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Wilson Creek Trail
Wilson Creek Trail - The trail crosses several creeks, passes through meadows carpeted with wildflowers, and skirts the edge of Rock Lake. Although several trails access the Wilson Creek trail, the Burnt Wagon Basin-West Mountain jeep trail is recommended as the primary access.
A 4WD high clearance vehicle is advised for this 3 mile section of road. Because sections of the trail are criscrossed by cow paths, the trail will be difficult to find. Only a few blazes and rock cairns mark the trail. The trail passes through areas grazed by cattle in the summer and fall.
Within 3 miles of the trailhead on Forest Service (FS) Road 435, the jeep road diminishes and the Wilson Creek trail begins. As the trail overlaps a ridge south, it offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Within a mile, the Wilson Creek trail turns east through a meadow where the trail will be difficult to find. Shortly thereafter, the trail parallels Rock Lake and crosses several unnamed creeks.
The trail ascends a ridge, reaches a road closed sign and intersects the unsigned Greenfield Flat trail from the northwest. Within another mile, unsigned Campbell Creek trail and unsigned Skein Lake Trail also intersect the Wilson Creek trail. At the Skein Lake trail intersection, the Wilson Creek trail turns abruptly southwest and within a mile intersects the unsigned West Mountain trail where it ends.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Every year the trail system is closed from October 1- June 15. The purpose of this Order is to close the Wilson Trail System to all motor vehicles to protect big game during critical life stages. |
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| Usage: | Light |
| Closest Towns: | Cascade |
General Information
Directions:From Cascade, Idaho, start on State Highway 55, north of Cascade, at a Forest Service directional sign for Cascade Reservoir.
Go west past a golf course, toward Cascade Reservoir, on an unnamed paved road which parallels the southeast side, then the southern side, and finally, the southwest side of the reservoir.
On the reservoir’s southwest side, the road changes from paved to gravel and becomes Forest Service (FS) Road 422.
Proceed north about a mile to the intersection of FS Road 435 (Cascade Reservoir- Anderson Creek Road). Go northeast on FS Road 435 for 7.4 miles.
An unnamed jeep trail, which accesses Wilson Creek Trail #133, begins on the south side of FS Road 435. A numbered trail sign on the north side of the road is the trailhead for the West Mountain Jeep Trail #206, which goes north.
(This trail is best accessed by the West Mountain Jeep Trail #206).
Activities
Day Hiking
Hiking is a joy along through meadows carpeted with wildflowers, and skirts the edge of Rock Lake. The trail is 8 miles long.
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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Horse Riding
Horse riding and camping opportunities near the trail.
The trail passes through areas grazed by cattle in the summer and fall.
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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OHV Trail Riding
Check on your Cascade Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for OHV riding opportunities.
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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