James Peak straddles the Clear Creek Ranger District, Sulphur Ranger District and James Peak Wilderness Area boundaries. This prominent summit offers commanding views across the James Peak Wilderness, Indian Peaks Wilderness and Gore Range. There are several ways to reach James Peak, each with unique attractions and challenges. The St Mary's Glacier route follows an unofficial but well-defined track that joins the Continental Divide Trail up to the summit.

Ice Lake fills a deep cirque between James Peak (13,294') and Mount Bancroft (13,250')

Nearby Grays Peak is the CDT's highest point (14,270'); Waterton Lake in Glacier National Park in Montana is the lowest (4,200')

The route to James Peak scales St Mary's Glacier, which is technically only a perennial snowfield

Bighorn Sheep rams weigh 150-250 lbs, with mature horns that can account for up to 10% of total body weight

View down the Loch Lomond drainange, a steep gorge between Mount Bancroft and James Peak

Looking north over the James Peak wilderness from the summit

Once on the CDT, travel clarifies on a well-cut trail on a markedly steeper grade to the summit

The trail to James Peak reaches St Mary's Lake and St Mary's Glacier in a half mile

Congress designated the CDT on November 10, 1978

St Mary's Glacier tapers into an expansive tundra flat

A well-cut trail leads east-west from St Mary's Glacier to the base of James Peak

Panorama (south) along the Continental Divide

The unofficial route joins the Continental Divide Trail about a mile below the summit

Looking east over the broad tundra flat between James Peak and St Mary's Glacier

Mount Bancroft (left) and James Peak (right) seen across a tundra flat above the glacier

Mount Bancroft (13,250') stands prominently (south) across the Loch Lomond gorge

Grays Peak and Torreys Peak nudge above the southern horizon from the open tundra