Planning to do Leg Lake to Stough Creek Drainage in the Wind Rivers

swampmaggot

swampmaggot

Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2025
Messages
5
Hi everyone, thank you for reading, and thank you for any advice you may have.

My Girlfriend and I are heading to the Winds to do a chill 3-day, 2-night backpack. This loop seems to be the best bang for your buck that isn't too crowded. We have 4 full days for hiking and 2 days driving (from SLC, so not too far), so if you have any better options, let me know. We are planning on doing a lot of fishing and planned on maybe our 4th day to just camp at the worthen meadow trailhead and do a day hike to Thumb Lake and do some fishing.

I guess my main question is, has anyone done the route to Leg Lake in the last couple of months? Are there any good camping sites near the lake I can't find any information on that, and the satellite images look really rocky around the lake. How is the trail up to the lake. I heard that the Forest Service made a better trail within the last couple years. But I have also heard it is a bushwack and some route finding. The real question is, how is the fishing at leg lake for goldens this year?

After Leg Lake, I am sure it will be smooth sailing to Stough Creek Basin and much more traveled.

Again, if you have any other routes that you would recommend, please send them my way. This is the tentative plan right now.

  • Experience: Both mid-20s, I have done plenty of backpacking in BC/Alberta Canadian Rockies off-trail. Been in the winds before and on many other backpacking trips. My Gf is less experienced. She has done Kings Peak in Utah and Havasupai Falls.
  • Spiciness Tolerance: My spicy tolerance is high avid climber and have backpacked many times on and off trail. My gf not so much would prefer to do something not terribly hard and have more time to fish. Some off-trail would be good, but not all off-trail.
  • Navigational Ability: Good with map and compass, Garmin InReach w/ map, and Gaia GPS
  • Area of Interest: Anything in the winds with good fishing, preferably for goldens, and not too strenuous. Although that's what I'd like, I want my gf to have a great time too.

 

Attachments

  • Leg lake Stough Creek.png
    Leg lake Stough Creek.png
    740.3 KB · Views: 6
Last edited:
There's a FB post from 2023 Lander Trail Conditions saying it's relatively easy, but can also be a bit challenging if new to that cirque. Easier access and advertising on social media like hikingproject and outdoor project have probably increased usage as well as fishing pressure. I suspect if anyone has had luck fishing for goldens there this year, they would be likely be quiet about it. But, I could be wrong.

Going to Thumb from Worthen is a big day hike.
 
OldBill said:
There's a FB post from 2023 Lander Trail Conditions saying it's relatively easy, but can also be a bit challenging if new to that cirque. Easier access and advertising on social media like hikingproject and outdoor project have probably increased usage as well as fishing pressure. I suspect if anyone has had luck fishing for goldens there this year, they would be likely be quiet about it. But, I could be wrong.

Going to Thumb from Worthen is a big day hike.
Click to expand...
Awesome, thank you for your tips I didn't even think to check Facebook. I'll go on there and see if I can find anything else. Have you ever camped at Leg Lake?
 
Fiddler's is the usual starting point. Trail disappears around Island but easy enough to find use trails. Still a long day hike. I've always just set up at Island.

Have not gone to Leg L. Thought about it, but it's pretty well traveled and I like more solitude.
 
OldBill said:
Fiddler's is the usual starting point. Trail disappears around Island but easy enough to find use trails. Still a long day hike. I've always just set up at Island.

Have not gone to Leg L. Thought about it, but it's pretty well traveled and I like more solitude.
Click to expand...
Yup I don't blame you I enjoy solitude too but want to make sure my gf will enjoy it as it is our first backpacking trip together. Next year I have some bigger off trail routes planned. Thanks for all of your help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Don't like ads? Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. Click here for more info.

Back
Top