Ruple to Ely Trail
- 6.3 mi
- round trip
- 2,781 ft
- climb
- 6,005 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Ruple to Ely Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Dinosaur National Monument. It doesn't name Ruple to Ely Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Echo Park Road and Campground Closure
Park closure covering Dinosaur National Monument · NPS · Dinosaur National Monument
Rainbow Park Closure
Park closure covering Dinosaur National Monument · NPS · Dinosaur National Monument
As of · Source: NPS · Dinosaur National Monument. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Ruple to Ely Trail is a 6.3-mile out-and-back hike in Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, managed by the National Park Service. The route climbs from a low point of about 4,977 feet to a high of about 6,005 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 2,781 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 5.3 miles, where the grade reaches 40%. The trail is rated hard, and the climb is steep enough to make the trip a full day. Plan for about 5.5 hours on the ground, and expect a fee for the visit. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 76°F, while July averages climb to about 89°F. Ruple Point Trail lies about 2.9 miles away, and Jones Hole Trail is about 4.2 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Green River Multiday Trip about 5.4 miles away, and Split Mountain Group Campground offers camping about 8.2 miles from the trail.
Local outfitters
- Dutch John Resort At Flaming Gorge32 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Ruple Point TrailHiking2.9 mi
- Jones Hole TrailHiking4.2 mi
- Green River Multiday TripCanoeing5.4 mi
Harper's Corner TrailHikingPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)6.3 mi
Echo Park CampgroundCampingPhoto: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)7.7 mi
Split Mountain Group CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain8.2 mi
Green River CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain8.9 mi
Wild MountainRock climbingPhoto: MJPlante1, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)9.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Harper's Corner TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Ruple Point TrailHiking · ~5 min drive
Harper's Corner TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Jones Hole TrailHiking · ~7 min drive
Hog Canyon TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Sound of SilenceHiking · ~16 min drive
Cub Creek Petroglyph Trail #14Hiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Three AmigosHiking · ~29 min drive
Confluence/Sand Canyon Access TrailHiking · ~14 min drivePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Jazz/ChromolyHiking · ~31 min drive
Best time to visit Ruple to Ely Trail
Best months: April–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
30° / 12°
5 wet · 4 snow
Feb
37° / 17°
4 wet · 3 snow
Mar
50° / 27°
5 wet · 2 snow
Apr
59° / 33°
6 wet · 1 snow
May
70° / 42°
7 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
5 wet
Jul
89° / 58°
5 wet
Aug
86° / 56°
6 wet
Sep
76° / 47°
6 wet
Oct
61° / 35°
5 wet
Nov
45° / 24°
5 wet · 2 snow
Dec
31° / 14°
5 wet · 4 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dinosaur Nm, CO, 21.1 mi away at 5,960 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.