The South Arapaho Peak hike was the primary excessive alpine hike above 13,000 toes that I did in Colorado. It was a very epic day on the paths with good mates. South Arapaho Peak is a kind of hikes that locals will do many occasions over and over. In the event you dwell alongside the Entrance Vary, or are visiting Boulder or Denver, it’s arduous to beat this hike. You’ll witness spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Space upon this summit.
Why hike and summit South Arapaho Peak?
South Arapaho Peak stands at 13,397 toes, and is the 4th tallest peak within the Indian Peaks Wilderness Space. This hike is really magical and is tremendous accessible if you happen to dwell alongside the entrance vary or are visiting Denver, or Boulder. In case you are tenting or backpacking on this space, South Arapaho Peak might be achieved as a day hike. This can be a nice hike to do within the early Summer season because the snow is melting out, the wildflowers are popping up. The peaks, the lakes, the views and the surroundings on this basin are simply unending attractive in every single place you go.
The place to start out this hike – 4th of July trailhead
Begin your hike to South Arapaho Peak on the: 4th of July trailhead.
Drive a brief distance South on Colorado 119 from Nederland, and switch proper on Eldora Rd. Comply with to the small historic city of Eldora. Drive roughly 1.5 miles and veer proper up 4th of July Rd. Proceed on up 4.5 miles and 1000 toes to the 4th of July trailhead.
This can be a busy trailhead, particularly on weekends when hikers and backpackers are heading into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Arrive early if you would like the most effective likelihood of getting a parking spot and retaining your authentic climbing plan intact.
The 4th of July Trailhead has about 30–40 parking areas. In the event you get there round dawn or earlier, you’ll have a great likelihood at discovering a parking spot. In the event you arrive later than that, and the lot is full, arrive with a plan-B hike that you possibly can do from the Hessie Trailhead in order that your day isn’t wasted.
When to do the South Arapaho Peak hike?
This hike is historically achieved from the 4th of July weekend by till about mid-October. The highway in opens and closes primarily based on snowfall. You may get to hike it earlier in mid to late June. The perfect time to do that hike is early within the morning, early to mid-July, and on a transparent sunny day.
Although, if you wish to add on North Arapaho Peak to your day, non-windy days are finest, and later within the season so that every one snow and ice on the traverse from South Arapaho Peak to North Arapaho Peak has melted out.
When to not do the South Arapaho Peak hike?
From mid-October by Might, count on this hike to be way more tough and probably hazardous. Winter situations can deliver deep snow, ice, excessive chilly, and slower journey.
Within the Summer season, you need to concentrate on the native climate earlier than you begin climbing so what to anticipate and at what time.
Examine: South Arapaho Peak climate report
Through the afternoons, there might be (and sometimes are) violent thunder and lightning storms within the Colorado excessive nation. This hike is fairly uncovered within the higher tundra part and summit space. It might take most individuals 60 minutes to descend from the summit to beneath tree line (safer) – so it’s best to start out early, and ideally on a transparent day.
In the event you plan to do South Arapaho Peak and North Arapaho Peak collectively it’s best to do them later within the Summer season so that every one snow has melted out alongside the traverse that’s all rock.
Issue ranking
This 13er hike goes to be arduous for a lot of hikers because of the excessive altitude and steep sections of the path.
The 4th of July Trailhead sits at roughly 10,100 toes in keeping with the Metropolis of Boulder. And, you’ll hike all the way in which as much as 13,397 toes. The upper altitude could make it more durable to maneuver and may gradual you down. The very best stretch to the summit can be the steepest stretch of this hike. On sunny days, for a lot of this hike you possibly can face a substantial quantity of intense solar publicity. That is draining and may make your day more durable if you don’t deliver enough solar safety.
Complete distance and elevation
The South Arapaho Peak hike is roughly 8.6 miles in distance and three,250 toes of complete elevation acquire in keeping with my recordings – see beneath.
Climbing time
This hike will take most hikers 5-7 hours to finish. However, if climate is nice, take your time exploring, and embrace the wonder.
Terrain
The hike begins in forest and switch-backs up increased on a hard-packed dust and rock path. You’ll encounter small streams from melting snow that cross some components of the path however are simple to navigate. As you get above 11,500 toes the path will get rockier. Above 12,000 toes the dust and rock path cuts by open tundra. The ultimate push to the summit from the Arapaho saddle is primarily rock and the climbing will get a bit extra technical, although stays simple class 2+.
Gear advisor
This isn’t a straightforward hike and you can be out on the paths for a full day. These are a number of key gadgets that I like to recommend particularly for the South Arapaho hike.
Sturdy light-weight climbing sneakers or path trainers (reco) with good traction which have lug treads higher than 4mm
Light-weight trekking poles (reco: by way of black diamond or amazon) to preserve power and supply additional steadiness in difficult spots.
Solar safety – deliver solar block, solar hat, light-weight solar hoodie (reco), solar gloves, solar arm sleeves
Wind safety – light-weight windbreaker (reco) or operating jacket (reco)
Water filter (reco) to gather recent water – this lets you carry much less from the beginning of the hike
Small backpack for day hikes with hydration bladder (reco: backcountry – amazon), path operating hydration vest (reco), or waist pack
South Arapaho Peak Hike: Route and instructions
I’ve achieved this hike twice, however solely by taking the Southeast Ridge route by way of Arapaho Cross Path and Arapaho Glacier Path.
