Stems 20-50 cm. Basal leaves 2-3×-ternately compound, 7-25 cm, much shorter than stems; leaflets to 9-19 mm, not viscid, sometimes glaucous adaxially; primary petiolules to 10-95 mm (leaflets not crowded), glabrous or sparsely pilose. Flowers suberect to inclined; sepals perpendicular to floral axis, pale yellow, broadly lanceolate, 9-19 × 4-6 mm, apex obtuse to acuminate; petals: spurs yellow, straight, ± parallel or divergent, 30-40 mm, slender, evenly tapered from base, blades pale yellow, oblong, 7-14 × 5-6 mm; stamens 10-19 mm. Follicles 18-22 mm; beak 15-18 mm.

Flowering summer (Jul-Aug). Rocky places in canyons, mostly along streams; of conservation concern; 1900 m; N.Mex., Tex.

Aquilegia chaplinei is endemic to the Guadalupe Mountains.