The Electrode–American Lakes, 4 summits is a 16-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain Wilderness near Willey Lumber Camp, CO. The route passes American Lakes and Thunder Pass before reaching The Electrode at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 3,915 ft, with sections as steep as 46% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi9,400 – 12,008 ft · steepest grade: 46%16.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 40.50217, -105.93185
Nearest town Willey Lumber Camp, CO
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
The Electrode–American Lakes, 4 summits
16 mi · ▲ 3,915 ft · 7 hr 17 min
Elevation 9,401–12,008 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain Wilderness
Trailhead: 40.50217, -105.93185
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 73°F / low 50° · precip 2% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 1.6 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto County Road 62, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Michigan Ditch Trail, heading SE.
- 1.5 miBear right onto American Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 1.8 miPass American Lakes.
- 100 ftBear left onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miPass Thunder Pass.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miReach The Electrode, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miBear right onto American Lakes Trail, heading N.
- 1.9 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Michigan Ditch Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto County Road 62, heading S.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 1.6 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 200 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
79% dirt18% gravel3% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 73°F50°
Precip2%Wind1 mphUV7Humidity36%
Rained 0.2″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:36 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sun
74°52°
Mon
64°49°
30%
Tue
72°44°
19%
Wed
73°49°
24%
Thu
67°48°
24%
Fri
70°45°
26%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~148 min). Leave by 4:43 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Seven Utes Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 253 ft
- Seven Utes Trail Loop 3.6 mi · ▲ 652 ft
- Lake Agnes & Lake Agnes Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,710 ft
- County Road 62 7 mi · ▲ 1,949 ft
- County Road 62 7.1 mi · ▲ 1,952 ft
- County Road 61 & Seven Utes Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 1,258 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Willey Lumber Camp, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Willey Lumber Camp, Colorado