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Mt. Yale

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult
 4.1 (23)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. San Isabel National Forest
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“Perhaps the easiest and one of the most scenic collegiate 14ers. ”

Tyler Prince
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Map Key

8.8

Miles

14.1

KM

Out and Back

14,177' 4,321 m

High

9,917' 3,023 m

Low

4,260' 1,298 m

Up

4,259' 1,298 m

Down

18%

Avg Grade (10°)

62%

Max Grade (32°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

State highway 306 is closed in winter just outside of Buena Vista.

Overview

A beautiful route in the heart of the Collegiate Peaks, Mt. Yale offers a great trip for hikers and runners alike. Easier than neighboring Harvard and Columbia, shorter than Belford and Oxford, and more of a real hike than the off-roaded Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale defines the Sawatch experience.

Need to Know

While an easier Sawatch peak, this is still a 14er. Bring plenty of water and sun protection. Due to its situation near Twin Lakes and other peaks, some hikers claim that Mt. Yale gets more precipitation than other nearby 14ers - so bring rain gear, too. Fast hikers can expect 4 hrs round trip; slower hikers 8.

Description

From US 24 in the center of Buena Vista, drive west on County Road 306. Drive 12 miles to reach the Denny Creek Trailhead on your right. There is ample parking here. It will be paved the entire way, making this track a good choice if you're limited by your vehicle.

From the Denny Creek Trailhead, head up this excellent trail with easy to moderate grade. While easy to follow, this trail has a fair number of rocks and roots, so be careful. In 1.2 miles, turn right, up the Mt. Yale Trail (staying straight would take you up Brown's Pass). There should be a sign at this junction.

Continue up the trail through the forest. Eventually, you'll be hiking parallel to a stream. Cross the stream at 11,200 ft and continue through some small meadows on switchbacks as the trees begin to thin and the grade gets steeper. Reach tree line at 12,000 ft. Continue along excellent trail, passing by numerous boulders on either side of the path at the bottom of a basin. From here, the remainder of the route is visible. Work your way north before the trail winds to the right along some rocks. Continue up some steep switchbacks to reach a saddle just shy of 14,000 ft. Turn right and scramble along some easy, low-grade rocks to the summit, just another 200 ft up.

Stop, enjoy the view, and do it all backwards.

Flora & Fauna

With a lush forest down low, and plenty of wildflowers up top, this is a scenic hike. Expect marmots and pika, and a good chance of mountain goats and deer.

History & Background

Ivy leaguers formerly had a tradition of carrying stones to the summit of their eponymous 14er so as to increase its elevation. Mt. Princeton, one foot higher than Yale, has thus been the bane of many a sore, stone-carrying Yalie.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - San Isabel National Forest, Leadville Ranger District

Shared By:

Tyler Prince
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 23 votes

#2

in San Isabel National Forest

#912

Overall
  4.1 from 23 votes
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#2

in San Isabel National Fo…

#185

in Colorado

#912

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Photos

Belford, Oxford, and Missouri from the summit of Mt. Yale.
Mar 19, 2015 near Buena V…, CO
Sunset on Mt. Yale. 10-4-20
Oct 5, 2020 near Buena V…, CO
Enjoying great views from Yale!
Apr 12, 2018 near Buena V…, CO
Awesome trail around tree line.
Mar 19, 2015 near Buena V…, CO

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Check-Ins

Aug 23, 2022
Kyle Jensen
2h 30m
Aug 17, 2022
William Horst
Beautiful trail--clearly marked and not technical; CAMPR hiked through a drizzle and summitted with a heavy fog over the peak (no views, sadly!). 9mi — 7h 00m
Jul 15, 2022
Andy Guthe
Solo. Beautiful. Run/hike 9.2mi — 3h 35m
Oct 25, 2021
Ashleigh Shunk
Aug 17, 2021
Stephen McElroy
9.5mi
Sep 27, 2020
Ken Fellman
Trail was dry. Wind was strong - especially at the top - could knock you over! Scramble for last 200 feet requires focus. 9.8mi — 0h 50m
Sep 13, 2020
Robert Whalen
9.5mi — 5h 41m
Sep 4, 2020
L G
With chris. Good hike, pretty straightforward (and straight up) — 4h 25m

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