Boulder: Boulder Creek and North Fork Falls to Lake Vera

Bridger-Teton National Forest

(purple line, map link)

DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4

My original plan for backpacking in "the Winds" was to hike out of Boulder Lake where there are two trails for easy loop making. The road is nice as far as the county maintains it, but after the driveway for the Boulder Lake Ranch, it gets narrow and rougher. I took one look at the rocky hill down to the hiker parking and decided I liked the nominally 4x4 road to the corral better, so that's where I parked. It has an extra hill to get up at the end, but there's a bonus toilet. Both trailheads have registers. The comments gave hints that the level of trail work might not be as high here. These trails don't get quite as much use as the ones at the end of Skyline.

Information and register at the stock trailhead for Boulder Lake.

Hiker parking down near lake level where nearly all of the rest of the trail users parked.

There's a shortcut trail that drops down to the road and the actual trailhead inside Boulder Campground at the end of the road. I had basically the same stuff packed up as before. I couldn't get rid of any of my rain gear because now I was expecting some weather to roll through even if it had just been hitting more record highs the day before. It would get quite cold indeed as I hit the highest places.

The real trailhead just inside Boulder Campground. There is no parking next to this.

After a short distance, there's a junction marked with Blueberry Lake for that other direction. Then it's across a bridge to hang out beside the ranch on some rough roads on the way to the wilderness. There's clearly been some parking of ATVs next to the sign, likely from the ranch. After that, it's back across another bridge and properly into the wilds.

Boulder Creek under the first hiker bridge.

Nice signs to mark the entry to Bridger Wilderness here.

Into the woods.

Then on beside the creek under the trees for a while. There's open spaces for views and hints of the season to come on the aspens. A marshy spot fed by tributaries on the map. At first it was dry, but the beaver dam filling the space under a little bridge probably tried to make it otherwise. There was a little more water behind another dam, then a great expanse. Perhaps the successive dams make the last lake drain more slowly.

Some yellowing trees in the rocks ahead.

Lily pads yellowing in the second beaver pond with just a little water left.

Only some ducks were at the beavers' place in the big pond, and they went swimming off.

Much of the large pond. The beaver house is a grey spot way off in the middle of the water lilies.

Back to Boulder Creek.

I'd seen a few snakes, but this garter let me photograph it.

One stretch looked particularly popular for camping. Big rocks surrounded by blue waters and more pools looked like they might be a great place when the summer weather was really kicking in. It looked like there was a large camping area tucked into the trees.

Beaches and pools and camping in the trees. Looks like it is nice for the sunny summer days.

Sun hits some of the deeper water.

Taking in the creek above.

After the camp, the trail gets into a climbing mode. It's not a bad climb, but it does keep going a while. I was trying to make sure I caught the North Fork Falls on the way. They're right at the top, but there's plenty of falling water on the way that one could go calling lots of places "falls". There wasn't any established trail out to those near the marker on the map. I guess not many visit them although they're a nice cascade and not far off trail.

Never far from water and found a bright red meadowhawk.

Pondering the rounded off nature of it all.

There's a dinosaur on the trail ahead! Love the fluffy legs on the dusky grouse.

Climbing upward.

Looks like falls low on Divide Creek.

Partly hidden good cascades on a lower section of North Fork Falls.

The same section photographed above, but looking down on it.

Upper section of cascading water at North Fork Falls.

Taking in the expanse of view at North Fork Falls.

I'm willing to say that those who don't stray from the trail along here are really missing out. Not far past the falls, the trail comes to a junction and Lake Ethel. Take a left and you get to see quite a lot of the lake. I went right to cross back over to Pipestone Creek. I probably missed out for not wandering over to look.

Lake Ethel.

From the bridge over the slot canyon outlet of Lake Ethel to the round tops.

A mosaic darner on a tree. It was close enough to see that the wings are zig-zagged for strength.

I was walking through an old burn area then. The trees were generally sparse and now much sparser from dying in fire and blowing over.

Dugway Lake.

Overlooking Pipestone Creek.

Back above the North Fork of Boulder Creek.

A bit of unmarked waterfall on the North Fork.

Pond along the way up and over.

Descent toward Pipestone Creek.

Pond along Pipestone Creek.

Pipestone Creek.

Lake Vera.

Boulder Canyon Trail ends when it hits Highline Trail next to Lake Vera. That was my planned camp area. It seems to be just outside the old fire zone, but that doesn't help. The map shows open areas on the north end, but that didn't match the reality I saw. It might get there because a lot of the trees are dead and ready to fall over. I looked over the western edge finding nothing I was comfortable with.

Lake Vera.

This was the first time I failed at finding a good camp. I finally decided a spot at the north end of the lake would just have to work. It's too close to the water, there's still a few dead trees, but they don't look like they're waiting for the slightest breeze to tumble over. Admittedly they can easily be ready anyway and there was a fresh green tree down on the west side because green trees can fall too. It's had a few horses staying there in the last few months among the likely many users. Anyway, I could find a place to cook and a place to sleep. That's really all I need.

Sunset at Lake Vera.

same trip, next day ⇒


*Bridger 2022 photo album*




©2022 Valerie Norton
Written 21 Nov 2022