The lake is not on Ypsilon Mountain per se but is so named because of its proximity. From Lawn Lake Trailhead, follow several steep switchbacks to a gradual ascent northwest through Douglas fir toward Roaring River. Rocky Mountain National Park At the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is the deepest natural lake in Colorado, dipping to 265 feet. Horses are also able to use this trail. stevenjoelbrey 2 years, 3 months ago Track (8/26/18, 8:42:08AM) AngelaO 2 years, 4 months ago Track (8/11/18, 7:19:01AM) kapners 2 years, 6 months ago Ypsilon Lake. It’s about protecting what sustains us. No other permit is necessary; however, special regulations exist. The dam failure led to the removal of three other man-made dams within the park, including Pear Lake, Sandbeach Lake and Bluebird Lake. Aspen and other fauna have quickly recolonized the canyon floor. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Keep it Clean. Camping related to Ypsilon Mountain is only allowed in the Ypsilon Lake area. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Download the free Trail Ridge topo map. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. ... Ypsilon Lake and Creek* * Greenback Cutthroat Trout ** Colorado River Cutthroat The incline is gradual the entire hike, really manageable with a pack. To reach the shore of Ypsilon Lake and the nearby falls, it’s a 4.2 miles slog uphill through dense forest. Ypsilon Lake - 8.75 Miles Rocky Mountain National Park. Ypsilon Lake, Trail Map, Lawn Lake Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); RockyMountainHikingTrails.com. The lake is brimming with rainbow cutthroat trout, and fishing is especially fruitful in the lake’s shallow, southern section. Beginning at the Lawn Lake Trailhead, Ypsilon Lake is 4.5 miles of forested uphill trail. Towards the beginning of this hike, you will pass by the dramatic flood-ridden landscape left behind from when Lawn Lake Dam broke in 1982. Rocky Mountain National Park: Ypsilon Lake Loop On this 8.4-miler, you'll climb well-marked trails to the tentacle-like flanks of Ypsilon Mountain and its namesake lake, then return off-trail by following a mountain stream past unnamed waterfalls. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. For the best views of the surrounding mountains hikers should take the social trail that leads east towards the opposite end of the lake. Trail Description: The hike to Ypsilon Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Lawn Lake Trailhead in the Horseshoe Park area, located just west of Estes Park. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Upper Chipmunk Lake is the only feasible camping area … Rated 5.0 /5 based on 1 customer reviews 5.0 9 miles 2000 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail Save Add ... Overview Moraine Park Campground (8,160 feet) is located in Colorado's awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park, near the Beaver Meadow... Larimer County, Colorado. Grand Lake is a statutory town in Grand County, Colorado, United States.The population was 471 at the 2010 census.. The hike to Ypsilon Lake is a 9-mile round-trip journey along a heavily forested trail in the Mummy Range of Rocky Mountain National Park. Find a quiet rock to cast a line, or enjoy the view with lunch and a friend before the trek back to the trailhead. The best views are found by following the lake shore to the southeastern edge of the lake, where Ypsilon Mountain can be seen towering high above the lake’s waters. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail metrics. GPS Coordinates :: Download Coordinates. Portions of this stretch of trail were heavily damaged during the September 2013 Flood. Fed by high mountain runoff, the lake is clear and pristine. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Some witnesses said the failure created a wall of water 25 to 30 feet high. The trailhead is located one-tenth of a mile from this junction along the north side of the road. Over the course of the first two miles or so you'll catch sporadic views of Deer Mountain, Longs Peak and the other mountains that surround the Horseshoe Park and Endovalley areas. Up to 19 inches now possible in Colorado's Tuesday snowstorm Fort Collins-area fire explodes, prompting Rocky Mountain National Park closures including iconic road +4 If starting from this trailhead and running to Ypsilon Lake, be ready for around 4 miles of ascent from 8,600 ft to 10,700 ft. Cross the Roaring River on a wooden bridge and start ascending the trail. Trail Description Trail Photos Print this Trail Trip Reports. However, these