Skyline: Trapper Lake, Heart Lake, and Palmer Lake

Bridger-Teton National Forest

(blue line, map link)

DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4  |  DAY 5

My getting up and started wasn't quite as early as I might have liked, but the south facing climb wasn't as hot as I worried. There was a warning from a hiker coming the other direction that this trail was getting faint. The faintest it got was at a couple walk-arounds for trees about halfway up. After all the practice following trails past downed trees, noting tread goes there and walk-around goes there and following it was easy. I was still looking for faint trail when I started seeing recently logged out trees at the top. If this is "abandoned", the rest must be magnificent.

A little view of Fremont Lake.

Climbing up the north side of the big glacial canyon.

A particularly red tailed hawk takes the easy way up riding the currents.

Peakbagger had "Crows Nest Lookout" marked. This named viewpoint is probably copied from the Beartooth map. I decided to stop by it, and that was a good thing. It's the last chance to get in all the views out over the canyon.

Pine Creek Canyon.

Bridger Creek Canyon behind Pine Creek and a crest of the Great Divide beyond.

Fremont Creek Canyon behind Bridger Creek. The whitewater below Long Lake is Fremont Creek. After the corner, it is Bridger Creek.

The other end of Fremont Lake and the vast flatter land beyond. The smaller lake to the right is Soda Lake.

After the grand view, there was a little more climbing among the trees and suddenly the signed junction with Summit Lake Trail. Back on officially maintained trail, everything was beautifully cleared. I set off on the northerly walk, rolling along from lake to lake.

Prospector Lake.

A rolling landscape ahead.

Little Trapper Lake.

Arriving at Trapper Lake.

More of Trapper Lake.

Those water lilies still have a few blooms.

There's a lot of lakes to choose from with lots of trails connecting them. Section Corner Lake was tempting, but I kept on with the plan of passing Heart to Palmer. Official junctions had signs, but there were plenty of good trails without signs. I had to check OpenStreetMap for those unofficial ones. Even it failed at one and I just had to guess.

Trapper Lake from the north end.

There's a number of extra small ponds near Trapper Lake.

Trail Lake is hidden behind trees from here.

There's many extra ponds like this above Neil Lake.

Neil Lake.

Gottfried Lake.

At Heart Lake Trail, I diverged from the main track. I would be back to Summit Lake Trail eventually, but I didn't need to take the shortest route to make it around. It obviously is a lesser used trail, but it is still clear of trees.

Heart Lake.

A tiny pond.

Reflections in the pond across the trail from Heart Lake.

More reflections on the pond.

Heart Lake.

Part of a string of ponds passed.

A larger pond above Dean Lake.

Dean Lake, a particularly pretty one.

I got into a vast park as I neared Palmer Lake Trail. It's really no wonder that I ended up on a shortcut trail rather than the official one without even noticing. That meant no sign at the junction, and I overshot the trail wondering what that particularly well trod track might be.

Into the park and the sun.

Round Lake, the other way along Palmer Lake Trail.

Arriving at Palmer Lake.

There's no sign for Doubletop Mountain Trail either. There's a cairn and the suggestion of many parallel trails converging near where it should be. It follows Palmer Trail for a short way before diverging again to get down the hill, but people have gone directly and steeply instead. I had picked out a spot high on the west side of the lake to make camp and reality was with me. I found a good spot right where I hoped to.

Palmer Lake.

Another tent was near the inlet on the far side of the lake. I stopped by the outlet for water, but ultimately took from the lake itself. It was much better water than I usually associate with still water.

The little mountains turning pink in the sunset.

same trip, next day ⇒


*Bridger 2022 photo album*




©2022 Valerie Norton
Written 14 Nov 2022