Wyoming · Hiking

Elk Lake

8.7 mi
round trip
1,654 ft
climb
10,188 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Elk Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Powder River Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Powder River Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Elk Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Powder River Ranger District of Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming, managed by the Forest Service. The trail runs about 8.7 miles, with an elevation gain of 1,654 feet from the low point at 8,792 feet to the high point at 10,188 feet. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the natural-surface trail. The trip is open year-round, and Hunter Campground, about 2.6 miles away, offers a nearby place to stay. Nearby, South Rock Creek Cutoff, a mountain biking route, sits about a mile off, and the Ditch hike is roughly 1.4 miles away. For camping, Middle Fork is about 5 miles out, and South Clear Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 6 miles away.