The Chapin Creek Trail offers a unique backcountry experience through a biologically rich and lightly traveled corner of the Park. It drops from Fall River Road to the Chapin Creek Valley, where cross-country travel leads through expansive meadows to the Cache La Poudre River confluence.

Queens Crown flowers have male and female organs that can self-fertilize

Chapin Creek flows into the Cache La Poudre River, which drains east of the Divide

Like elk, bull moose will sometimes form small bachelor herds in the summer

The trail passes through several swales, which are moist, low lying depressions

Bull elk are sexually mature around age 2, but won't be competitive for a mate until 5-6 years old

The trail clarifies on drier, rolling hills near the Chapin Creek backcountry campsite

Bull moose antlers begin growing in the spring, and reach full size by late summer

Cross country travel through dense grass and brush on the Chapin Creek Trail

Elephant flowers are members of the Figwort family, which includes foxgloves and snapdragons

Damp areas push hikers upslope from the creek corridor

Sunflowers are related to daisies, and are among the most widely distributed flower families

Non-native brook trout compete with native greenback cutthroat in many of the Park's streams

The Cache La Poudre drains into the Platte River, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi

Elk may live 10-20 years in the wild, a range greatly impacted by habitat and predator ratios

Dusky grouse (formerly known as blue grouse) are the 2nd largest grouse in North America; this female may weigh 2 lbs while males can exceed 3 lbs