James Peak, Parry Peak, Mount Eva, Mount Flora Loop in Arapaho National Forest, CO

Hike James Peak, Parry Peak, Mount Eva, Mount Flora Loop Arapaho National Forest, CO

Class 2 15.9 miles 6400 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Aug 16, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

James Peak, Parry Peak, Mount Eva, Mount Flora Loop GPX Track

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Most people seem to approach Mount Flora and the subsequent traverse to James Peak by coming up from Colorado Mines Peak via Berthoud Pass. I had no interest in doing an out-and-back of these 13ers, hoping instead to find a loop. I scoured topo maps to plan a route, and came up with this trip. It ended up being absolutely wonderful. While the route crosses a couple of roads and follows trails, I saw very few people except for at a couple of the more popular areas along the route. The majority of the hike follows the Continental DivideTrail. A few notes on the trailhead: where I chose to park is likely the most convenient if you have mid-clearance. The spot I labeled Alternative Parking 1 (39.81317, -105.65609) is the standard trailhead to get up to Loch Lomond (which isn't a trail really, just a pretty poor road), but the neighborhood is unfriendly to hikers, with signs reading "no parking" all over. Parking at Alternative Parking 1 is likely the best option for 2WD though. Just note you have to park on the crappy forest road to avoid parking illegally, and the shoulders of the road seem to fill up quickly, so smaller cars might have trouble finding a place to park. Alternative Parking 2 (39.8027, -105.70908) is another option, and this road isn't terrible, and is a bit more of a remote area compared to the Loch Lomond area. If you have a mid-clearance vehicle, I'd recommend you start where I labeled "Park" on the map attached.

I had some difficulty locating the Continental DivideTrail from the pullout where I parked, lots of social trails around dispersed camping making the official trail (though marked with the official Continental DivideTrail marker) hard to follow at first. Once on it, the Colorado Trail started up toward the Loch Lomond Road before paralleling it, crossing it, and continuing up toward James Peak. I left treeline quickly, and enjoyed the morning views as the Continental DivideTrail meandered through the tundra, intersecting the the James Peak Trail. I saw a few groups almost instantly along the James Peak Trail, and also lots of cars down below at Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond was pretty from above, but the road to it means ATVs and cars with access made it a shitshow.

Once on James Peak, I took in the smoky views north toward the Indian Peaks Wilderness before starting down its south ridge to the saddle with Mount Bancroft. The views along the this section of the route were my favorite. Ice Lake and Loch Lomond below were incredibly scenic and colorful, and the ridge between the peaks was quite photogenic. I stumbled on a social trail, which wandered through some Class 2 talus and dropped me down on the left of the ridge proper, where the rocks were larger and more difficult to navigate. The social trail then wrapped around to the right of a rock outcropping along the ridge, safely hugging the ridge's cliffs and popping me back on tundra at the saddle of James/Bancroft, nothing past Class 2. The steep ascent to Mount Bancroft was pleasant. I continued along the ridgeline over Parry Peak, Mount Eva, and all the way to Mount Flora. Overall it's just a pretty ridgeline, undulating over grassy tundra with a couple of very light rocky sections, only a few sections of Class 2.

From Mount Flora, I hopped on the Continental DivideTrail and descended Mount Flora's east ridge. The trail was obvious at first, and followed the wide and expansive ridge. It descended along the slopes, which became riddled with talus, switchbacking down to avoid some of the more rocky regions. I did lose the trail a couple of times here, but I kept seeing cairns and was able to rejoin it. Eventually, the Continental DivideTrail curved north and finished its descent off Mount Flora. I crossed the road leading to Bill Moore Lake (Alternative Parking 2 on the map), picking up the trail again on the opposite side of the road. The trail ascended slightly along the slopes, some nice views of the tops of Flora and Eva serving as a nice backdrop. After a pleasant walk through a meadow, the Continental DivideTrail continued into the trees, descending to where I parked my car. James Peak was visible in the distance and I was happy to get some nice views at the end of the day.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
James Peak
13294 ft
694 rise
2
Mount Bancroft
13250 ft
253 rise
3
Parry Peak
13391 ft
1720 rise
4
Mount Eva
13130 ft
410 rise
5
South Mount Eva
12805 ft
n/a rise
6
Mount Flora
13142 ft
662 rise

