Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest
Ute Trail #803

James Peak Lake Trailhead to:

• James Peak Lake: 1.1 miles
• Little Echo Lake: .9 miles
• Continental Divide: 3.9 miles
• Rogers Pass: 5 miles
Elevations:

• Trailhead: 11,600'
• Trail intersection:11,100'
• Continental Divide: 12,400'
• Rogers Pass: 11,860'
• James Peak: 13,294'

Season of Heaviest Use: June through October (open year round)

Actual Use: Moderate

Rating: More difficult

USGS Maps: Empire Quad

Trailhead Location: Approximately four miles south of Nederland, head west on gravel County Road 16 (Moffat Road, and Rollins Pass Road) out of the town of Rollinsville. About five miles out, at the townsite of Tolland, take a left onto County Road 4N. Follow Road 4N for 3.5 miles, and then take a right onto National Forest System Road (NFSR) 353 (this is a rough, native surface road - 4WD with high clearance is highly recommended). Follow NFSR 353 west for 3.3 miles to the James Peak Lake Trailhead.

The James Peak Lake Trailhead is above timberline, at 11,600 feet elevation. From the trailhead, the James Peak Lake Trail drops 500 feet over a half-mile to James Peak Lake in the basin below the east face of James Peak. The trail follows the remains of a wagon road across the steep scree. At the bottom of the slope, near where it enters the trees, the Ute Trail forks to the right (north). To get to James Peak Lake, follow the left fork and stay on the wagon road for another seven-tenths of a mile up the valley.

Following the Ute Trail from its intersection with the James Peak Lake Trail, you'll cross the valley, cross Mammoth Creek and climb about half a mile to Little Echo Lake (elevation 11,185) at treeline. From here, the Ute Trail continues northward, slanting up the side of the scree ridge before taking a sharp turn to the west as it reaches the ridgetop. On the ridge, the Ute Trail joins a closed two-track road from Nebraska Hill. In three miles from Echo Lake, the trail reaches the Continental Divide and meets the Continental Divide Trail. At this point, you can leave the Ute Trail to hike left (south) up the ridge to James Peak. Though this is the Continental Divide Trail, this section is more of a path than a developed trail. The Ute Trail (and northbound Continental Divide Trail) swings back northward to follow the Continental Divide for about a mile to Roger's Pass (11,860 feet).

From here you can pick up the South Boulder Creek Trail #900, which drops into the steep cirque basins of the South Boulder Creek Drainage. The Continental Divide Trail continues north, past Rollins Pass, to drop off the west side of the Continental Divide at Devil's Thumb Pass. Most of the James Peak Lake and Ute Trails are above treeline, offering great views of the jagged peaks along the Continental Divide.