Gilpin County High Point Trip Report

James Peak (13,294 ft)

Date: July 22, 1984
Author: David Olson

From the parking lot of the old St. Mary's ski-area (long closed) I hiked east up to the ghost town of Yankee, up Yankee Hill (11,239') and then west along the ridge over Kingston Peak (12,147') to James Peak. I got on top of James Peak at 11:25 am.

A shorter route, if you have the equipment and the competence, is to hike up St. Mary's Glacier and then across relatively flat ground south of Kingston Peak to the east ridge of James Peak. North of James Peak is several miles of "low" mountains, including Rollins Pass, formerly the west-of-Denver railroad crossing of the Continental Divide.