North Fork Bull Lake Creek

The country around Downs is fairly rough.... Lots of boulders depending on your route up to the divide
I'm counting on it. ;)

We're planning to go by Crescent Lake and then work our way up NE from there - before heading south. Will probably require some adjustments though.
 
Last edited:
I'd suggest going up to the pass between crescent and mile long then across.. we did a trip up and across to dinwoody but started at Torrey.
 
I'd suggest going up to the pass between crescent and mile long then across.. we did a trip up and across to dinwoody but started at Torrey.
Thanks for the tip. That's roughly the spot we're targeting to hit the Divide.
 
If you stay low.....as in Faler to Daphne to Rocking Horse to Kevin to Baker to Iceberg then over Grasshopper....scenery is outstanding and rugged...... we used spikes on grasshopper and there were extreme suncupping and some crevasses to watch for....
 
You've gotten some good input already - @b.stark's route looks pretty fun.

As far as the most straightforward routes to the north fork, I think it has to be via either Indian Pass from Elkhart or Blaurock Pass from Glacier - Indian Pass being the easier of the two options. Turning it into a loop - especially a 6 day loop - is the challenge, because your alternate exits within a "short" distance all present a higher degree of challenge:
  • Bonney Pass - it's not too bad, but you do need some comfort level w/ glacier crossings for Dinwoody.
  • Alpine Lakes Basin and/or Bloody Hell/Brown Cliffs are both rough scrambles, plus they might push the 6 day limit - though that varies by person.
  • Almost anything else would push the 6 day limit for most people.
Personally, my guess would be that a loop from Elkhart over Indian/Blaurock/Bonney would be doable for you - but I have no way of knowing for sure. One suggestion might be to do Indian and go up Blaurock and have an opportunity there to decide whether to backtrack over Indian or proceed over Bonney, depending on how you feel and what conditions "on the ground" have looked like.

I've never used anything more than microspikes in the Winds, so crampons are probably overkill, but all my longer trips have been in August/September. For Knifepoint Glacier most of the hiking season you don't really need spikes.

In regards to bears, I think an Ursack is perfect. It's definitely my go-to.

When are you planning on making the trip? Maybe I'll see you out there - I'm planning a loop that includes this area in August. (We're coming in via the Divide from Green River Lakes TH.)
Here is some divide pics for you>>>>>

P1000555.JPGP1000561.JPGP1000567.JPGP1000577.JPG
 
This whole thread is giving me the shakes.

There's a lot of territory in here I want to see. I have a dream of a big circle from Green River, over Knapsack, Indian, Blaurock, and back over the divide via Grasshopper. Dry fork is another spot that has recently come to my attention too.

Too many ideas and not enough free time.
 
This whole thread is giving me the shakes.

There's a lot of territory in here I want to see. I have a dream of a big circle from Green River, over Knapsack, Indian, Blaurock, and back over the divide via Grasshopper. Dry fork is another spot that has recently come to my attention too.

Too many ideas and not enough free time.
That's pretty close to my intended route for this summer. Definitely looking forward to it.
 
I keep trying to go other places, but the free flights to SLC and incredible routes have sucked me in.
lol....... free to SLC, how so.......
 
. Me too.
 
Hello all! New here, but long-time backpacker in the Winds (I grew up in the Riverton area). However, I have never been to the north fork of bull lake creek- its actually the only fork I haven't been to. I am going this year, and was wondering if anyone knew which (if any?) lakes in Shargrila might have fish, and if so, if you know the type. Thanks, and I will be sure to report back here once I am back out.

Roger
 
Haven't seen any reports for those lakes other than Little and Big Milky (rainbow). For lakes off main river you might want to call Rich Osthoff. He stays updated on the Winds and wrote the book on it! Another good source is Lander G&F. They survey BLC every so often.
 
Haven't seen any reports for those lakes other than Little and Big Milky (rainbow). For lakes off main river you might want to call Rich Osthoff. He stays updated on the Winds and wrote the book on it! Another good source is Lander G&F. They survey BLC every so often.
Thank you for the reply. I have fished the Milky lakes and done well on small to medium rainbows- those are beautiful lakes! I got Rich's book in 2004 and poured over it- came in handy on several occasions. My brother has also spoken with him in the past, but I'm not sure how much he gets out to the Winds these days, and a lot can change in the decades since that book was published (I have found that myself with different fish and sizes at lakes he discusses or alludes to in the book). The G&F suggestion is a good one as well- ill check in w/them.

Cheers,
Roger
 
Rich stays in constant touch with anglers fishing the Winds. When I spoke with him 2 yrs ago he had reports from several areas just a few weeks old.

Good Luck!! Watch out for the griz in NFBLC.
 
Rich stays in constant touch with anglers fishing the Winds. When I spoke with him 2 yrs ago he had reports from several areas just a few weeks old.

Good Luck!! Watch out for the griz in NFBLC.
That is a damn good point! I appreciate the suggestion and will give it a shot! Regarding the griz, I am well aware that this area is known as one of the highest density grizzly areas in the Winds. Each person has their own bear spray and we plan to be as careful as we can (all food in bear canisters and no food in the tents, eat and cook well away from the tents as well). I was able to contact a person that said at least two of the lakes in the area have fish (rainbows I believe) so looking forward to that at least in addition to the incredible scenery.