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After hiking along the Continental Divide Trail, passing over Loch Lomond Road, and continuing up through the trees, I got some views of James Peak (center) and Mount Bancroft.
After hiking along the Continental Divide Trail, passing over Loch Lomond Road, and continuing up through the trees, I got some views of James Peak (center) and Mount Bancroft.
Above treeline, heading toward James Peak.
Above treeline, heading toward James Peak.
Close-up toward Loch Lomond below.
Close-up toward Loch Lomond below.
Looking back toward where I came.
Looking back toward where I came.
Heading through tundra up to James Peak.
Heading through tundra up to James Peak.
Image 5 from gallery
Along the James Peak Trail.
Along the James Peak Trail.
Looking back. The Loch Lomond road is within the trees on the right.
Looking back. The Loch Lomond road is within the trees on the right.
Image 8 from gallery
Ice Lake peeking through below Mount Bancroft. James Peak out of frame on the right.
Ice Lake peeking through below Mount Bancroft. James Peak out of frame on the right.
Looking back along the James Peak Trail, Loch Lomond visible below.
Looking back along the James Peak Trail, Loch Lomond visible below.
James Peak ahead.
James Peak ahead.
Looking back just below James Peak's summit.
Looking back just below James Peak's summit.
James Peak summit, view north toward the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Lots of fire haze, unfortunately.
James Peak summit, view north toward the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Lots of fire haze, unfortunately.
Continuing south toward the traverse to come.
Continuing south toward the traverse to come.
Ice Lake on the left, Mount Bancroft on the top right, and the Class 2 traverse ahead. The route keeps to the left on the talus (it's more rocky on the right) down to the rocky outcrop in the center.
Ice Lake on the left, Mount Bancroft on the top right, and the Class 2 traverse ahead. The route keeps to the left on the talus (it's more rocky on the right) down to the rocky outcrop in the center.
Just to the right of the rocky outcrop, continuing to the right on talus.
Just to the right of the rocky outcrop, continuing to the right on talus.
Avoiding the rocky outcrop on Class 2, hugging the cliff. Mount Bncroft visible on the right.
Avoiding the rocky outcrop on Class 2, hugging the cliff. Mount Bncroft visible on the right.
Heading up the slope, looking back toward James Peak (left) and Ice Lake.
Heading up the slope, looking back toward James Peak (left) and Ice Lake.
Continuing up the ridge to Mount Bancroft (center). Parry Peak is visible top right.
Continuing up the ridge to Mount Bancroft (center). Parry Peak is visible top right.
Looking back again.
Looking back again.
Approaching Mount Bancroft.
Approaching Mount Bancroft.
Mount Bancroft summit, view back toward James Peak.
Mount Bancroft summit, view back toward James Peak.
Parry Peak ahead. Eva and Flora visible on the left.
Parry Peak ahead. Eva and Flora visible on the left.
Nearing the Parry Peak summit, view back toward Mount Bancroft and James Peak.
Nearing the Parry Peak summit, view back toward Mount Bancroft and James Peak.
Heading down from Parry Peak, continuing to Mount Eva.
Heading down from Parry Peak, continuing to Mount Eva.
At the saddle of Parry Peak and Mount Eva.
At the saddle of Parry Peak and Mount Eva.
Mount Eva summit, view back toward Parry Peak and Mount Bancroft. James Peak is poking up between them.
Mount Eva summit, view back toward Parry Peak and Mount Bancroft. James Peak is poking up between them.
Mount Eva summit detritus, view south toward Mount Flora.
Mount Eva summit detritus, view south toward Mount Flora.
After a long tundra stroll, a steep push up to Mount Flora's false summit.
After a long tundra stroll, a steep push up to Mount Flora's false summit.
Almost at Mount Flora's false summit, view back along the ridgeline I traversed.
Almost at Mount Flora's false summit, view back along the ridgeline I traversed.
Continuing on tundra to Mount Flora's true summit.
Continuing on tundra to Mount Flora's true summit.
Mounta Flora summit ahead, Ethel Lake below. The route I would take follows the Continental Divide Trail from the summit, leading along the ridge visible in this photo.
Mounta Flora summit ahead, Ethel Lake below. The route I would take follows the Continental Divide Trail from the summit, leading along the ridge visible in this photo.
Starting down from Mount Flora's summit, view back along the ridge.
Starting down from Mount Flora's summit, view back along the ridge.
I picked up the Continental Divide Trail and followed it along the ridge. I will be down in those trees seen top left after descending from the ridge. The Continental Divide Trail basically follows the treeline on the left.
I picked up the Continental Divide Trail and followed it along the ridge. I will be down in those trees seen top left after descending from the ridge. The Continental Divide Trail basically follows the treeline on the left.
Looking back toward Mount Flora, Ethel Lake poking out on the right.
Looking back toward Mount Flora, Ethel Lake poking out on the right.
Along the Continental Divide Trail, a fairly long walk down the ridge.
Along the Continental Divide Trail, a fairly long walk down the ridge.
The ridge becomes filled with talus and the trail becomes hard to follow at times, but cairns help in staying on track.
The ridge becomes filled with talus and the trail becomes hard to follow at times, but cairns help in staying on track.
The Continental Divide Trail curves left when nearing the base of the ridge and heads down toward Bill Moore Lake. Mount Flora is visible on the left.
The Continental Divide Trail curves left when nearing the base of the ridge and heads down toward Bill Moore Lake. Mount Flora is visible on the left.
You can see the dirt road leading to Bill Moore Lake on the right. The Continental Divide Trail crosses it.
You can see the dirt road leading to Bill Moore Lake on the right. The Continental Divide Trail crosses it.
Crossing the road.
Crossing the road.
Still along the Continental Divide Trail, view looking back toward the ridge I descended from Mount Flora. The trail leads out of frame on the top left when coming down. Mount Flora visible on the right.
Still along the Continental Divide Trail, view looking back toward the ridge I descended from Mount Flora. The trail leads out of frame on the top left when coming down. Mount Flora visible on the right.
Continental Divide Trail gains a little elevation as it hugs the slopes.
Continental Divide Trail gains a little elevation as it hugs the slopes.
Looking back.
Looking back.
Meadowy walk along the Continental Divide Trail.
Meadowy walk along the Continental Divide Trail.
Looking back, the ridge I came down from Mount Flora visible on the left.
Looking back, the ridge I came down from Mount Flora visible on the left.
Continental Divide Trail heads through the trees after a nice long meadowy walk.
Continental Divide Trail heads through the trees after a nice long meadowy walk.
Image 47 from gallery
Some final views toward James Peak as I descend down to my car.
Some final views toward James Peak as I descend down to my car.
Image 49 from gallery

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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!