Wyoming · Hiking

Purgatory Gulch

1.2 mi
round trip
673 ft
climb
7,805 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Purgatory Gulch open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Purgatory Gulch is an easy hike of about 1.2 miles in the Brush Creek-Hayden Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Wyoming, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a total climb of about 670 feet, from a low of about 7,524 feet to a high of about 7,805 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, with a 15% grade at about 0.08 miles in. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Saratoga put July highs around 84°F with lows near 50°F, and the station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the gulch run cooler. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. Encampment River Campground and the Encampment River Trail are about 3.5 miles away, and Miner Creek offers canoeing about 2.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Purgatory Gulch

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      34° / 14°

    2. Feb

      36° / 15°

    3. Mar

      47° / 23°

    4. Apr

      56° / 29°

    5. May

      66° / 36°

    6. Jun

      77° / 42°

    7. Jul

      84° / 50°

    8. Aug

      81° / 45°

    9. Sep

      72° / 41°

    10. Oct

      58° / 31°

    11. Nov

      44° / 21°

    12. Dec

      34° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Saratoga, WY, 22.1 mi away at 6,790 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.