sections were repaired by crews in 2016 and 2017, including the footbridge that spanned the Roaring River. To be sure, this is destination hike. The mountain, along with Mount Chiquita, is most easily accessed from a trailhead on Fall River Road to the south. This trail spurs off of the Lawn Lake Trail about a mile and a half north of the Lawn Lake Trailhead. All rights reserved. skills - it's possible to continue along a social trail that leads west from the inlet creek, to a couple of alpine lakes known as Spectacle Lakes. The trail is primarily used for hiking. Nestled at the base of Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Ypsilon Lake is a rugged alpine lake flanked by a sheer cliff face to the northwest and views of Bighorn Mountain and the Roaring River Valley to the southeast. Follow the well established trail for 6.2 miles to Lawn Lake. After the half-mile mark, the trail will open on the Roaring River. Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately 76 mi (122 km) northwest of Denver International Airport in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. An easily followed trail takes you through pine and aspen to a picturesque lake (and past another one, … After killing three campers the water rushed down Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park before stopping at Lake Estes. At just over 3.5 miles the trail finally flattens out, while also reaching its highest elevation of roughly 10,760 feet. Hikers visiting Ypsilon Lake and Lawn Lake will share the same path during the first 1.4 miles of this hike. After a brief ascent past Chipmunk Lake, the trail will descend to Ypsilon Lake for no more than a half mile. The Best Winter Adventures in North America. Don't be disappointed if you arrive at the lake to see no fish cruising. This trail spurs off of the Lawn Lake Trail about a mile and a half north of the Lawn Lake Trailhead. Completed in 1907, the 4.5-mile Ypsilon Lake Trail predates the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915. Backcountry camping is available nearby at Chipmunk Campground. This is the origin of a large flood on July 15, 1982, when the Lawn Lake Dam failed and released a wall of water that, literally, ripped away the river banks, and washed tons of debris into the town of Estes Park, leaving it buried in up to six feet of mud. These are finicky fish that expect the right conditions. In 1903 a 26-foot high earthen dam was Ypsilon Lake sits in a wooded basin along the eastern slopes of Ypsilon Mountain and Mount Chiquita. Continue ascending for another 1.5 miles to Chipmunk Lake, a small, quiet pond no more than a half-mile from Ypsilon. Beautiful alpine lake. © 2020 Outdoor Project. Standing at an elevation of 13,069 feet you'll have outstanding views of Longs Peak towards the southeast, while Ypsilon Mountain rises towards the northeast. Pass the Roaring River before heading into the woods towards Ypsilon. At 4.2 miles hikers will pass the Upper Chipmunk Backcountry Campground, and at 4.5 miles, will finally arrive along the western shore of Ypsilon Lake. built to enhance the natural lake from 16.4 acres to 48 acres in order to help with crop irrigation in the Loveland area. Threats … After passing Chipmunk Lake the trail begins descending again, including a fairly steep decent just before reaching Ypsilon Lake. Chiquita (13,075′), and Mt. Ypsilon Falls is a tiered waterfall hidden along the northern shore of Ypsilon Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. 2-4" of snow after trail goes off to Ypsilon Lake. The hike to Ypsilon Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Lawn Lake Trailhead in the Horseshoe Park area, located just west of Estes Park. Frankly, much of the trail won’t reward hikers for their effort, but Ypsilon Lake and its smaller companion, Chipmunk Lake, are two of many beautiful alpine destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park and worth the hike on their own merit, and anglers will find a cool and quiet place to drop a line. The main trail continues towards Lawn Lake. It lies in a confined, heavily wooded basin on the east slope of Ypsilon Mountain (13,514') and Mount Chiquita (13,069') in the Mummy Range. Technically this lake is called Lower Chipmunk Lake, and there is an Upper Chipmunk Lake a bit further along the trail, but Upper Chipmunk Lake is completely dried out. It’s about more than standing on the mountain top. From the beginning the trail climbs steadily through a fairly dense pine forest. Trail Map | … Ypsilon Lake - 8.75 Miles Round-Trip Ypsilon Lake (10,632') is located 4.4 