American Lakes–Thunder Pass, 5 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 3,238 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi9,827 – 11,329 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: American Lakes Trail 40.50452, -105.88403
Nearest town Willey Lumber Camp, CO
Directions
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American Lakes–Thunder Pass, 5 sights
15.1 mi · ▲ 3,238 ft · 6 hr 39 min
Elevation 9,828–11,331 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: American Lakes Trail · 40.50452, -105.88403
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 69°F / low 45° · precip 2% · wind 11 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 American Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 3.5 miPass American Lakes.
- 50 ftBear left onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Thunder Pass.
- 1.7 miSharp right onto Grand Ditch Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Skeleton Gultch Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miReach American Lakes, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Grand Ditch Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 miBear right onto American Lakes Trail, heading N.
- 3.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
94% dirt6% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 69°F45°
Precip2%Wind11 mphUV8Humidity38%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
70°45°
Sunrise 6:35 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:33 PM
Sat
70°48°
Sun
71°49°
16%
Mon
63°48°
28%
Tue
70°43°
20%
Wed
73°48°
26%
Thu
71°48°
26%
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from American Lakes Trail Trailhead
- Michigan Ditch Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 530 ft
- Crags Basin via Michigan Ditch Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 585 ft
- American Lakes Viewpoint & American Lakes Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,356 ft
- Cameron Pass & Michigan Ditch Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 557 ft
- Michigan Ditch Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 706 ft
- Diamond Peaks Trail & Michigan Ditch Trail 8.2 mi · ▲ 1,259 ft
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