Haystack Mountain - 12.9 Miles Round-Trip

Haystack Mountain (12,206') is located 6.45 miles from Maroon Snowmass Trailhead in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness. Its broad, flat summit tops a divisive ridge between the Capitol Creek and West Snowmass Creek drainages, just north of a saddle under Mount Daly (13,305').

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

This challenging and lightly used trail rises through steep intervals of aspen and alpine meadows to the saddle (11,752'), where you'll branch off and improvise .35 miles and 454' up to the summit.

Postcard-like meadows span the saddle between Haystack and Mount Daly, with exceptional views that include Mount Sopris, Capitol Peak and the Maroon Bells. Wildflowers and wildlife are particularly abundant in this rich alpine expanse.

Crossing Snowmass Creek can be difficult through mid-summer, and portions of the trail are vague with several unmarked forks at critical points. Good fitness and navigation skills are necessary. Lingering snow may compound any difficulty you encounter.

Alternatively you can reach West Snowmass Trail from the Capitol Creek and Nickelson Creek trails, with simpler navigation but equally challenging climbs. Contact the Aspen Ranger District for current road and trail conditions, which may influence your starting point and route:

The trail rises over Snowmass Falls Ranch through tall aspen to a second cattle gate where the forest opens with views of Snowmass Creek (1.1 miles : 8,648').

It levels on a high bank to the West Snowmass Trail split (1.45 miles : 8,638'), which switchbacks down to Snowmass Creek (1.52 miles : 8,600'). The creek is wide and runs swiftly through mid-summer; poles can be useful on this ford.

Once across follow National Forest signs through a big meadow with views up to Clark Peak (13,568'). Note this is private property, so it's important to stay on the designated trail.

It crosses the meadow into bands of aspen where you'll keep straight past several bisecting paths to another cattle gate (1.9 miles :  8,780'). Travel intensifies past the gate on a rugged, shifting path under a tall aspen canopy.

Keep left at a fork (2.0 miles) where grades steepen to a high bank over a tributary  (2.5 miles : 9,235'). It levels and arcs across the drainage before climbing steeply again to a small meadow (3.18 miles : 9,595'). Travel eases to another meadow (3.45 miles : 9,710') and crosses the base of a steep slope to an unmarked fork (3.85 miles : 9,957').

The left fork drops into a large meadow along West Snowmass Creek where you can pick up an informal route leading to its source at Moon Lake. The right fork quickly fades, leaving few good options.

The following description and distances from this point assume you're able to find a creative route to the next point where the trail clarifies .3 miles away. Note this is a direct line, so your actual travel distance may be longer.

Cut through heavy brush and steep slopes to regain the trail on a high clearing (4.15 miles : 10,230'). The trail here is narrow and may be overgrown by tall brush. Once on track it steepens to another unmarked fork (4.48 miles) - stay right.

The trail runs along the base of an open slope before turning up on a steep, winding climb to the Nickelson Creek Trail split (4.95 miles : 10,825'), a welcome sign confirming you're on track. Travel briefly moderates past the split across steep meadows with great views of Mount Daly.

It rises quickly through alpine glades and pockets of spruce to a meadow in the upper basin where the trail fades. Follow a cairn (5.5 miles : 11,295') and faint track across the meadow to regain the trail, which resumes steep, winding travel past treeline to the Pass (6.1 miles : 11,752').

The pass spans a broad meadow with great views down Capitol Creek, the Daly-Capitol Peak ridge line and (right) up to Haystack. 

Break off the trail here and head north on a .35 mile - 454' scramble up to Haystack Mountain (6.45 miles : 12,206'). The scramble is steep but rock-free and easy to find an efficient route.

The summit is broad and flat with incredible views that extend from Mount Sopris to Maroon Bells. Tread lightly across the delicate tundra. Mount Daly (13,305') stands prominently across the pass with Capitol Peak (14,130') nudging higher just behind it.