Front Range Range · Colorado 13er · No. 197 of the 13ers
From Ypsilon Mountain, via Chapin Pass
Fairchild Mountain, 13,509'
DifficultyClass 2+
Round trip11.5 mi
Elevation gain5,100'
TrailheadChapin Pass (Rocky Mountain National Park)
Trailhead elevation11,000'
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,509'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
—Gusting to
—Freezing level
Today
—
Tomorrow
—
Day three
—
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 · From Ypsilon Mountain, via Chapin Pass
Overview
Fairchild Mountain is the big peak above Crystal Lake in the Mummy Range. From the Chapin Pass trailhead, you follow the Chapin-Chiquita-Ypsilon route to Ypsilon's summit, drop around a jumble of spires on loose blocks, and climb broken rock along a ridge to Fairchild's summit.
It is Class 2, but the descent off Ypsilon is rugged, on loose, stacked boulders. The crossing takes about an hour each way. An easier way is from Lawn Lake: take the trail to The Saddle and walk up Fairchild's gentle northeast slope.
The out-and-back from Chapin Pass is about 11.5 miles with about 5,100 feet of gain. Mileage and gain are our estimates.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Ypsilon by 9:30 a.m.
Crux
The loose, blocky descent off Ypsilon's ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. Where Ypsilon's ridge ends and turns northeast, drop to the east side to get around the spires, then head north to the 12,580-foot saddle.
From Estes Park, follow Highway 34 into Rocky Mountain National Park at its Fall River entrance. Past the bighorn sheep viewing area, turn right after about 2 miles onto Old Fall River Road.
Old Fall River Road is gravel and one-way uphill, and it usually opens only from early July into fall. Drive 6.9 miles from where it turns to dirt to the signed Chapin Pass trailhead and park in the pullout on the left. When you're done, continue up to the Alpine Visitor Center and return on Trail Ridge Road.
The park charges an entry fee and may require a timed-entry reservation in summer. Dogs aren't allowed on trails. Check the park website.
Chapin Pass (Rocky Mountain National Park). Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
TundraRidgeTalus and screeExposed 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
Chapin Pass trailhead 11,000' · 0 mi
Climb a few hundred yards and turn right at the sign for the Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon summits.
2
All Summits junction 11,500' · 0.75 mi
Go right at the sign for All Summits, and right again at an unsigned split just after.
3
Below Mount Chapin 11,900' · 1.25 mi
The trail skirts Mount Chapin; its true summit is the eastern high point, about 400 feet of trailless tundra above you if you want it.
4
Chapin-Chiquita saddle 12,000' · 1.6 mi
Keep straight at a trail crossing near the saddle.
5
Rocky slope 13,000' · 2.5 mi
The trail fades into Class 2 rock near 13,000 feet.
6
Mount Chiquita 13,054' · 2.55 mi
Cross the rocks to Chiquita's summit.
7
Saddle 12,850' · 3 mi
Head west off Chiquita and drop about 200 feet to the saddle.
8
First false summit 13,300' · 3.4 mi
Climb tundra, keeping a little back from Ypsilon's east face. Where grass gives way to rock, cairns mark the way.
9
Summit 13,513' · 4 mi
Pass rock flakes and another false summit just past the south branch of the Y couloir. The true summit is just beyond the north branch.
Watch for: Big drop-offs on the east side.
10
Around the spires 12,400' · 4.8 mi
Head down northwest on easy slopes until the ridge ends in spires and broken blocks. Drop on the east side over loose rock and stacked boulders into a rocky basin with some tundra.
Watch for: Loose, shifting blocks.
11
Ypsilon-Fairchild saddle 12,580' · 5.1 mi
Turn north to the saddle.
12
Upper ridge 13,200' · 5.6 mi
Climb about 600 feet of broken rock and scree along the ridge.
13
Summit 13,509' · 5.75 mi
The angle eases for an easy walk to the top, with a great view down into Crystal Lake's cirque.
Getting down
Return over Ypsilon and Chiquita to Chapin Pass, or with a car shuttle, descend northeast to The Saddle and the Lawn Lake Trail.
If things go wrong
Before the spires, go back to Ypsilon and the Chiquita trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Ypsilon Mountain the route crosses trailless boulders and ridge. 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 Fairchild Mountain we list, with its class.
Fairchild Mtn/Mummy Range Clean outthis routeClass 2+ 15.6 mi
Chapin Pass to Chiquita-Ypsilon-FairchildClass 3 11 mi
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.