Boulder, WY – I found the Burnt Lake Trail, located in the Bridger Teton National Forest, on my South Wind River Range Hiking Map. The trail was not in the guide I used to pick our other hikes, “Falcon Guides: Hiking Wyoming’s Wind River Range” by Ben Adkison which includes both day hikes and backpacking options. Burnt Lake Trail was in the Hiking Project App where it is called Horseshoe Lake Trail #7191. The trailhead was not labelled. We started near the southwest corner of Burnt Lake. The trail climbs about 680 feet over the first 2.5 miles.
Burnt Lake near the trailhead
After climbing up the bulk of the elevation, the trail travels along the ridge between Burnt Lake and Boulder Lake. At 2.9 miles, Burnt Lake Trail junctions with the Burnt Lake Connector Trail which travels to both Boulder Canyon Trail and Coyote Lake Trail. After 8.4 miles and 2,098 feet of elevation, Burnt Lake Trail reaches the Highline Trail.
Burnt Lake Trail follows the ridge between Burnt Lake and Boulder Lake
This trail is not heavily used. We did not see another person during our entire hike, though we saw tracks indicating some human use. We did see chipmunks, squirrels, a mule deer buck, and several grouse. There was also a lot of scat and tracks along the route, including sign of moose, deer, and elk. At the beginning of the trail, we saw evidence of cows who are grazed here. The trail climbs through aspen and a variety of pine, including lodgepole. Much of the trail travels through sagebrush.
The trail climbs through Aspen stands
From the ridge, views of Burnt Lake are intermittent and through trees. On the other side of the ridge, Boulder Lake is prominent and nothing blocks your view for long sections. You can see the start of the Boulder Canyon Trail and distant peaks. Our views were diminished for this hike due to smoke from distant wildfires. We enjoyed this trail and the solitude it afforded.
Boulder Lake from Burnt Lake Trail
Large pines along the Burnt Lake Trail
View of the mountain peaks obscured by smoke from distant forest fires
Burnt Lake Ridge
View of the head of Boulder Lake.
To reach the Burnt Lake Trail requires a high clearance vehicle. From Boulder at the junction with US 191 and State Road 353, head north and take the second right which is called Burnt Lake Road on some GPS systems, but was not labelled. There is a sign indicating access to Burnt Lake and a campground. From here travel on the gravel road which is rough, rocky and has sections of washboard, through sagebrush and bitterbrush meadows. The road heads west toward the visible mountains. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 767 and follow it for 0.6 miles, then turn left onto 767A and follow the unmarked dirt and sand road until the end denoted by a thinning tread and a slope with large trees. The last sections of the route had some areas with large rocks, thus the high clearance need. The trailhead is not marked, but the trail starts by heading up the slope past the large pine trees.
Bitterbrush along the drive to the trail
We stayed at Highline Trail RV Park in Boulder when we hiked Burnt Lake Trail. Other hikes we completed during this visit to the Wind River Range included:
