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Arapaho Peaks (North and South), Trail+Scramble (~9.5 miles round trip, 3650 ft gain/loss, 3rd/4th)

Arapaho Peaks (North and South)

Route:

Trail+Scramble

~9.5 miles round trip, 3650 ft gain/loss, 3rd/4th

Two summits with a fun ridge traverse to the highest point in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Region: Colorado
Elev: Fourth of July Trailhead Elev: 10,121 ft; Summit Elev (S Arapaho): 13,397 ft; Summit Elev (N Arapaho): 13,502 ft
Rock type: Gneiss
Type: 
Date(s): June 16, 2022 (Thu)
Partner(s): solo

Related trip reports:

Intro

The 13,502-foot North Arapaho Peak is the highest point in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Getting to the summit entails climbing over South Arapaho Peak and then traversing an exposed 3rd class 0.75-mile ridge connecting the two Arapaho Peaks. En route below the traverse between the peaks is the receding Arapaho Glacier is the largest in the state of Colorado.

So when I had a free day and the weather looked superb, the Arapaho Peaks sounded like a great objective. And indeed they were! I enjoyed the pleasant hike, the sunny cloudless skies, the entertaining high traverse, and the exercise of doing 3650+ feet of elevation gain and getting to a higher altitude, and all the time surrounded by gorgeous mountain views.

My car-to-car time was just over 6 hours, which included a nice break on each summit.

The following page gives some photos from the morning adventure. Enjoy!

Time Stats

Fourth of July Trailhead (0 miles, 10,121 ft): 5:55 am
South Arapaho Peak (4 miles, 13,397 ft): 8:25-8:35 am (10 min break)
North Arapaho Peak (4.7 miles, 13,502 ft): 9:12-9:35 am (23 min break)
Fourth of July Trailhead (9.5 miles, 10,121 ft): 12:15 pm
Boulder (9.5 miles, 5,318 ft): 1:15 pm
Total car-to-car (includes ~30 min summit breaks): 6 hours 20 minutes

Photos

Morning sun on the Indian Peaks across the way as I began the hike. I think this is the Mount Neva area.
Sign at trailhead.
Trail junction a couple of miles in. Take the right to go to the Arapaho Glacier Overlook.
Morning shadow.
South Arapaho Peak.
South Arapaho Peak and North Arapaho Peak as seen from near the Arapaho Glacier Overlook.
South Arapaho Peak and North Arapaho Peak during the ascent of South Arapaho.
On top of South Arapaho Peak. On the map, only the summit of North Arapaho Peak is labeled, since South Arapaho Peak is lower and less prominent than North Arapaho Peak.
The 0.75-mile traverse to North Arapaho Peak. Basically, just stay on the ridge, escaping west at any difficulties. There is a vague path most of the day. I didn't find anything harder than 3rd class.
Apparently this slabby section is the crux. It seemed no more than 3rd class to me.
The 3rd class slab "crux."
My guidebook noted of red paint markers along the traverse. I only spotted one such marker, although I did stay on route the entire time.
A bit of snow to conquer just before the summit of North Arapaho Peak.
On the short bit of snow. I had boots on, although approach shoes would have been fine.
Summit cairn on North Arapaho Peak.
On top of North Arapaho Peak.
Looking down at the Arapaho Glacier.
A view of South Arapaho Peak from North Arapaho Peak. The route between the summits stays on the west side of the ridge (the side not pictured) which is much less rugged than the east side of the ridge shown in the photo.
Hiking out under cloudless blue skies.
Hiking out under cloudless blue skies.
Snow buttercup.
Tiger lily.
Globeflower.
The Fourth of July Trailhead when I arrived back at 12:15 pm.
The always-crowded Hesse Trailhead. Even on a Thursday there were cars for about 0.5 mile along the road.

Previous and Next Adventures

Cragging at The Thumb and Needle, Estes Park, CO
Sky Pond (RMNP) with my parents, CO

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