Plan with
Confidence
Campfires are note allowed. Permits are not required for overnight stays inside the James Peak Wilderness. However, other wilderness regulations apply. Access to the East Portal TH is available year round.
Path Type
Point to Point
From the northwest corner of the parking area, continue for 1.2 miles on the !South Boulder Creek Trail #900 to the signed Forest Lakes Trail junction. Continue straight on the !South Boulder Creek Trail. The Crater Lakes Trail turns right (north) off the !South Boulder Creek Trail at the junction sign. Again, continue straight on the !South Boulder Creek Trail.
The trail leaves the creek for a time then returns, climbs, and crosses the !South Boulder Creek at several points before leveling off near Rogers Pass Lake. An obvious path leads beyond this lake to a saddle. From here, both Rogers Pass Lake and Heart Lake are visible. The South Boulder Creek Trail climbs steeply up several switchbacks to Rogers Pass. Adventurous hikers can turn south for a climb up James Peak or north, along the Continental Divide Trail to Rollins Pass.
From Rollins Pass, hikers can loop back to East Portal Trailhead by continuing easterly along the road and traversing the blocked Needles Eye Tunnel. Once over the tunnel and back onto the road, travel south to the upper !Forest Lakes Trailhead. The Forest Lakes Trail connects back to the East Portal Trailhead.
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