Bighorn Crags 2026

[b.stark]

Cover photo

Hugh aka @scatman has posted a very detailed report of this hike, so I'm going to just breeze through with my highlight photos. Check out his trip report for all the details: https://backcountrypost.com/threads...r-of-no-return-wilderness-july-26-2026.12680/

The brief summary of the trip is that 5 of us including Hugh, Bob, Dave, Gary, and myself headed out into the Bighorn Crags area of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness for 6 days of adventures and misadventures.

I drove separate to the rest of the crew, and on the way in had time to stop at Craters of the Moon. Very neat spot, though I'd have done more exploring if it hadn't been 100F while I was there.

Next stop was meeting up with the group at Pickle's Place. Of course, Dave's flight was late, so I ate on my own before the rest of the group made it because I was quite hungry.

We camped roughly halfway along the 50-ish miles of gravel road to the trailhead. Cows, logging equipment, and heavy earth moving equipment would all make appearances here throughout our stay, along with a brilliant moon.

Day 1

We hiked in to Welcome Lake on the first day. After the trail gains the first ridge with a spirited climb, the trail meanders through some rock formations that remind me of some found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, though the rock is a bit different.

Smoke, smoke, smoke.

Welcome to Welcome Lake. Lots of tiny cutthroat trout in the lake, and I did spend some time fishing.

Day 2

Nice morning reflections at Welcome Lake

Puddin Mountain Trail signage

Welcome Lake basin from the top of the big climb up and out

Debris left by an avalanche along the trail

Reflection Lake... did not have the kind of reflections you'd expect from the name

Day 3

Fun bit of off trail on this one, along with a "one that got away" fish story from myself.

Bit of backtracking, then a surprisingly not too bad bushwhack up to Skyhigh Lake. It had some decent cutthroat trout, but better than that it had nice isolation and good views.

Top of "All Sun Pass."

Ew, what's this guy doing here?

The far side of the pass had a pretty good (but very old) trail down most o fit. Kinda lost it in some avalanche debris, but it wasn't really necessary at that point anyway.

Barking Fox Lake

This is where the big fish got away... it only grows with each retelling of the story, as fish do in this kind of story. At this point it's at least 24 inches long and still growing.

Heading over to Heart Lake

Heart Lake from the pass

Day 4

Morning at Heart Lake

Small waterfall and big crags on the way to Wilson Lake

Wilson Lake

Harbor Lake

Pack string headed down an interesting set of switchbacks

Day 5

For me this was a simple dayhike to Ship Island Lake and back.

Airplane Lake

Ship Island Lake

Aggipah Mountain looking over the beach at the head of Ship Island Lake

Day 6

Hike out day. I always get a bit fired up for the hike out, and this one was no different. Started hiking at about 7:30AM, made it to the trailhead just after 11AM.

Birdbill Lake looked good in the morning light

Heard some rocks falling as I got to the top of the big switchbacks, and I thought I'd get to see some bighorn sheep... turns out it was just Hugh falling prey to the irresistible attraction of another mule trail.

Cathedral Rock and some crags on the way out

The road to the Crags campground/trailhead

Thanks for having me along on the trip guys, it was a good one! Nice to go someplace completely new to me, I don't do that enough.

 

[wsp_scott]

Nice photos

I forgot to ask on Hugh's report, so I'll ask here. Did you see many people with all the mule trains? Did it seem crowded?

 

[b.stark]

Nice photos

I forgot to ask on Hugh's report, so I'll ask here. Did you see many people with all the mule trains? Did it seem crowded?

I'm not sure I'd call the area overcrowded, but it's definitely a popular area. The pack trains mostly seemed to be headed back and forth from their camp at Airplane Lake. That was a bit much for me, maybe, as I (and the rest of the group) got to the point where we could recognize many of the outfitters, but they were cordial and far as I could tell, we saw one group going out with the outfitters and one going in, and perhaps one drop camp group. That's not absurd for 6 days in a popular area in my opinion, but enough. Far as we could tell, there was one outfitter permitted to work the Bighorn Crags area, so no surprise we saw them often.

 

[TractorDoc]

Great pictures Brent!

It was a good time getting to hang out in the backcountry with you again and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up with you on the trail.

Remember that time you were trying to fish at Sky High Lake and some guy was standing right where you needed to swing your line? I almost ended up with a fly in my nose trying to get this picture.



As far as your big fish goes, I tried going back thru the video footage of when I plunked the GoPro in the water as you were reeling it in. This is a frame I was able to pull out of it; may have a better image when I look thru more of it. I'd say it was a good 30" based on the size of the plant in the background. . .

 

[b.stark]

Great pictures Brent!

It was a good time getting to hang out in the backcountry with you again and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up with you on the trail.

Remember that time you were trying to fish at Sky High Lake and some guy was standing right where you needed to swing your line? I almost ended up with a fly in my nose trying to get this picture.

View attachment 151645

As far as your big fish goes, I tried going back thru the video footage of when I plunked the GoPro in the water as you were reeling it in. This is a frame I was able to pull out of it; may have a better image when I look thru more of it. I'd say it was a good 30" based on the size of the plant in the background. . .

View attachment 151647

Based on the well documented "GoPro Effect" that fish could be a solid 36 inches!