James Peak Colorado 13er Hike Guide
James Peak is a 13er located above St. Mary’s Glacier in the Front Range of Colorado. James Peak is a “13er” (summit over 13,000 feet) and is a great hike for the beginner hiker looking to get into more serious hikes. James Peak provides fantastic summit views of the Front Range and continental divide but is completely exposed to the elements for the entire hike. I would recommend having fairly strong legs and some hiking experience if you are looking to check James Peak off your hiking list. James Peak is a great option to hike year round and provides a fantastic ski/snowboard descent from its summit during winter and spring months.
James Peak Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: James Peak Winter Hike & Snowboard Descent with a Dog
Rating: ★★★ (3/5 Stars)
Distance: 8.3 miles RT
Elevation Start: 10,428 ft
Summit: 13,301 ft
Total Elevation Gain: 2,900 ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 3-5 Hours RT
Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?
Class: Class 1
Season: June – October (Can be climbed year round but expect snow outside of that window)
Directions to James Peak
Trailhead: St Mary’s Glacier
Getting There: Take I-70 to exit 238 and follow fall river road about 9 miles to the first parking lot which will be on your left. To start the hike you need to hike up the road a bit to avoid private property and the trail will be on your left about a hundred yards after the parking lot. St. Mary’s Glacier Trailhead can be entered into your favorite navigation app.
Fees: $5 (cash only) – paid at stations near bathroom
Parking: Parking for James Peak shares the same lot as extremely popular St Mary’s Glacier. If you plan on hiking this 13er, get here early. The lot is massive but will fill up on busy summer weekends. There are two very disgusting porta potties at the TH.
Summary
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on the hike to James Peak, just keep in mind that you have to pass by the busy St Mary’s Glacier along the way. James Peak does not have any natural water sources along the way (outside of St Mary’s Lake of course) so bring extra H2O for your pup. Terrain-wise, the hike is mostly packed dirt with some rocky trail at the top, but it should be fine on your dog’s paws.
Camping: Camping is available around St Mary’s Glacier and at St Mary’s Lake. If you would like to camp near James Peak, there is a large field before the summit where you can post up, but it is not an ideal camping spot (completely open to elements, no water source, no fuel for fire etc.)
Make it a Loop: Pairing this hike with some time spent at St. Mary’s Glacier is a no-brainier. Due to the loosely defined trail up to the summit, you can easily follow a different trail down than what you take up.
Mountain X Factors: Wind & Weather
This area of Colorado is known for its strong and unpredictable winds. Be sure to check the weather forecast on the day you plan on hiking James Peak and plan for even higher winds than forecasted. Like most mountainous areas of Colorado, the winds tend to die down in the late morning but its not always the case. In addition to winds, be sure to understand the risks of any weather the day of your trip. The hike is 90% above treeline with absolutely nowhere to go if a bad storm rolls in.
Hike Tip(s): If you are looking to hike James Peak during the winter or spring, it makes for a great place to ski or snowboard on your way down. There are many wide open grass fields which contain very minimal rock fields and make for a great way to get down the mountain after reaching the summit. Although this route is not prone to avalanches if you stick to the trail it does have a handful of flats you would need to traverse on your ski down. The other tip I have would be to closely watch the trail as you hike up this mountain. If you are hiking during the late spring or summer months (essentially when most snow has melted), it may be hard to follow this trail at times. If you want to favor a direction, favor west. If you stray too far to the east, you could find yourself hiking a much steeper route to the summit.
Best Views: James Peak itself has some great open views of Winter Park & Mary Jane Resort, Arapaho National Forest, and some of the many neighboring high elevation lakes. Towards the summit, there are several spots to take some cool “drop-off” shots in the couloirs and valleys below. In general, on a clear day the views on this hike are basically fantastic in all directions.
Gear Needed
- 14er Day Hike Packing List
- Men’s Trail Runners
- Women’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
- Backpack
- Food & Water
- Optional: Climbing Helmet
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Headlamp
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
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James Peak Hike Route
This shows a winter hike/snowboard down which is why the mileage is shorter.
Our Trip to James Peak: September 2015
I arrived to St. Mary’s parking lot and trailhead around 6AM with the plan to tackle both St. Mary’s and James Peak in the same day. After enjoying some time at St. Mary’s, I continued my journey towards James Peak. Once I was on the top of the Glacier, the trail was fairly easy to follow through many of the grass fields. However, after I crossed the 4×4 “road,” the trail was somewhat difficult to follow.
Before heading out, I knew the general direction I was supposed to summit so I just used my compass to follow the general route with hopes of reconnecting to the “main” trail. After climbing a small false summit, I ended up back with the trail about halfway up. From this point on, the trail was quite obvious but did begin to increase its pitch noticeably.
Towards the top, I stopped to take some pictures of the neighboring lakes and down into the valleys below while I took a much needed water break. Ten minutes of hiking later, I was at the summit of James Peak with spectacular 360 degree views. I snapped some pictures and ate my lunch with a local marmot. On the way down, the trail (for whatever reason) was much easier to follow and I ended up taking a more direct route towards St. Mary’s.
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