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Colorado › Rocky Mountain National Park ... Ypsilon lake trail to the boulder field. Trail Description Trail Photos Print this Trail Trip Reports. The Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association likely established the current alignment to reach Ypsilon Lake. Length 10.8 miElevation gain 3198 ftRoute type Out … Access 650K+ miles of trail data, offline maps, GPS tracking + waypoint functionality, Outdoor Project adventures, and more, using onX Backcountry. The raw power of the 2013 floods destroyed housing and infrastructure in Estes Park, and it has taken years to recover. Start at the Lawn Lake Trailhead, but make sure to turn left onto the Ypsilon Lake Trail approximately 1.2 miles in. From the junction, you turn left and follow the rocky trail uphill through a pine forest. Follow the ridge overlooking the canyon for another half-mile or so to a junction; take the left spur to Ypsilon Lake. Hikers should turn left here to continue towards Ypsilon Lake. The first mile of the hike is relatively flat, winding a few switch backs to the junction of Lawn Lake and Ypsilon Lake trails, along the creek. This small lake is a hidden gem with a gorgeous backdrop of Ypsilon Mountain (13,520′), Mt. Cross a dilapidated footbridge to find the lake shore and its emerald waters. The trail will continue ascending another mile before the trail levels sharply at a small but conspicuous clearing. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Chiquita in the heart of the Mummy Range, and is fed by a waterfall near the point where the trail intersects with the lake. The two lakes fill a cirque basin just beneath Ypsilon Mountain. Both camping and bivy sites require permits that are obtained from RMNP's Backcountry Office which can be reached at 970-586-1242. Ypsilon Mountain, elevation 13,520 ft (4,121 m), is in the Mummy Range of Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado. It’s about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Upon reaching the lake, which is framed by Ypsilon Mountain and the cloud-scraping Mummy Range to the north, use a network of social trails to explore its pine-walled, boulder-strewn shorelines. Cross the canyon floor and a small footbridge over Roaring River and begin ascending again for another half mile. Ypsilon Lake is the least visited of the two because there is no (official) continuation path, though a steep off-trail scramble reaches the two Spectacle Lakes, set amidst stark granite scenery at the foot of Ypsilon Mountain. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? On July 15, 1982, the dam failed and released more than 300 million gallons of water down the Roaring River valley. For the adventurous - those with basic scrambling and route-finding Spectacle Lakes via Ypsilon Lake Trail [CLOSED] is a 10.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. In all, damages to the area totaled roughly $31 million. It is your responsibility to know and obey them. Like many lakes above 10,000 feet, Ypsilon Lake is an on/off proposition. Fishing. This perch will provide a birds-eye view of the snow-filled couloirs that form the Y from which the name of the mountain is derived (Ypsilon is the Greek word for the letter "Y"). Even today sections of the Roaring River's high gully walls remain unstable and prone to sudden collapse. It’s about nourishment and learning. A few down trees along the way but nothing that cannot be stepped over or crawled under. It's nominally 9 miles out and back, with 2200 feet of elevation change. Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail. Copyright Ypsilon Lake is less spectacular but still pretty, and the path also passes a smaller, photogenic pond (Chipmunk Lake). The Ypsilon Lake Trail is located 8.8 miles from Estes Park, Colorado (CO) in Rocky Mountain National Park. Nestled at the base of Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Ypsilon Lake is a rugged alpine lake flanked by a sheer cliff face to the northwest and views of Bighorn Mountain and the Roaring River Valley to the southeast. At the eastern end of the Buchanan PassTrail, Middle St. … National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for RMNP. I used spikes just to have a little more traction but they are not really essential. A valid Colorado fishing license is required for all persons 16 years of age or older to fish in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ypsilon Lake Trail is a 9.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. 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