Willmore Wilderness Adventure 6 Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at the staging area at Rock Lake 10am. Pack all our gear on the horses, we then get you mounted on your horses. Leave approx. 11:30am and ride the North Fork of the Wildhay River where we will stop for lunch. Continuing up the Wildhay, crossing Seep Creek to camp on the banks of Carson Creek. You will have time to get your tent set up and your belongings arranged prior to supper at 6pm. Enjoy an evening campfire.
Day 2: Breakfast at 8:30am. On the horses around 9:30am. Heading up the Wildhay turning on to Eagles Nest Creek and up to the summit of Eagles Nest Pass. Views into the Rock Creek Valley and Cathedral Peak. Descend back down to camp approx. 5pm. Dinner at 6pm.
Day 3: We ride up the Wildhay again but turn and go up a seldom used trail climbing to the summit of a ridge off the back of Cathedral Peak. Views up and down the Wildhay all the way to the headwaters. We ride down the back side of the ridge to a high mountain lake to enjoy our lunch. A good place to use your binoculars looking for Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats.
Day 4: Today we ride up Carson Creek valley to the steep high pass and the headwaters of Carson Creek and Moon Creek. High above timber line on the summit gives you amazing views and possible wildlife sightings. We will have lunch on top. This is a great place to take a short hike up the ridge to a higher peak, with even more amazing views.
Day 5: Today we ride through some Willmore History on Thorou Creek. In the 1930’s the Blue Diamond Coal Company were exploring for coal leaving a log cabin and steam engine that was pulled in with horses. We will explore the ruins as we ride up the summit of Thorou and Pope Creeks. Great place for lunch, beautiful views, lots of opportunity for a short hike in this mountain paradise.
Day 6: After breakfast we take our camp down and load everything on the pack horses for the return trip down the Wildhay River. We should arrive back at Rock Lake about 3pm. You have seen a very small part of Willmore Wilderness Park, which is a large mountain park. Thank you for joining us and we hope to take you to a different area next year.
For your Information:
- It will take you about 1.5 hours to drive from Hinton to the Rock Lake staging area.
- We will have a tarp over the campfire for eating and relaxing.
- This trip will have tents only in the backcountry. There will be 2 people per tent available for sleeping.
- You will be required to bring your sleeping bag and air or foam mattress for this Willmore trip.
- Your duffle bag for personal belongings including sleeping bag and pad should not exceed 30 pounds.