Boulder, WY – Scab Creek Trail is a 11.3 mile (one way) trail that gains 2,450 feet of elevation on its way to its junction with the Fremont Trail. Along the way Scab Creek Trail passes the Toboggan Lakes, Boundary Lake, Little Divide Lake, Lightning Lakes, Dream Lake and the Highline Trail. The Highline Trail is the 62.8 mile long north-south artery of the bench land found at 9,000-10,000 feet elevation for much of the western side of the Wind River Range which allows for backpacking loop creations in a wide range of lengths. For day hikers, the Scab Creek Trail gains 1,050 feet over the first 2.1 miles to Boundary Lake and then has relatively little change over the next several miles. The trailhead sits at about 8,200 feet elevation. For selecting trails I used, “Falcon Guides: Hiking Wyoming’s Wind River Range” by Ben Adkison which includes both day hikes and backpacking options.
Mike climbs the sagebrush slope near the trailhead
From the parking area, the trail starts near the vault toilet. The trail quickly climbs, switchbacking through sagebrush and bitterbrush slopes before entering Douglas fir, limber pine, and aspen. The grade moderates as you continue to climb and even has a short downhill section. Travel through a lodgepole pine stand before the trail steepens again to climb up a steep draw.
Lower section of pine forest
Lodgepole pine section of trail
Switchbacks climb the draw with views opening up to the east of the Green River Basin and the distant Wyoming Range. The steep draw has rocky sections that are tedious. As the grade moderates, you will reach the Bridger Wilderness sign around 2 miles, just before Boundary Lake. From here, the next several miles undulate mildly through forest, granite knobs and past lakes. We hiked about 3 miles out before returning for a 6 mile out and back day hike.
Looking west from the trail
The rough terrain in the Scab Creek drainage
Looking west to the Green River Basin and Wyoming Range
Enter the Bridger Wilderness around 2 miles from the trailhead
Lily pad pond along Scab Creek
Near the trailhead
To reach the trailhead, from Highway 191 turn east onto Wyoming State Road 353 in the town of Boulder, located about 11.5 miles south from Pinedale or 88 miles north from Rock Springs. Head east on paved SR 353 for about 6.3 miles and turn left shortly after the cluster of tan buildings of the US Air Force Seismic Research facility. The turn will be labelled with a sign to Scab Creek, Sublette County Road 23-122. Reset your trip odometer here. Follow CR 23-122 for 1.4 miles where you will bear left onto the signed Scab Creek Road. You will reach the trailhead parking when your trip odometer is at 8 miles.
We stayed at Highline Trail RV Park in Boulder when we hiked Scab Creek Trail. Other hikes we completed during this visit to the Wind River Range included:
