. Return the same way to get back to Grizzly Lake.
Andreas Lazda August 15, 2015
Did this sidetrip after supper on July 28, 2015 (having just come back to Grizzly Lake from Divide earlier in day) - taking advantage of the long summer days :)
Well worth it, had great views from the top!!
Lost the cairns at one point and found myself scrambling around a rock face with loose rocks, but then got back on top. For the return trip I opted for a scree run - shaved quite a bit of time off.