Pole Creek--Photographer's Point

An impressive ride with gorgeous meadows, wildflowers, water features, stunning vistas, amazing evergreen forests.  The trailhead is easily accessible on paved road about 30 minutes from Pinedale.  It has some easy soft dirt, but plenty of rocks and a few mudholes.  Horses need boots or shoes unless they are super great barefoot.  Elevation goes up to over 10,000 feet. In 2017 we encountered some snow patches even in July.  Probably good riding from July until the first snow. The trail starts at the car parking lot at Elkhart Park.   This ride can be extended into a loop around Miller Lake (going on from the Point).  It is also the gateway trail to many backcountry areas. As such, you may encounter many hikers and perhaps other riders.    

(click on any photo to open enlarged images)

Horse trailer parking at the area on top of the photo. Need to ride a short ways back on the paved road to access the trail. The bottom circled area does accommodate trailers and has a connector trail back to the Visitor Information cabin.  

Riding into the parking area.  There are even a few campsites right next to it and some horse corrals.  Camping fees are $12 per night.

Topo map track of our ride on July 18, 2017.

Total mileage to "The Point" is about 5.4, making about 10.8 miles round trip.  Elevation change 9,281' to 10,322'.  Trail conditions:  Dirt about 25%, moderately rocky 65%, extremely rocky, 10%

View from the "Main" livestock parking area.

Paved livestock parking area.

The forests just go on and on...

And on...

The first little meadow

Most of trail was like this.

Pond at about 3.5 miles in.

Trail intersection.  Keep to the left for Photographer's Point.  About 1.5 miles further.  Keep to the right to Miller's Lake.

Pond at about 4.5 miles in

The trees are spectacular.

Looking out from the Point.   The lake in the distance is Suicide Lake.

Panorama taken of the view by Teisha Preece

The "pond" at the "Point".  It even had frogs.

Another view at the Point.

And still another....Fremont Peak.

Time to head back.  It took us about 2 hours from Point to Parking Lot.