Windmill (Fremont) Ridge

These trails are accessed from the Willow Lake Road going out of Pinedale.  Same road as Soda Lake, Little Soda and Willow Lake.  Parking is just before the "Windmill".  There are a couple of turn outs.  Room for two maybe three rigs.  Great for when the higher trails are still snowed in and Soda Lake hasn't opened yet.  This is all on BLM or Forest Service land.

(Click on any photo to enlarge images.)

Shows parking spot and the Windmill in the background.

Track on April 29, 2020.  7.1 miles.  Altitude=7,320' to 7,799'.  Ascent/descent=810'
Trail conditions=85% soft dirt, 15% rocky.  Mostly two tracks and some cross country, depending on choice of trails.

Track on April 20, 2020.  3.1 miles.  Still some snow banks and muddy trails.

Looking down on the parking area.

One of the tracks leading up to the ridge.

Leading up to the ridge, somewhat rocky and steep.  Saw lots of deer, April 20.

No trail here, quite rocky.

Fremont Lake view, April 20

April 20, 2020

One of the options to go up the ridge.

On top of the ridge, snowbank on April 25.

View of Fremont Lake, April 25

Unusual rock with tree growing out of it.  Apparently, the tree didn't pick a very good spot. 

Fremont Lake view, April 29

Dog had fun playing in the snow bank and horses had fun munching on it.  April 29.

McDougal Gap--South

What's not to love about beautiful Sheep Creek?

 August, 2019...Thanks to Mountain Man Backcountry Horsemen and Forest Service for clearing and re-routing part of the Wyoming Recreation Trail (WRT) south of the McDougal Gap trailhead!  They also installed the sign below at the pull out.  Parking is recommended at the trailhead same as McDougal Gap--North). (You CAN park at the pull out, but there's not much room. 2 rigs at most.)

This portion of the trail is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  Don't miss it if you're in the area. Plenty of great  free dispersed camping spots.  It has a different feel than the portion referenced in McDougal Gap--North..  Most of the ride is through epic, majestic forest with a smattering of meadow and water feature.  Filled with wildflowers, greenery, ferns, mosses and even some interesting rock formations.  The forest definitely reminds me of those we have hiked in Washington State.  Best kept secret in Wyoming. (And no crowds at all.)

To open larger images, click on any image.

Track on August 10, 2019:  about 7 miles round trip.  Ascent/Descent=1,050' Min. Altitude=8,199'; Max Altitude=8,474' Trail conditions=90% soft dirt/grass, 6% slightly rocky, 4% moderately rocky or stream crossing.  Perfect for barefoot horses.

Track on September 14, 2019.  We added the trail going down to Sheep Creek Meadow and a couple of little side paths.  Total mileage=between 9 and 10.

Photos do not do this justice! 

This is part of the trail that was re-routed.  Great job!  Now, instead of going over a steep ridge, it just goes around it.

One of the slightly challenging ditch crossings.  The logs were not stable.  I opted to cross at the left and avoid the logs.

Rock features...

I would love to know the story behind this old cabin...

This is a view looking up Sheep Creek Canyon from the road. (where the WRT goes south)

This is the meadow where there is another branch of the WRT which connects with the trail listed above.  It is un-marked and goes south.  I will call this meadow "Sheep Creek Meadow".  That is "Slug Ridge" in the background which is part of Triple Peaks.  

Photo taken on September 14, 2019 as we rode into the meadow from the south.  Day before the open hunt.  Note all the rigs parked on the road.