Arapaho National Forest

Elk Park–James Peak South, 5 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,383 ft · 7 hr 29 min

Elk Park–James Peak South, 5 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Arapaho National Forest near Saint Marys, CO. It climbs 4,383 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 88/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi10,119 – 12,064 ft · steepest grade: 25%16.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: James Peak South 39.81153, -105.66658
Nearest town Saint Marys, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elk Park–James Peak South, 5 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,383 ft · 7 hr 29 min

Elevation 10,117–12,065 ft

Out & Back · Arapaho National Forest

Trailhead: James Peak South · 39.81153, -105.66658

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 70°F / low 50° · precip 13% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

  1. Start on James Peak South, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miBear left onto Loch Lomond Road, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto James Peak South, heading NW.
  4. 1.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  5. 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miSharp left onto Kingston Peak Road, heading SE.
  7. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Kingston Peak Spur Road, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Kingston Peak Road, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right onto Yankee Hill/Mosquito Creek Road, heading E.
  11. 0.3 miBear left onto Mosquito Creek Road, heading E.
  12. 0.8 miTurn left onto North Clear Creek Road, heading E.
  13. 1 miSharp left onto Montana Mountain East, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miSharp right onto Elk Park, heading NE.
  15. 0.2 miReach James Peak South, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.2 miSharp left onto Montana Mountain East Road, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  18. 1 miTurn right onto Mosquito Creek Road, heading S.
  19. 0.8 miBear right onto Yankee Hill/Mosquito Creek Road, heading W.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Kingston Peak Road, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Kingston Peak Spur Road, heading W.
  23. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Kingston Peak Road, heading W.
  24. 2.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  26. 100 ftBear left onto James Peak South, heading SE.
  27. 1.7 miContinue straight onto Loch Lomond Road, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miBear right onto James Peak South, heading SE.
  29. 0.4 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

28% other11% dirt61% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 70°F50°
Precip13%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity39%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 67°52° 25%
Sun 66°53° 43%
Mon 65°48° 43%
Tue 68°45° 45%
Wed 72°47° 44%
Thu 72°48° 38%

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