Willow Creek Trail/ Wyoming National Rec Trail
Difficulty: Moderate Trail Use: Heavy (during hunting season Sept-Nov)
Length: 15.5 miles from Bryan Flats Guard Station to Pickle Pass, ~3 miles to jct with Grayback Parallel Trail #4143, ~2 miles to jct with Lick Cr Trail #4146, ~4 miles to jct with Adams Cr Trail #4139, ~5 miles to jct with Mumford Cr Trail #4144, ~8 miles to jct with Hunter Cr trail #4140
Elevation: 6283 ft at Trailhead, 6350 ft at jct with Grayback Parallel, 7223 ft at jct with Lick Cr, 6518ft at jct with Adams Cr, 6654 ft at jct with Mumford Cr, 6900 ft at jct with Hunter Cr, 8860 ft at Pickle Pass
Open to: Hikers, Equestrian, Mt Bikes
Trail Highlights:
- This trail immediately climbs out of the parking lot and then takes a hard left and follows the fence line through aspen forest. It then begins to climb through a mixture of aspen and pine forest, going past a small pond, and eventually cresting out on a ridge. On the ridge you will see a sign for Lick Cr and Willow Cr, and there are several trails heading in every direction. The trail to the far right heads down the ridge towards Broken Arrow Ranch and the highway. The next trail to the right heads down into the Willow Cr drainage and is the start of the Grayback Parallel Trail which goes all the way to Pickle Pass. The trail straight ahead is the Lick Cr Trail which takes you down into the Willow Cr drainage further up. The trail to the far left follows the ridge out and then basically stops.
- The best way into Willow Cr is to go down the Lick Cr Trail, which contours down the ridge to the creek where there are several creek crossings in a row. Carry creek shoes and be careful in the spring as water levels can be very high.
- From here the trail basically follows the creek for many miles. There are several signed junctions along the way and plenty of great camping. The trail stays out in the open offering beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. It eventually climbs up to Pickle Pass, yet there has not been much trail maintenance in these upper areas in quite some time. Expect to find multiple user trails as well as old sheep trails. Have a good map and know your route.
Options:
- There are a wide variety of options for loops or connections from the main Willow Cr Trail. The Willow Cr Trail is part of the Wyoming National Recreation Trail which stretches for 71 miles through the Wyoming Range. A total of 15.5 miles are on the Jackson Ranger District while there are 33 miles on the Greys River District and 22 miles on the Big Piney Distrcit.
- From the Willow Cr Trail you can access the Lick Cr Trail, Adams Cr, Mumford Cr, Phosphate Cr, Grayback Parallel , Hunter Cr, or connect over to Cliff Cr Falls area. Check out the maps for the multiple loop options.
Important Information
- The upper portions of this trail are in high alpine meadows and the actual trail can be hard to find. Have a good map and know your route well.
- This trail is on the USGS quad map for Camp Davis, Bailey Lake and Pickle Pass.
- Always check the posted information at the kiosks for maps, updated material on forest regulations and closures.
At a Glance
Current Conditions: | Call Tim Farris, Trail Supervisor @ 307-739-5414 for current trail conditions. |
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General Information
Directions:
From Jackson take 189/191 south to Hoback Junction and take a left towards Pinedale. Follow this for several miles until you see Camp Cr Inn on your left. Just past here you will see a large fake moose on your right and a dirt road. Take a right here and follow the dirt road, crossing over the creek and heading towards the Bryan Flats Guard Station. Before reaching the guard station, you’ll see a parking lot on the right with hitching posts. Park here and the trail takes off up the fence line.