You can too hike to South Arapaho Peak by way of Arapaho Glacier Path from the East, beginning on the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead.
Park your automobile on the 4th of July trailhead, do your ultimate preparations, and get climbing.
Head up Arapaho Cross Path. You’ll switchback up a pleasing path by forest for simply over a mile till you break above the tree line. In your left and forward you possibly can see Jasper Peak and Mount Neva. On the correct as you get increased up, a waterfall stream of snow soften off splashes throughout the path. Columbines begin blooming in June. It’s a stupendous spot.
At about 2 miles distance and 11,200 toes of elevation you’ll arrive at a flatter and considerably extra open space that’s the scene of the Fourth of July mine. Look to the correct (North) and discover the Arapaho Glacier Path that heads straight upwards and East to large open tundra. The path turns sharply to the North West. Proceed up in the direction of Arapaho Saddle, and finally the summit.
Make your method as much as the Arapaho saddle that’s between Previous Baldy and South Arapaho Peak. You’ll discover the opposite a part of Arapaho Glacier Path that meets at this juncture from the East (Rainbow Lakes Trailhead). You can too peak over and catch some views of Arapaho Glacier beneath the saddle – see my pictures beneath.
Subsequent, begin your method to the summit. The ultimate method is one other 0.5 miles distance and 700 toes up. The evenly seen path is simply left (typically North West) and away from the ridge that drops down sharply to the Arapaho Glacier 1000 toes beneath. Work your method as much as the wind shelter and summit. The final time that I arrived at this summit, I noticed a weasel or marten, so chances are you’ll be welcomed.
These are my Strava and AllTrails recordings from current South Arapaho Peak summits.
Add-ons to the hike
If you need extra journey and a enjoyable however considerably spicy scramble you possibly can navigate the traverse to North Arapaho Peak. There may be some difficult class 3 scrambling strikes so remember to do your analysis. I’ve not achieved this traverse as a result of it has been too windy each occasions I hiked to South Arapaho Peak. The North Arapaho Peak hike is on my record to do that yr and I’ll quickly publish a whole evaluate.
One other comparatively simple add-on is to hike as much as Lake Dorothy that’s additional up Arapaho Cross Path that might be achieved after you summit South Arapaho Peak. You can too drop down (750 toes) on the West facet of Arapaho Cross to Caribou Lake that appears beautiful from above. v
Closing ideas
The hike to South Arapaho Peak is likely one of the finest hikes and 13er summits that you are able to do within the Entrance Vary. The views are unimaginable and it’s robust to say goodbye as soon as you might be up on this summit. You would sit and have a look at these views and by no means get uninterested in the wonder.
An effective way to finish the day after doing this difficult hike is to hang around by the creek close to the parking zone. Chill, eat, drink, chill out, dip your toes within the creek, and re-energize earlier than you head out.
Photographs from my hikes to South Arapaho Peak in Colorado:
This basin is a stupendous place to hike. My pictures beneath are from my most up-to-date hike as much as South Arapaho Peak that was in June, so because of this there’s a truthful quantity of lingering snow..
Mount Jasper the center triangular peak coated in snow that could be a enjoyable snow climb that I’ve achieved in June.
Wanting down at Diamond Lake and the basin that extends as much as Higher Diamond Lake mid-way up the Arapaho Glacier Path to South Arapaho Peak.
Look throughout at Mount Neva straight forward, and the Arapaho Cross Path on the correct. Attractive nation.
Wanting up the Arapaho Glacier Path to the rocky summit of South Arapaho Peak.
Getting nearer to Arapaho Saddle and the Arapaho Glacier beneath.
Wanting down on the Arapaho Glacier from the Saddle.
Wanting South West in the direction of Lake Dorothy and Arapaho Cross.
Working my method up the ultimate 500-700 toes of rocky terrain to the summit of South Arapaho Peak.
Wanting down throughout the huge tundra and the faint line of the Arapaho Glacier Path.
Wanting South from close to the summit of South Arapaho Peak – virtually on the high. You possibly can see some 14ers (Grays, Torreys, Bluesky, and Bierstadt) in the course of the photograph.
The ultimate stretch to the summit. You possibly can see that I stayed fairly near the ridge that drops off on the correct – not essentially advisable – there may be extra space left and no publicity that exists on my proper.
Wanting throughout the traverse to North Arapaho Peak. I can see some footprints on the left of the photograph that’s the method. I’ve not but achieved North Arapaho Peak however hope to this yr. It has some enjoyable class 3 scrambling strikes.
Wanting down on the Arapaho Glacier from the summit of South Arapaho Peak.
The flat and enormous summit of North Arapaho Peak throughout the way in which. Stunning snow.
Jasper Peak on the left and Mount Neva on the correct with Lake Dorothy.
Wanting throughout layers of entrance vary mountains to the South East whereas descending South Arapaho Peak. You possibly can see the bottom runs of Eldora to the center proper of this photograph.
