Hiking with Zhen: James peak 13"er 🥾🌄

# Hiking with Zhen: James Peak Trail 🥾🌄

https://www.summitpost.org/north-ridge/166846
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=19886

Join us for an epic hike up James Peak🏞️ This is a fantastic chance to conquer a 13er, soak in breathtaking alpine views, and connect with fellow hiking enthusiasts. 🌲👥

When: Sunday, July 12, 2025, 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM ⏰⛰️ (Estimated Time)

Where:
Carpool:

• I live in the Littleton/Centennial area and am happy to carpool! 🚗 Meet at the Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride (18560 U.S. Hwy 40, Golden, CO 80401) at 6:00 AM under the GG sign to coordinate rides to the trailhead (about 1 hour 45 min drive). DM me to arrange carpool details. 📩 We need a high clearance vehicle to do this.
• Trailhead:
• 39.9046, -105.6834
• Rogers Pass Trailhead (Riflesight Notch), Rollins Pass Road (County Road 80/FDR 149), near Winter Park, CO. (Start around 8am)

Rogers Pass Trailhead: Elevation 11,100'

Take exit 232 north from I-70. Follow U.S. Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass to the Winter Park Ski area. Look for the second forest access turnoff to the east, about 1 mile past the Lakota development turnoff. You want Grand County Road 80, or the Moffat “Hill Road”, which lead to Rollins Pass. After 3.7 miles, the county road forks. Take the middle fork, straight ahead, which is Forest Road 149. The entire length of this road is passable for passenger cars if they go slowly. There are camping possibilities starting at about 6 miles up the road. At 10.4 miles a railroad trestle comes into view. Continue another 0.3 miles to a parking area next to the trestle. The elevation here is 11,200’ and the Rogers Pass trailhead is right there.

• Route: From the trailhead near the Riflesight Notch trestle, follow an old jeep trail through treeline with four switchbacks to Rogers Pass (~11,860 ft). Then, take the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) south along the Divide to James Peak’s north ridge. The summit climb involves tundra and boulder-hopping (Class 2+).
• Distance: ~6-8 miles roundtrip (varies based on exact parking spot due to road conditions).
• Elevation Gain: ~2,000-2,500 ft (estimated from trailhead at ~11,000-11,300 ft to summit at 13,294 ft).
• Difficulty: Moderate (Class 2+), with rocky and exposed terrain above treeline.
• Time: 4-6 hours, including breaks.
• Parking: Free, dispersed parking near the Riflesight Notch trestle or along Rollins Pass Road. Limited spaces; arrive early (by 7 AM on Saturday, July 12, 2025) to secure a spot.
• Access Notes: Rollins Pass Road is rough, requiring a high-clearance vehicle (e.g., SUV or truck). Your Tesla Model 3 may struggle; you may need to park lower (adding ~1-2 miles each way). The road takes ~1 hour from U.S. Highway 40.
• Key Features: Scenic views of Winter Park Resort, Indian Peaks, and marmot sightings. Less crowded than East Portal but exposed to weather. Snow possible on north slopes in early July; bring microspikes.
• Warnings: Start early (6:30 AM) to avoid afternoon storms. Download an offline map (e.g., AllTrails) for tundra navigation. Check road status (seasonal closures until mid-July) at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp/conditions.

Let’s summit James Peak, breathe the crisp alpine air, and share an unforgettable adventure under the Colorado sky! 🌲✨🌞 Questions? Ask below. See you Sunday! 🥾🏞️