Wilson Corrals #135

The trail passes through open conifer/aspen forests and then travels an open ridge to an arm of Wilson Peak before descending to Squaw Creek. From the highest point of the trail there are good views of Snowbank, Wilson Meadow, and areas west. There are no sources of water for approximately the middle 3 miles.

The first 3 miles of this trail are for multiple uses. The last 3.6 miles are designated for nonmotorized use. Motorized users may wish to turn around in the flat meadow at 2.7 miles instead of at 3.0 miles where the trail is steeper and narrow.

The Wilson Creek Trail starts at a well marked trailhead, ½ mile up National Forest Road 653Q (NF653Q). The trail itself starts at the north end of the open parking area. There is ample room to park, plus a dispersed campsite at the trailhead. The trail follows along the Third Fork of Squaw Creek for the first 0.6 miles. At two points within the first 0.3 miles, the trail drops into the edge of the creek to avoid springs up above. At 0.6 miles, the trail begins to follow a side drainage of Squaw Creek.

The trail crosses this small creek five times, passes a dispersed campsite at 1.0 mile and breaks into the open just before crossing NF-653Q at 1.2 miles. The trail is evident north of the road and a tree blaze can be seen up the trail. After crossing the road, the trail parallels a clear-cut for 0.3 miles, but there are enough buffer trees to provide shade and screening. The trail gradually gains elevation and reaches a small meadow at 2.7 miles. At 2.8 miles the trail crosses the last source of water for approximately 2 miles to 3.6 miles.

At 3.6 miles, the trail reaches a large open ridge. The trail tread stops part way up this ridge, but by following tree blazes and rock cairns, the trail can be followed to the ridge top just southwest of Wilson Peak at 5.0 miles. The trail then drops down the southeast corner of Wilson Peak, crosses a creek at 5.6 miles and comes to a small wet meadow at 6.0 miles where the trail briefly becomes visible again. Shortly after passing this meadow, the trail becomes a network of indistinct trails, but by using the topo map and heading southeast, one can come to a ford of Squaw Creek at 6.6 miles. The trail junction with West Mountain Trail is just across this ford.