Mt. Yale is just west of Buena Vista, CO near Cottonwood Pass. The trail to the peak is 4 miles with 4,300 feet of elevation gain. It is very steep! It is a beautiful hike following Denny Creek through the forest. Once you get above the treeline, the tundra is covered with wildflowers. The last 300 feet requires scrambling up boulders. It took us 3 hours and 45 minutes to summit.