Roger
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J Pacific Creek or North Buffalo Fork? Teton Wilderness, Thorofare ,etc. Trip Planning 10
U Favorite sites in Glacier in North Fork, Lake McDonald or Cole/Nyack? Looking at mid july Trip Planning 2
Dhuff3243 North Fork Robbers Roost and Blarney canyon Trip Planning 0
McKee80 Glacier NP, part 2. North Fork, Sept 2018 Backpacking 11
regehr Mill B North Fork Hiking & Camping 6
George_Washington_Hayduke White Roost Canyons (east and west forks) & North Fork of Robbers Roost Canyon Canyoneering 3
Yvonne Cross-Country skiing North Fork Trail, Uintas Winter Sports 10
Perry First Snowshoe Experience - Bi-centennial trail, North Fork Park General Discussion 11
Ben Gates of the Arctic NP, North Fork Koyukuk River packraft Backpacking 23
Christian Lake Powell: Anasazi, Lehi Bridges, North Fork Forgotten Canyon, etc On The Water 2
John Goering North Fork Indian Creek, Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana Backpacking 4
hatchcanyon North Fork Coal Canyon and Slipper Arch Off Road 0
Dave North Fork Road/Chamberlains conditions Trip Planning 2
Yvonne Invite Right Fork North Creek this Sunday Meet Up (Members Only) 0
Nick Uintas: North Fork Trail Backpacking 10
Nick North Fork Provo River, Uintas Backpacking 4
Timber High Sierra - North Lake to South Lake Loop - Layover Day Trip Planning 9
kwc Wandering about In Theodore Roosevelt NP (north unit) Hiking & Camping 5
scatman North Ridge of City Creek Canyon - February 4, 2023 Hiking & Camping 17
kwc Round Lake, north central Adirondacks, in the Round Lake Wilderness On The Water 2
Udink North of Arches Hiking & Camping 6
Janice The Wave - and SO MUCH MORE! (Coyote Buttes North, South, White Pocket, Buckskin, Condors, Bighorns...) - Part 1 Hiking & Camping 14
scatman North Pitchstone Trail, Headwaters of Ouzel Creek, Bechler River and Mr. Bubbles(?) - Yellowstone National Park - September 13, 2021 Backpacking 36
K North To Alaska - The Aleutians and More Everything Else 3
OwenM Anyone here familiar with North Cascades NP? Trip Planning 9
Chuck the Mauler Sierra North Lake / South Lake "loop" questions Trip Planning 10
Bob Morris North Inlet Trail Trip Planning 3
scatman North Summit, Mount Olympus - July 3, 2021 Hiking & Camping 12
BJett Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area. North Carolina. Backpacking 0
BackpackingtheSierras Republic Pass Trail North Absaroka into Yellowstone Cache Creek and Lamar River Trip Planning 1
NorthwestWanderer North Cascades NP : Dee Dee Lakes & the Mcallister Ledge Backpacking 0
NorthwestWanderer North Cascades - Cutthroat/Granite/snowy lakes passes Backpacking 3
scatman North Summit, Mount Olympus - October 17, 2020 Hiking & Camping 16
Bob Grand Canyon North Rim wildfire Trip Planning 4
J North Cascades National Park Black and Corteo Peaks Traverse Aug 21-23, 2007 Retro Backpacking 3
U Glacier North Circle Loop Mid July - Looking for an alternative back-up plan for a 3-4 nighter Trip Planning 0
Mikjik86 FULL Video Part 2 Backpacking Glacier National Park "North Circle Route" Backpacking 0
Mikjik86 Backpacking Glacier National Park (Part 2 Preview) "North Circle Route" Montana, August 2019 Backpacking 2
J Lake Mead Natl Recreation Area North Shore scramble fun. Nov. 28-30, 2019 Hiking & Camping 5
Mikjik86 Backpacking Glacier National Park - North Circle Route Part 1 Preview Video. Backpacking 1
Chuck the Mauler North Lake - South Lake questions Trip Planning 4
Yvonne Kolob Terrace exploration: from Hop Valley to North Gate Peaks, May 2019 Hiking & Camping 7
BJett Linville Gorge Wilderness Area - North Carolina Backpacking 18
Janice Opportunity to provide input on policies for Coyote Buttes North ("The Wave") and nearby areas General Discussion 27
TimeOutside Searching for a 5-ish day trek within 5 to 6 hours of North Dallas Trip Planning 3
DrNed Shift in Magnetic North General Discussion 4
Titans Pharaoh Lake Wilderness - Brilliant Fall Foliage, Pond and Lake Reflections- Adirondacks, North Eastern US Hiking & Camping 20
msteudel Boulder Mountain North Slope UT: Donkey Res. to Lost Lake? Trip Planning 1
NorthwestWanderer Copper Pass, North Cascades (Day Hike + Bear sighting) Hiking & Camping 1
Jimmy Baker Lake, Lake Diablo, North Cascades, Olympics Family Adventure Hiking & Camping 8

Similar threads

Back
Top