James Peak Summit Trail

James Peak Summit Trail

James Peak is a year-round attraction, thanks in part to St. Marys Glacier, a permanent ice field that graces the base of the standard ascent route. The glacier offers a great training ground for snow travel and is a short, steep warm-up for the southern slopes that lead to James’s summit. Cresting the horizon at the upper terminus of the glacier, James Peak’s impressive profile comes into view at the far end of a spacious alpine meadow. The flats leading to the final rise are great places to catch your breath while keeping an eye out for dozens of flowers and the occasional troop of ptarmigans. Pushing for the summit can be done on a well-maintained, switchbacking trail, or by a direct climb of the rolling southeast ridge. Summit views include a unique perspective of the front-side runs at Winter Park and Mary Jane ski areas. Best of all, when James Peak holds snow, it’s possible to have some rip-roaring fun glissading down the summit slopes and the glacier. As a bonus, James Peak’s Trailhead is easily accessed from Interstate 70 and is a relatively short drive from Denver, Boulder, or Golden.

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