James Peak Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The James Peak Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in north central Colorado
in the Arapaho
and Roosevelt
national forests. The wilderness area borders Indian Peaks Wilderness
to the north and the James Peak Protection Area to the west.
The wilderness area encompasses 14000 acres (57 km²) immediately east of the Continental Divide
in Gilpin County
and Clear Creek County
. The wilderness is named after its second tallest mountain, 13294 feet (4,052 m) James Peak
. Parry Peak is the highest peak in the James Peak Wilderness, at 13391 feet (4,082 m).
The Peak was named after Edwin James, pioneer and botanist. Originally Pike's Peak was
named James Peak prior to Pikes exploration journey. After the renaming to Pike's Peak they
established the current James Peak.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the Arapaho
Arapaho National Forest
Arapaho National Forest is a National Forest located in north-central Colorado, United States. The facility is managed jointly with the Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grassland from the United States Forest Service office in Fort Collins, Colorado...
and Roosevelt
Roosevelt National Forest
The Roosevelt National Forest is a National Forest located in north central Colorado. It is contiguous with the Colorado State Forest as well as the Arapaho National Forest...
national forests. The wilderness area borders Indian Peaks Wilderness
Indian Peaks Wilderness
The Indian Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area in north central Colorado managed jointly by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and small parts of the southern section of Rocky Mountain National Park. It borders the...
to the north and the James Peak Protection Area to the west.
Geography
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
in Gilpin County
Gilpin County, Colorado
Gilpin County is the second least extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Gilpin County was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The county population was 4,757 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Central City...
and Clear Creek County
Clear Creek County, Colorado
Clear Creek County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,322 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Georgetown...
. The wilderness is named after its second tallest mountain, 13294 feet (4,052 m) James Peak
James Peak
James Peak is a mountain located at the juncture of Clear Creek County, Grand County, and Gilpin County in north central Colorado in the United States. It has an elevation of 13,260 feet ....
. Parry Peak is the highest peak in the James Peak Wilderness, at 13391 feet (4,082 m).
History
The wilderness was established by H.R.1576 in the 107th Congress (2001).The Peak was named after Edwin James, pioneer and botanist. Originally Pike's Peak was
named James Peak prior to Pikes exploration journey. After the renaming to Pike's Peak they
established the current James Peak.