Overview
Mount Daly is the peak right beside Capitol Peak, with a great close-up view of it. You follow the Capitol Creek Trail, the same trail used for Capitol, about 6 miles to Capitol Lake, then climb a grassy gully to Daly's southwest ridge and follow it to the top.
It is Class 2 on rocky ground, with a few small rocky spots on the ridge. The gully's upper part is steep and rocky. The hike in passes meadows full of wildflowers (and cattle).
The round trip is about 16.2 miles with 4,660 feet of gain, a long day. You also have to climb back 400 feet to the trailhead at the end.
Plan of the day
By 5 a.m.
Be at the ridge by 10:30 a.m.
The long, rocky southwest ridge; it goes slower than you expect.
Easy to moderate. From Capitol Lake, start up the trail toward the Capitol-Daly saddle, then after a few hundred feet contour northeast into a shallow grassy gully that reaches the ridge near 12,600 feet.
Capitol Creek and Capitol Lake. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Capitol Creek
From Aspen, take Highway 82 west about 14.5 miles to the old town of Snowmass, with a stoplight and gas station. This is not Snowmass Village. From Glenwood Springs it is about 27 miles the other way. Turn south on Snowmass Creek Road (County Road 11).
Cross Snowmass Creek and turn right at the T onto Capitol Creek Road. Stay on it: go straight where East Sopris Creek Road branches right, and don't turn onto Monastery Road. It turns to gravel about 6 miles from the highway and passes a Forest Service guard station at about 8 miles. The last mile and a half to the trailhead is rough; better-than-average clearance helps.
Most of the road passes private land. There are no campgrounds; car camping at the trailhead is the only option, and the lot is crowded on weekends.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
Capitol Creek. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →