Lake James Trail
You'll need to tackle 10 miles (roundtrip) of hiking along the now-closed Carbon River Road to complete this trip, but it's worth it to see the Yellowstone Cliffs, Windy Gap, and Lake James at the end.
Plan Around Lake James Trail
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Lake James Trail Details
You'll need to tackle 10 miles (roundtrip) of hiking along the now-closed Carbon River Road to complete this trip, but it's worth it to see the Yellowstone Cliffs, Windy Gap, and Lake James at the end. The lake, incidentally, was named after a park ranger's son in 1912. To access the trailhead, hike the Carbon River Road about 5 miles to the Ipsut Creek Campground and then take the Wonderland Trail 2 miles until you intersection the Northern Loop Trail junction. Turn left, cross the Carbon River, and then turn left again to follow the Northern Loop Trail. Follow a series of steep switchbacks up until the trail levels off and passes by the Yellowstone Cliffs sitting below Tyee Peak (enjoy views of the subalpine meadows around the cliffs). Keep climbing and eventually pass through the boulder-dotted meadows of Windy Gap, eventually dropping down 1.5 miles to the lake. Trail stats: 22 miles; 3,450 feet of elevation gain; 9 hours.
Difficulty
High
Distance
22 miles
Estimated time
9 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Lake James Trail
Compare nearby parks around Lake James Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Lake James Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Lake James Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Mystic Lake Trail
You can access Mystic Lake from two trailheads: Sunrise (a 21.8-mile route) or the Carbon River Entrance (20.8 miles), via the Wonderland Trail from either direction.
0.1 mi away
Carbon River Rainforest Trail
This .3-mile loop is enough to give you a taste of this ancient and stunning lowland rainforest in the Carbon River area.
0.2 mi away
Carbon River Road
This historic old road, built in 1921, is located in the northwestern corner of the park.
2.1 mi away
Carbon River Ranger Station
The Carbon River Ranger Station is the park's only ranger station that stays open year-round.
2.6 mi away
Moraine Park Trail
This spectacular hike gives you a close-up look at the Carbon Glacier, wildflowers, and a sweeping view of Mount Rainier.
