Arapaho Lakes (Lower)–Forest Lakes (Lower), 6 sights is a 13.3-mile out-and-back in James Peak Wilderness near East Portal, CO. The route passes Forest Lakes (Lower) before reaching Arapaho Lakes (Lower) at the turnaround, 6.6 miles in. It climbs 2,976 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi10,020 – 11,674 ft · steepest grade: 33%13.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rollins Pass Trailhead Road 39.93500, -105.68221
Nearest town East Portal, CO
Directions
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Arapaho Lakes (Lower)–Forest Lakes (Lower), 6 sights
13.3 mi · ▲ 2,976 ft · 5 hr 55 min
Elevation 10,019–11,675 ft
Out & Back · James Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Rollins Pass Trailhead Road · 39.93500, -105.68221
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rollins Pass Trailhead Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Rollins Pass Road, heading E.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Needle Eye Bypass Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Rollins Pass Road, heading S.
- 1.6 miTurn right onto Forest Lakes Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miPass Forest Lakes (Lower).
- 1.1 miSharp right onto Arapaho Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 miReach Arapaho Lakes (Lower), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miSharp left onto Forest Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 2 miTurn left onto Rollins Pass Road, heading SE.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Needle Eye Bypass Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Rollins Pass Road, heading N.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Rollins Pass Trailhead Road, heading SW.
- 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
51% other30% dirt1% boardwalk18% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:31 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM — 10 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Rollins Pass Trailhead Road Trailhead
- Beacon Peak via Rollins Pass Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 380 ft
- Beacon Peak–Rollins Pass, 3 summits 2.6 mi · ▲ 383 ft
- Boulder Wagon Road 2.8 mi · ▲ 372 ft
- Rollins Pass Road 2.9 mi · ▲ 307 ft
- Needle Eye Bypass Trail & Rollins Pass Road 3.4 mi · ▲ 419 ft
- Bob Lake–Bob and Betty Lakes Trail, 4 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 1,025 ft
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