South Boulder Creek Trail
14.5 mi · ▲ 3,952 ft · 6 hr 49 min
South Boulder Creek Trail is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in James Peak Wilderness near East Portal, CO. It climbs 3,952 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
South Boulder Creek Trail
14.5 mi · ▲ 3,952 ft · 6 hr 49 min
Elevation 9,226–12,446 ft
Out & Back · James Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: 39.90116, -105.64624
Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 73°F / low 51° · precip 27% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Dogs allowed on leash
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn left onto South Boulder Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 4.5 miSharp left onto Ute Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.7 miSharp right onto Rogers Pass Trail, heading N.
- 4.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 250 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.6 mi in (~192 min). Leave by 3:59 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from this trailhead
- South Boulder Creek Trail 2 mi · ▲ 326 ft
- Forest Lakes Trail & South Boulder Creek Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 801 ft
- Clayton Lake–Clayton Lake Trail, 3 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,773 ft
- Crater Lakes (Lower North)–Crater Lakes (Lower South), 4 sights 5.7 mi · ▲ 1,391 ft
- Arapaho Lakes (Lower)–Arapaho Lakes Trail, 4 sights 7 mi · ▲ 1,927 ft
- Heart Lake & South Boulder Creek Trail 8.5 mi · ▲ 2,087 ft
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Hikes near East Portal, Colorado