Rocky Mountain National Park

Ypsilon Mountain–Chapin Pass Trail, 4 sights

7 mi · ▲ 2,520 ft · 3 hr 36 min

Ypsilon Mountain–Chapin Pass Trail, 4 sights is a 7-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Gaskil, CO. The route reaches Ypsilon Mountain at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It climbs 2,520 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi11,031 – 13,505 ft · steepest grade: 31%7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Chapin Pass Trailhead 40.43483, -105.73035
Nearest town Gaskil, CO

Directions

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Ypsilon Mountain–Chapin Pass Trail, 4 sights

7 mi · ▲ 2,520 ft · 3 hr 36 min

Elevation 11,031–13,504 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Chapin Pass Trailhead · 40.43483, -105.73035

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 64°F / low 37° · precip 3% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:32 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Chapin Pass Trail, heading NE.
  2. 1.9 miTurn left onto Chiquita Mountain Bypass, heading N.
  3. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Ypsilon Summit Route, heading NE.
  4. 0.8 miReach Ypsilon Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Chiquita Mountain Bypass, heading SW.
  6. 0.8 miTurn right onto Chapin Pass Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 64°F37°
Precip3%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity40%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago (0.3″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
65°35°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:32 PM
Sat 65°42°
Sun 65°44° 23%
Mon 60°46° 23%
Tue 66°42° 21%
Wed 67°44° 30%
Thu 67°44° 40%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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