American Lakes–Thunder Pass, 4 sights is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Willey Lumber Camp, CO. The route passes American Lakes and Thunder Pass. It climbs 2,300 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
American Lakes–Thunder Pass, 4 sights
15.1 mi · ▲ 2,300 ft · 6 hr 11 min
Elevation 10,155–11,331 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: Cameron Pass Picnic Area Road · 40.52065, -105.89378
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 68°F / low 41° · precip 2% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:33 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Cameron Pass Picnic Area Road, heading E.
- 200 ftBear left, heading E.
- 2.5 miBear left onto American Lakes Trail, heading S.
- 2.4 miPass American Lakes.
- 50 ftBear left onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Thunder Pass.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Grand Ditch Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach American Lakes, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 2.4 miBear right onto American Lakes Trail, heading W.
- 2.4 miBear right onto Michigan Ditch Trail, heading N.
- 2.5 miBear right onto Cameron Pass Picnic Area Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Cameron Pass Picnic Area Road Trailhead
- County Road 62–Crags Basin, 3 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 731 ft
- Snow Lake–American Lakes, 4 sights 10.7 mi · ▲ 1,255 ft
- Lake Agnes–Lake Agnes Viewpoint, 4 sights 10.9 mi · ▲ 381 ft
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