Details: Yule Pass

Panoramic views accompany every step of this great, easy hike along an old mining road to Yule Pass, where sweeping views extend to the peaks rising beyond Yule Creek, Purple Canyon and the Upper Slater River Valleys. Nearer at hand Purple and Treasure Mountains tower overhead.

Trailhead to Yule Pass

WARNING: This trail is no longer recommended due to its deteriorated condition which poses a high risk for hikers. Rock slides and avalanches have obliterated sections of the road/trail which are now spanned by narrow, boot beaten trails with unstable footing and a lot of exposure. Check on current conditions at the Crested Butte Visitor Center. A better option is to pick another trail.

The mileage for this hike assumes you park near Paradise Divide. If you park near the Yule Pass trailhead subtract 0.15 miles from the directions below. (See driving directions for more information.)

Note: Don’t attempt this trail if snow is present. Steep snowfields along the trail are extremely dangerous and should not be crossed except by experienced parties equipped with ice axes and crampons. It is best not to try this hike until the end of July. Check with the Crested Butte Visitor Center for current road and trail conditions.

From Paradise Divide head north/northwest up the Yule Pass road, marked with a sign. At 0.15 miles the trail curves to the left, skirts the north side of a small pond and passes a trailhead sign.

Soon the old wagon road curves to the left (west) and ascends on easy grades along the southern flanks of Cinnamon Mountain (12,293-ft.), crossing rock slides/avalanche chutes along the way. Views open across the valley to a waterfall tumbling down a rocky cleft along the Purple Canyon wall and into the nascent Slate River. Turn around for nice views down the Slate River Valley.

At 0.5 miles the trail curves to the right (northwest) around Cinnamon Mountain’s southwest ridge and continues its ascent along the old road, etched into valley’s steep talus slopes high above the river. Treasure Mountain (13,462-ft.) dominates the view to the northwest while Purple Mountain (12,958-ft.) fills the skyline to the west. Yule Pass, the saddle on the ridge between the two peaks, is visible at the head of the valley.

After walking a little over a mile the trail curves to the left (west/southwest) and crosses two gullies along the flanks of Treasure Mountain’s southeast ridge. Rock slide have obliterated sections of the road which are now spanned by narrow, boot beaten trails. As you progress up the valley long sections of the road are now just a trail. Sections of the path are quite narrow with some exposure and not recommended for people with a fear of heights or uncomfortable with steep drop-offs.

Soon the trail curves to the right (west/northwest) and continues its easy ascending traverse along the flanks of Treasure Mountain’s southeastern ridge. This segment of the trail enjoys terrific views of Purple Mountain. Turn around for fine views down the length of Purple Canyon to the Slate River Valley.

At 1.8 miles a stream cascades down the rugged flanks of the ridge and spills across the trail. A short distance beyond the trail travels through a rock slide and crosses some seeps and another stream tumbling down a gully carved into the steep slopes above the trail.

Follow the trail as it curves to the left (southwest) at 2.3 miles and climbs to Yule Pass (11,715-ft.) at 2.5 miles. As you crest the pass the Yule Creek Valley springs into views. Mount Justice (11,730-ft.) and Marble Peak (11,314-ft.) rise to the west/northwest with Chair Peak (12,721-ft.) and Ragged Peak (12,094-ft.) in the distance. To the east great views extend down the length of Purple Canyon to Cinnamon Peak, Gothic Mountain (12,625-ft.) and Mount Crested Butte (12,162-ft.).

On the west side of the pass are three trails. The center trail drops down the Yule Creek Valley to the Yule Creek trailhead near Marble, CO in 5.6 miles. A trail to the left leads to a class 3 route climbing to the summit of Purple Mountain while the trail to the right heads toward the summit of Treasure Mountain, another class 3 ascent.

After taking in the views retrace your steps to the trailhead, enjoying the great views of Purple Canyon and the Slate River valley along the way.