Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 7 sights is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in James Peak Wilderness near East Portal, CO. The route passes Forest Lakes (Lower) and Crater Lakes (Lower South) before reaching Crater Lakes (Lower North) at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 3,340 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi9,551 – 11,674 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rollins Pass Trailhead Road 39.93500, -105.68221
Nearest town East Portal, CO
Directions
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Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 7 sights
15.6 mi · ▲ 3,340 ft · 6 hr 52 min
Elevation 9,552–11,675 ft
Out & Back · James Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Rollins Pass Trailhead Road · 39.93500, -105.68221
Weather Sep 5: Drizzle, high 60°F / low 42° · precip 16% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:30 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).
- 2 miTurn right onto South Boulder Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Crater Lakes Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miPass Crater Lakes (Lower South).
- 0.1 miReach Crater Lakes (Lower North), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto South Boulder Creek Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Forest Lakes Trail, heading N.
- 2.9 miTurn left onto Rollins Pass Road, heading NE.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Needle Eye Bypass Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Rollins Pass Road, heading NW.
- 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
58% other26% dirt1% boardwalk15% unspecified
Weather
DrizzleTemperature 60°F42°
Feels like42°Precip16%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity49%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
60°40°
Sunrise 6:35 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sun
60°43°
39%
Mon
60°40°
33%
Tue
66°39°
32%
Wed
68°42°
40%
Thu
64°41°
35%
Fri
64°38°
31%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:07 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 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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Hikes near East Portal, Colorado