Hiking James Peak | An Easy 13er Near Denver
- Alex Derr
- January 18, 2021
- 8:23 pm
Please Follow Leave No Trace Ethics!
This area is increasingly popular and experiencing heavy impacts from public use. Please stay on the designated trail, pack out trash, practice good trail etiquette, and leave pets at home. Click here to learn more.
Saint Mary’s Glacier is a popular destination 1 hour west of Denver. However few people know that you can hike beyond the glacier to reach an alpine plateau that explodes with wildflowers each summer. Even less people know you can hike 4 miles to reach James Peak, the intimidating mountain rising above the glacier to the west. With my route guide, hiking James Peak is an easy, class 1 hike with less than 3,000 feet of gain. Overall, it’s great for those new to the mountains. Start planning a trip to the area with my James Peak route guide below.
NEW TO 13ERS? CHECK OUT MY BEGINNERS GUIDE FOR A SAFE FIRST SUMMIT!
Hiking James Peak: Fast Facts
- Standard Route: Southeast Slopes
- Trailhead: St Mary's Glacier
- Elevation Gain: 2,950 feet
- Round-Trip Distance: 8 Miles
- Difficulty Level: Class 1 Hike
- Range: Front Range
Hiking James Peak - Southeast Slopes Route
Remember Mountain Safety Best Practices!
14ers can be dangerous due to altitude sickness, lightning, variable weather conditions, loose rock, and exposure. If you are new to hiking and climbing 14ers, click here and take a minute to review our safety tips and advice.
Park at one of the two parking areas for Saint Mary’s Glacier. Do not park on the highway as you will be ticketed. Make sure you pay the parking fee as well, as this rule is closely enforced, and it helps pay to maintain the area. Head out on the trail to the glacier up through the forest, quickly reaching the lake. Follow one of several trails around the shore and to the bottom of the glacier. This is where you really start hiking James Peak.
If the gully is snow-filled, bring traction (microspikes) or crampons and an ice ax and ascend directly up the glacier. If you lack traction, take trails on either side of the gully. Towards the top, the terrain flattens out as you enter a large plateau. James Peak rises above you to the west. Follow a cairned trail west across the plateau.
About halfway to the Peak, you’ll cross a large jeep road, you may need to double back depending on which of several cairned trails you take. Try to aim for a trail that follows the southern edge of the plateau heading west.
NOTE: Turn around periodically as you leave the glacier so you know which gully you want to descend down later on. It’s easy to accidentally head down the wrong way from this plateau but it can have really bad consequences.
Around 12,000 feet the trail will swerve slightly before hugging the southern edge of the plateau. Around 12,750 feet the trail turns abruptly to the right as you begin to climb the southeast slopes of James Peak itself. The trail begins to switchback as you ascend steep terrain, at times requiring a bit of focus to stay on the trail. Those looking for more class 2 challenges can easily create low-risk alternatives just off the trail.
Near 13,100 feet the trail hits the summit ridge itself. Walk up the final 200 feet, the crux of the hike, to reach the summit of James Peak just ahead of you to finish hiking James Peak.
Winter Park will be clearly visible to you to the west, with Grays and Torreys Peak to your south. Enjoy your accomplishment and descend with plenty of time to reach the treeline before afternoon storms become an issue. I hope you found my James Peak route guide helpful and informative. Safe travels on the trail, and good luck hiking James Peak.
My James Peak Route Guide includes this topographical map of the trail and region. If you plan on hiking James Peak, I recommend that you can download this map on your phone or print out a copy to bring with you on your climb. Always bring some hardcopy map in case your digital version fails or breaks.
Use these two sources to check the weather conditions before hiking James Peak. Consider the temperature high and low, wind speed, precipitation, and whether there are any storm systems on the horizon to be aware of. No James Peak Route Guide is complete without weather forecasts.
Mountain Forecast for James Peak
Hiking James Peak is an inherently high-risk activity – use my James Peak route guide at your own risk, and use the following best practices to help keep yourself safe.
- Bring the Ten Essentials and the knowledge/skill to use them.
- Leave your plans with someone back home along with a detailed itinerary.
- Start early, and end early: Be back at tree line by noon to avoid lightning.
- Check the weather forecast and stay home during inclement weather.
- Research your route and bring a compass & topographic map.
NEW TO 13ERS? CHECK OUT MY BEGINNERS GUIDE FOR A SAFE FIRST SUMMIT!
Hiking James Peak is an inherently high-risk, dangerous activity. There is a significant risk of injury or death, even with proper planning and experience. Those using my James Peak Route Guide accept all risks associated with climbing 14ers and do not hold this website or any information they obtain from it liable for any accidents or injuries that occur while engaging in these activities on Colorado’s high peaks. It is each hiker or climber’s responsibility to research their route carefully, bring the ten essentials, and practice other safe practices, though even these precautions do not eliminate risk and danger. Visit these summits at your own risk.
Alex is an Eagle Scout, climber, and environmental policy expert located in Denver, Colorado. He created The Next Summit to help others stay safe exploring the mountains and advocate to preserve the peaks for the future. Follow him on Linkedin or Twitter or click here to contact him.
