Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 5 lakes
9.1 mi · ▲ 2,526 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 5 lakes is a 9.1-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, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 2,526 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 5 lakes
9.1 mi · ▲ 2,526 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Elevation 9,552–11,042 ft
Out & Back · James Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Rollins Pass Road · 39.92374, -105.66853
Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 63°F / low 42° · precip 28% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Forest Lakes Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miPass Forest Lakes (Lower).
- 1.9 miTurn right onto South Boulder Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Crater Lakes Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miPass Crater Lakes (Lower South).
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Crater Lakes (Lower North), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1 miSharp left onto South Boulder Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Forest Lakes Trail, heading E.
- 2.8 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
Weather
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Rollins Pass Road Trailhead
- Rollins Pass Road 3 mi · ▲ 276 ft
- Rollins Pass Road 3.1 mi · ▲ 305 ft
- Forest Lakes (Lower) & Forest Lakes Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,012 ft
- Guinn Mountain–Jenny Lake Loop, 6 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 809 ft
- Rollins Pass & Needle Eye Bypass Trail via Rollins Pass Trail 6.7 mi · ▲ 856 ft
- Beacon Peak & Needle Eye Bypass Trail via Rollins Pass Trail 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,164 ft
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