Goosewing Creek Trail
Difficulty: Intermediate Trail Use: Light
Length: 13.2 miles from Trailhead to jct with Big Cow Cr Trail at Cowboy Camp, ~8 miles to jct with Soda Cr Trail, ~1 mile to jct with West Goosewing Cr Trail
Elevation: 7400 ft at Trailhead, 7549 ft at jct with West Goosewing Cr Trail, 10,460 ft at jct with Soda Cr Trail, 9416 ft at jct with Big Cow Cr Trail
Open to: Hikers, Equestrian
Trail Highlights:
- The trail begins by crossing the creek right away. This crossing can be very swift and deep in the spring. It is typically not crossable on foot until at least mid to late June, sometimes later. The trail crosses the creek and heads up the drainage, paralleling the creek, winding through willow patches.
- The trail crosses the creek several times until reaching the unmarked junction with the West Goosewing Cr Trail. At the junction, you must cross to the right to head up West Goosewing, or stay straight and cross the main creek on the Goosewing Cr Trail.
- After crossing Goosewing Cr again, the trail heads up a steep climb for about a quarter mile until coming out into a large open meadow. There is another creek crossing here and the trail continues up the drainage, sidehilling along the creek and willows.
- After coming around the corner, the trail splits, with the trail to the left heading back on itself steeply up the hill. This is not the main trail. There is a trail sign here that marks the main Goosewing Cr Trail to the right. Follow this up and through a section that received heavy work by the trail crew in the summer of 2011. There are several small ponds and several turnpikes were constructed as hardened crossings. Stay on the new trail through this section.
- The trail then climbs through some heavy beetle kill areas of dead trees. Be cautious in this area during high winds as trees come down frequently. The trail continues to climb until coming out into another high open meadow.
- The trail continues to climb through pine forest until coming out in the alpine. Here the trail can be hard to find but there are several small cairns. Have a topo map and know where your going. The trail eventually tops out on a high open peak with stunning views of the Gros Ventres.
Options:
- About 1 mile up, you will find the junction for the West Fork of Goosewing Cr Trail. This trail can be taken up to the Teepee Cr Trail, which will lead you back down to Goosewing Guard Station, or up to Two Echo Park.
- At the upper junction, you can take a right to head down to the West Fork of Goosewing Cr Trail, or take a left and hit the Soda Lake Trail or the trail to Cowboy Camp and the Big Cow Cr Trail.
Important Information
- This trail is within the Gros Ventre Wilderness. See restrictions link below for more information.
- This trail is located on USGS quad maps for Upper Slide Lake, and Darwin Peak, 7.5 minute.
- 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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Restrictions: | Trail is within the Gros Ventre Wilderness. For more information click here. |
General Information
Directions:
From Jackson, head north on 89/191 towards Grand Teton National Park. At Gros Ventre Junction, take a right towards the town of Kelly. Follow the road through Kelly and take a right on the Gros Ventre Road. Follow the Gros Ventre Road almost till its end, bearing right towards Goosewing Guard Station just past Upper Slide Lake. Continue on the Gros Ventre Road past Goosewing G.S.. Just past the guard station you will cross Goosewing Cr and there will be a small dirt road to the right leading to a kiosk. This is the trailhead. Park here and the trail begins at the gate, heading down to the creek.