Crater Lakes via South Boulder Creek

Starting at the Moffat Tunnel East Portal, the route enters Roosevelt National Forest and follows the South Boulder Creek Trail into the James Peak Wilderness, passing dense subalpine forest, creekside clearings, and the Forest Lakes Trail junction before turning onto the signed Crater Lakes Trail.

The climb then becomes steeper and more enclosed, leaving the main creek corridor for a rocky forested ascent toward the Crater Lakes basin, where the route reaches the lower lakes, with South Crater Lake and North Crater Lake set below open alpine slopes.

Beyond the lower lakes, the itinerary continues toward the upper Crater Lake, ending beside quiet high-country water with views back over the Crater Lakes valley and toward the surrounding James Peak and Spirit Peak area.

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