Trail Description

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The unassuming hike to Ypsilon Lake is quietly a challenging one, but certainly worth the effort. Anticipate steady climbing through non-descript forest to a beautiful subalpine lake nestled in a remote corner of Rocky Mountain National Park's Mummy Range.

A 534’ climb from the trailhead levels out high atop the east bank of Roaring River (1.0 mile : 9,074’). En route you’ll enjoy good views of Horseshoe Park below. The trail turns north along the riverbank and follows a much gentler grade to the Ypsilon Lake Trail junction (1.45 miles : 9,190’).

A footbridge leads over a passive section of river, turns sharply southwest and climbs steeply through a uniform lodgepole pine forest. The trail eases momentarily after 2 miles and turns decisively northwest up a heavily wooded ridge top. From here, with only brief exception, the trail keeps a moderately steep and rocky grade through uneventful forest until reaching its apex (3.8 miles : 10,772’) and descending toward Ypsilon Lake

The trail drops quickly from the ridge top into the narrow, high-subalpine valley in which Ypsilon Lake is tucked. On the descent you’ll pass Chipmunk Lake (4 miles : 10,682’), a small but scenic pond framed by Ypsilon Mountain (13,514’) and the southwest flank of Fairchild Mountain (13,502’) to the north.

The trail dips and rolls along the uneven valley floor to the northwest shore of Ypsilon Lake (4.37 miles : 10,664’). The vantage from here is quite limited, though easy maneuvering along social trails above the lake’s west shore leads to friendly stretches of open shoreline and excellent views of Ypsilon and Fairchild mountains.

A logjam at Ypsilon Lake’s south end makes further circumnavigation difficult, however the outlet spills into a very pretty, more accessible meadow that’s seldom explored by day hikers. A social trail leads a few steps from the north shore to a lively waterfall; this unmaintained trail continues above the falls approximately .75 miles to the Spectacle Lakes, two sensational alpine lakes filling a shapely cirque beneath Ypsilon Mountain. Reaching them requires good endurance and basic scrambling skills.

Worth Noting

• The Mummy Range’s middle and upper reaches generally face south-southeast, making the slopes up which you’re climbing warmer than most of comparable elevations. One result is a higher-than-average treeline, and the presence of lodgepole pine at elevations where spruce and fir would normally dominate.



• On July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam - a 26’ high earthen dam - failed. The dam released 674 acre-feet (219,724,000 gallons) of water at an estimated peak discharge rate of 18,000 cubic feet (134,640 gallons) per second down the Roaring River valley. Three people were killed and damages totaled $31 million. As a result, sections of the Roaring River’s high gully walls are unstable today and prone to sudden collapse.



• No horses are allowed beyond the 4.2 mile mark.



• The summits of Ypsilon Mountain, Mt Chiquita and Mt Chapin can be reached from the Chapin Pass Trailhead.

Camping and Backpacking Information

Backcountry Campsites are listed below.

UPPER CHIPMUNK
Distance: 4.2 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead
Elevation: 10,640' elevation
Number of sites: 2
Privy available: Yes
Food Storage: none available
Water Source: Water is available from the outlet of the pond or from Ypsilon Lake. The water is slow moving and a filter would be helpful in addition to your purification measures. Boil or adequately treat all water.
Site Description: The sites are located northeast of the Ypsilon Lake trail between Chipmunk Lake and Ypsilon Lake. The sites are in a dense pine forest on the edge of the Ypsilon Lake drainage. A wood sign indicates the path to the site; the path may be marked by red arrowheads on trees. Pitch tent(s) as close to the indicated site as is safely possible out of potential hazard from standing dead trees.

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES ON WAY TO LAWN AND CRYSTAL LAKES

The Ypsilon Creek, Cutbank and Golden Banner sites are located on the west bank of the Roaring River. A spur from the Lawn Lake Trail (approx 2.6 miles, +1,092' from the trailhead) crosses the river and forks with access to each.

YPSILON CREEK
Distance: 2.6 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead
Elevation: 9,560' elevation
Number of sites: 1
Privy available: Yes
Food Storage: none available
Water Source: Water may be taken from Roaring River or Ypsilon Creek. Boil or adequately treat all water.
Site Description: This site is in a lodgepole pine forest located above the confluence of Ypsilon Creek and Roaring River on the west side of the Roaring River. A wood sign indicates the path to the site; the path may be marked by red arrowheads on trees. Pitch tent(s) as close to the indicated site as is safely possible out of potential hazard from standing dead trees.

CUTBANK
Distance: 2.3 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead
Elevation: 9,620' elevation
Number of sites: 1
Privy available: Yes
Food Storage: none available
Water Source: Water may be taken from the Roaring River. Boil or adequately treat all water.
Site Description: This site is in a lodgepole pine forest and located on the west side of Roaring River. A wood sign indicates the path to the site; the path may be marked by red arrowheads on trees. Pitch tent(s) as close to the indicated site as is safely possible out of potential hazard from standing dead trees.

GOLDEN BANNER
Distance: 2.6 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead
Elevation: 9,600' elevation
Number of sites: 1
Privy available: Yes
Food Storage: none available
Water Source: Water may be taken from the stream. Boil or adequately treat all water.
Site Description: This site is in a lodgepole pine forest and located on the west side of Roaring River. Cross the bridge and continue north another 0.3 mi. A wood sign indicates the path to the site; the path may be marked by red arrowheads on trees. Pitch tent(s) as close to the indicated site as is safely possible out of potential hazard from standing dead trees.

LAWN LAKE
Distance: 6.2 miles from Lawn Lake Trailhead
Elevation: 10,987' elevation
Number of sites: 4, 1 llama / stock
Privy available: Yes
Food Storage: none available
Water Source: Water is best at lake inlet. Boil or adequately treat all water.
Site Description: The sites at Lawn Lake are in a mixed fir and spruce forest on the north side of the lake, west of the Patrol Cabin. A wood sign indicates the path to the site; the path may be marked by red arrowheads on trees. Pitch tent(s) as close to the indicated site as is safely possible out of potential hazard from standing dead trees. Lawn Lake was once a man-enlarged lake, but the dam broke in 1982 causing considerable flooding downstream and forming the Alluvial Fan and Fan Lake. The lake now exists at its original level.

Fishing Information

Only catch and release fishing is permitted along the Roaring River, Lawn Lake, Crystal Lakes and Ypsilon Lake drainages.

Directions to Trailhead

Ypsilon Lake is accessed from the Lawn Lake Trailhead in the north-central section of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Lawn Lake Trailhead is located 5.0 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station.

Directions: The Lawn Lake Trailhead is located 2 miles north of Highway 36 along Fall River Road.

From the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, continue west on Highway 36 past Bear Lake Road to Deer Ridge Junction (3 miles). Turn Right at Deer Ridge Junction onto highway 34 and drive 1.9 miles to Fall River Road. Turn left onto Fall River Road and the Lawn Lake Trailhead will be immediately on your right-hand side.

Contact Information

Rocky Mountain National Park
Visitor Information:
970.586.1206

Backcountry:
970.586.1242

Campground Reservations:
800-365-2267