James Peak Wilderness
The James Peak Wilderness encompasses 14,000 acres on the east side of the Continental Divide in Boulder, Gilpin, and Clear Creek Counties of Colorado. The area is named after its most prominent peak, 13,294 foot "James Peak," in honor of Dr. Edwin James, an early explorer, historian, and botanist who was a member of the famous Stephen H. Long expedition to Colorado in 1820. There is approximately 20 miles of trail. The area's elevation ranges from 9,200 to 13,391 feet at the summit of Parry Peak, which includes upper montane, sub-alpine, and alpine ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains adjacent to the Continental Divide.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 17,109 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.86° N, 105.69° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 12 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 4 miBill Moore Lake/Empire Loop ↗Trailhead
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
11 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 34 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Flora ↗ | 6.1 | |
| Rollins Pass ↗ | 5 | |
| James Peak South ↗ | 4.7 | |
| South Boulder Creek ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Ute ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Mill Creek Ridge ↗ | 3.1 | |
| Forest Lakes | 2.8 | |
| James Peak Lake | 1.1 | |
| Arapaho Lakes | 0.9 | |
| Crater Lakes | 0.9 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
25 mi from the center point · 390 acres
- PrescribedFront Country Broadcast Rx
36 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.8 miGeorgetown Schoolhouse ↗National Historic Landmark
- 8.3 miWilliam's Stables ↗National Historic Landmark
- 8.4 miWinks Panorama ↗National Historic Landmark
- 1.6 miPeck House ↗Empire, CO
- 1.7 miMint Saloon ↗Empire, CO
- 3.8 miBuchan Cabin ↗Eldora, CO
- 4.4 miGold Miner Hotel ↗Eldora, CO
- 4.4 miGold Miner Hotel (Boundary Increase) ↗Eldora, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is James Peak Wilderness?
17,109 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages James Peak Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is James Peak Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was James Peak Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at James Peak Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to James Peak Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.855° N, 105.687° W. Rocky Mountain National Park is 29 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near James Peak Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Harris Park Broadcast Rx at 25 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near James Peak Wilderness?
Rocky Mountain National Park (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near James Peak Wilderness?
The National Register has 35 listings within 15 miles, including Georgetown Schoolhouse and William's Stables.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.