Class 2 12.3 miles 3700 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Aug 18, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Jacque Peak GPX Track

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Jaque Peak is a 13er set apart to the south from the others in the Gore Range, and its a lot less difficult than many of its northern neighbors. This hike basically just follows a dirt road up to Union Mountain, then heads along a nice ridgeline to gain Jacque Peak. Austin and I decided to make it a more pleasant hike by following the dirt road for its entirety on the way up, but you can cut off up to 4 miles round trip if you just ascend the ski slopes rather than the road. The slopes are overgrown, but certainly more direct. I included this other option as a purple line on my attached map, but the stats reflect doing the hike as an out-and-back using the road (orange line).

We parked at the free ot at the base of the Copper Mountain ski resort and started along the paved road until a dirt road veered off on the left. We took this up switchbacks for many miles before the views started getting good, but ti was a nice light grade and we enjoyed the morning hike. Along the way we passed all sorts of ski resort things: ski lifts, summer maintenance trucks, a rollercoaster.

Eventually we reached the top of the American Flyer Ski Lift, the point where our dirt road came to an end. We ascended via a steep mostly talus Class 2 slope just behind the lift, then followed the ridge up to Union Mountain. This is an unranked peak that I believe is used moreso as a reference point for skiiers rather than a hiking destination. A short descent off Union Mountain led southwest along a tundra-filled ridgeline to the base of Jacque Peak. We encountered some light Class 2 boulder-hopping, but otherwise it was just an easy walk with some light rolling hills. Class 2 met us at the base of Jacque Peak, and aside from one short section of steeper Class 2 to get over a small rock outcrop, the peak just requires a bunch of boulder-hopping.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Union Mountain
12313 ft
33 rise
2
Jacque Peak
13205 ft
2045 rise

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Starting from the free parking lot, following the paved road heading west. We left it shortly after this bridge to head left and to start up dirt road switchbacks.
Starting from the free parking lot, following the paved road heading west. We left it shortly after this bridge to head left and to start up dirt road switchbacks.
Along the dirt road switchbacks.
Along the dirt road switchbacks.
Nothing too great just yet.
Nothing too great just yet.
View back after lots of road walking.
View back after lots of road walking.
Still ascending.
Still ascending.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Approaching American Flyer Ski Lift. Behind it we'd ascend that steep hill.
Approaching American Flyer Ski Lift. Behind it we'd ascend that steep hill.
Class 2 ascent up the steep hill just behind American  Flyer.
Class 2 ascent up the steep hill just behind American Flyer.
Past the ski lift, we continued along the ridge up to Union Mountain.
Past the ski lift, we continued along the ridge up to Union Mountain.
Along the ridge on our way up to Union Mountain. While there wasn't a trail, it was easy tundra walking.
Along the ridge on our way up to Union Mountain. While there wasn't a trail, it was easy tundra walking.
Union Mountain ahead.
Union Mountain ahead.
View back as we make our way up to Union Mountain.
View back as we make our way up to Union Mountain.
Union Mountain, view toward Jacque Peak.
Union Mountain, view toward Jacque Peak.
Jacque Peak, just a ridgeline away.
Jacque Peak, just a ridgeline away.
View back toward Union Mountain. Some light Class 2 along the way. It gets a little rougher than this photo, but it's short-lived.
View back toward Union Mountain. Some light Class 2 along the way. It gets a little rougher than this photo, but it's short-lived.
Tundra walking along the ridgeline to Jacque Peak.
Tundra walking along the ridgeline to Jacque Peak.
View back.
View back.
Approaching Jacque Peak.
Approaching Jacque Peak.
Wide shot looking back toward Union Mountain.
Wide shot looking back toward Union Mountain.
At the base of Jacque Peak, where the tundra ends.
At the base of Jacque Peak, where the tundra ends.
Starting up the Class 2 base of Jacque Peak.
Starting up the Class 2 base of Jacque Peak.
Looking back along the Class 2.
Looking back along the Class 2.
Class 2 up Jacque Peak.
Class 2 up Jacque Peak.
One steeper section of Class 2 to get over a small rock outcrop.
One steeper section of Class 2 to get over a small rock outcrop.
More boulder-hopping on flatter terrain to the summit of Jacque Peak.
More boulder-hopping on flatter terrain to the summit of Jacque Peak.
Jacque Peak summit, view back toward Union Mountain.
Jacque Peak summit, view back toward Union Mountain.
Jacque Peak summit, view south.
Jacque Peak summit, view south.
Jacque Peak summit, view west.
Jacque Peak summit, view west.
Jacque Peak summit, view southeast toward the 13ers of the Tenmile Range.
Jacque Peak summit, view southeast toward the 13ers of the Tenmile Range.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!