Adelaide

Adelaide is a hard hike in Wyoming's Cloud Peak Wilderness, part of the Medicine Wheel Ranger District of Bighorn National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back of about 8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,305 feet, taking you from a low point of about 8,000 feet to a high of about 9,345 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface and horse-friendly status make it a viable option for riders as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Burgess Junction, which sits about 1,300 feet lower, show July highs around 71°F with lows near 42°F. That station's figures are only a rough guide, since temperatures on the trail run cooler. The hike is open year-round, and the surrounding area offers plenty to pair it with. Mail Creek and the Adelaide Trail both lie about 1.3 miles away, and Ranger Creek Recreation Area and Shell Creek campground are within about 2.3 miles.