Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Colorado 13er · North from Rosalie Peak
Overview
Epaulet Mountain sits north of Rosalie Peak in the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness. From Deer Creek you follow the Tanglewood Trail to the saddle below Rosalie, walk up Rosalie's long east ridge, then continue north over a point called Epaulie to Epaulet, with close views of Bierstadt and Blue Sky.
It is Class 2 with a few easy scrambles up Epaulie. A wilderness permit is required; fill one out at the trailhead.
The round trip is about 13 miles with 5,000 feet of gain.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Rosalie's summit by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
A few easy scrambles on Epaulie.
Route-finding
Easy. From Rosalie's summit, walk north along the ridge.
From Denver, take US 285 southwest to Pine Junction. 4.0 miles past Pine Junction, turn right at a stoplight onto County Road 43A. After 0.3 mile, merge onto County Road 43. Keep left at a Y at 6.7 miles; pavement ends at 7.8 miles. Pass Deer Creek Campground and reach the trailhead at about 8.8 miles.
Trail in the treesTundraRidgeScramblingExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Deer Creek trailhead 9,300' · 0 mi
The Tanglewood and Rosalie trails start from a sign at the lot's west end.
2
First junction 9,400' · 0.2 mi
Stay right toward the Rosalie and Tanglewood trails. Cross Deer Creek on a narrow log bridge and follow Tanglewood Creek.
3
Tanglewood Trail 9,700' · 1.2 mi
Where the Rosalie Trail goes left up an old logging road, go right on the Tanglewood Trail into the wilderness.
4
Steeper and rockier 10,600' · 3 mi
Cross the creek on bridges and logs, pass aspens and meadows, then climb more steeply on rockier trail.
5
Treeline 11,400' · 3.6 mi
Switchback up to treeline, past willows and a grove of bristlecone pines.
6
Saddle 11,900' · 4 mi
Reach the saddle between Rosalie and Pegmatite Points, marked by a tall wooden pole.
7
False summit 13,400' · 5.2 mi
Leave the trail and walk west up the long, gentle east ridge. The steepest spot is just before a false summit near 13,400 feet.
8
Rosalie Peak 13,579' · 5.5 mi
Walk over to Rosalie's flat summit.
9
Epaulie 13,537' · 6 mi
Head north with a few easy scrambles to Epaulie's top.
10
Summit 13,524' · 6.5 mi
Continue north to Epaulet, right in front of Bierstadt and Blue Sky.
Getting down
Return the same way over Rosalie.
If things go wrong
From Rosalie, the east ridge leads back to the trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past the Rosalie saddle the route follows trailless ridges. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
Other routes
Every way up Epaulet Mountain we list, with its class.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.