Dream Packer Wyoming Trails: Boulder Canyon

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Boulder Canyon

Has most everything~~sage, bridges, stunning evergreen forest, aspens, meadows, ferns, wildflowers, epic rocks, water features including a gorgeous Lily Pad Lake. The Lily Pad Lake is about 2.7 miles in. There are places you can ride your horses in the river at about 3.3 miles in. (Except in Spring run off when it is too high and fast.) Further up the trail, there are some serious rock climbs and many sharp rocks. (Take horses at your own risk) and even more spectacular scenery and water features (waterfall). You are riding along side the river during a good part of the ride. As of 2019, some of the trail has been washed out leaving numerous rocky spots.
It is 25 miles from Pinedale, WY. Takes about 45 minutes. Google directions to "Boulder Lake Campground". Thanks to Teisha Preece for most of these photos. (Click on any photo to open an enlarged image).

Excellent video of "Wilderness Rider's" version of this ride.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUBmuhz8hIw

There is a "horse corral"--livestock parking trailhead, clearly marked. When we were there June 1, 2017, it was full of puncture weed that hadn't quite matured. (As of September 1, the trailhead is just dust)There are corrals and I imagine you could camp in your trailer there. There is a rest room. There are two ways from the parking to get to the trailhead. One involves a slightly steep, rocky descent (marked with blue arrows) and the other follows the dirt road heading towards the campground (red arrows.)

Distance ridden, August 2015: 7 miles; Min Altitude=7,247'; Maximum altitude=7,661'; Ascent/descent=770'; trail conditions= 30% dirt/sand, 20% very rocky, 50% moderately rocky/gravelly. There are several bridge crossings and a couple of boggy areas. Barefoot horses in super good condition can do it without boots. Otherwise I recommend boots or shoes.

Distance ridden, June, 2017; About 8 miles; Maximum altitude=7,730'; Ascent/descent=1,060'.

Sign for the trail turn off

First bridge crossing other than the large one for vehicles.

Low Creek level in September, 2016

Creek level, May 29, 2017

2nd bridge crossing, August, 2015

Same bridge crossing as above, going the other direction

Same bridge crossing as above...June, 2017

Yay..."still" water feature with bridge.

We were pleasantly surprised by this beaver pond/lake with water lilies...spectacular! August, 2015.

Lily Pad Lake in September, 2016.

Loved this part of the trail

Lily Pad "Lake" in August, 2015

Lily Pad Lake in June, 2017. The lake was so high, no lilies were visible.

Lily Pad Lake, August 31, 2018

One of the river accesses about 3.5 miles in where we had lunch in August, 2015. In June, 2017, this was completely covered in 6-8 feet of rushing water.

Lots of fun places for boy and dog to play in August.

We found another water access with gravelly bottom, perfect for "playing" in the water in August.

August, 2015

Same general spot as the photo above, but on June 1, 2017.

REALLY low creek level, September, 2016

One of the meadows in August. On June 1, 2017, this was boggy and almost all covered in water.

September, 2016

Bridge at confluence of Macs Creek. This is as far as we got on June 1, 2017. The scene below MIGHT be available if you hike/ride up a little further.

This is a view of Boulder Creek just above the "falls" at the confluence of Macs Creek in September of 2016. The trail is really rocky at this point and the photographer hiked on foot for this shot. Photo courtesy of Teisha Preece.