Cream Puff Peak Loop in Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

Hike Cream Puff Peak Loop Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

Class 2 16.8 miles 6300 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Sep 2, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Cream Puff Peak Loop GPX Track

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Yep, naturally I chose to hike Cream Puff Peak because the name was too good to pass up. Plus, I figured I could try to include a few other peaks along the ridge thinking it might give me a nice introduction to the Gros Ventre Wilderness, an area I've never been. This cluster of peaks is separated from the taller and more unique summits of the Gros Ventre Range, but I still enjoyed myself on this pretty remote and colorful hike. Peak 10013, the highest peak on this hike, gave me a nice vantage point toward the taller Gros Ventre summits as well as toward the Tetons. I decided to go for the high point first, counter-clockwise, taking on the ridge from north to south. The road leading from pavement on Hwy 191 might be difficult for anything less than a crossover vehicle, but it's only about a quarter mile of extra walking if you can't make it.

The poorly-marked trailhead offered a small map which included a dotted line for Cream Puff Peak, so I was looking forward to having a trail on the way back. Earlier I'd done some research looking for trails I could use to best access the ridgeline, so this mysterious dotted line was familiar (more on this dotted line later, but spoiler: it's incorrectly drawn). However, no official trails existed on the map for reaching the ridgeline farther north to access Peak 10013. Fortunately I'd scoured satellite view to exhaustion during the research phase of this hike and did find what seemed like a trail carved through the landscape, so I wasn't too concerned.

I started along the Cow Creek Trail, which wrapped around the meadowy slopes and through forest as it worked toward the Cow Creek drainage. It then ascended at a pleasant grade to the north, some nice views and the well-maintained trail giving me hope for my proposed route being in mostly good shape. I reached the northern base of Peak 8566, a bump I'd hike on my way out later, and the views opened up expansively. I was immediately impressed by the colors of the landscape. The trail dropped a couple hundred feet and I noted some sort of permanent hunting camp settlement, a cluster of canvas-topped structures below. Now I understood why the trail was in such good shape. I reached a junction that had a small "Trail" sign pointing to the right, the left leading down to the hunting camp.

Past the hunting camp junction the trail became less worn, but it was still good. Shortly after, just as the forest became more dense, I reached another fork, this one without a marker. Later I learned the left option was the way to Cream Puff Peak, but the more obvious option took me to the right, descending slightly and away from the ridgeline. Although not marked on any maps, this ended up being the trail I'd noted on satellite view and I hoped it would take me to the ridgeline. It was actually in great shape, and even though my route line may look wiggly and bushwhacky on my attached map, this is actually a section of trail that seems to be cleared with some frequency. I did find it odd that the trail made so many twists and turns as it made its way through the forest, but was happy to learn I wouldn't be bushwhacking since this would have been a bit of a gnarly forest walk without the trail.

Too soon, the trail exited the shade and serenity and entered a meadow. I had absolutely no trouble following the trail through the meadow as it ascended more steeply to the north toward the ridgeline above, but it was very overgrown and I often found myself head-high in weeds. Somehow I didn't get off-trail even once though, and I assume the brush is more tame when summer vegetation isn't at its peak. I pushed through, making relatively quick progress. The trail was good all the way until the last quarter mile to the ridgeline, though from here it was easy walking, the tall overgrowth now reduced to just grasses.

Finally on the ridge crest, I headed north toward Peak 10013. A social trail surprised me, continuing all the way up to about 9400', where it petered out and I was left to ascend on a grassy slope and easy Class 2 talus to gain the summit. I stuck around on the top to enjoy the lovely views toward the taller Gros Ventre peaks to the northeast before backtracking along the ridgeline and starting over to my next peaks, unnamed Peak 9338 and Peak 9720. Neither were memorable lumps, but the views were really good most of the way. A social trail hinted at its existence once in a while, but it was mostly ankle-high brush walking for the ridge traverse. I was hoping for tundra, but fortunately the brush was never annoying. There were a couple of steeper sections of both ascent and descent, but following the ridgeline was trivial. The final climb to Peak 9720 was quite steep, but grassy enough to have plenty of footing. Peak 9720 had two grassy summit knolls of similar height.

Next up was Cream Puff Peak, which I could see just to the south. It actually looked a little underwhelming compared to the views I had so far for the day. In fact, it was the lowest of the four summits so I'm not totally sure why it's the named summit on the rideline. There was some light rockiness on the way down from Peak 9720, and then I picked up a social trail leading from its saddle to Cream Puff Peak. This trail led over a false summit and up to the high point. The view south was pretty nice, the massive drop into the Hoback River drainage an impressive sight, with the mountains to the south rising dramatically. The Cream Puff Peak summit register seemed to indicate that many come from the north to access the peak. Maybe the trail is better from that direction? Coming from that way would make accessing Peak 10013 more difficult though, so I was okay with my choices.

Now for the descent to complete the loop and return to the Cow Creek Trail. You'll notice on my map I have a line leading east from the southern summit of Peak 9720. While I didn't go this way, I drew a route line that closely follows a clear trail on satellite view. In hindsight, I wish I'd taken this route rather than my later descent from Cream Puff Peak. My hunch is the dotted line marked on maps is no longer a maintained trail, but perhaps re-routed along the east ridge of Peak 9720 and never updated on maps. The route I took leaves the ridgeline and makes a descending traverse below Peak 9720, wrapping around to join the remains of the Cream Puff Peak Trail. Along the way I did encounter hints of a trail, but it was so overgrown that I sort of stopped caring about keeping along the old trailbed. The alternative is re-gaining Peak 9720 and using the (what looks like a much better trail) to descend, which I recommend at least trying. Not doing the bushwhack way I went may increase the vertical gain stat on my hike by a few hundred, but I honestly probably did the same amount of vertical by dropping up and down on the hilly nonsense while sidehilling anyway, so it's probably a wash and better to just take the east ridge option from Peak 9720. I included photos of my sidehill so you can see what to expect. To satiate my curiosity, I took a couple of minutes to scout the east ridge descent option, finding the trail in excellent shape for at least the first quarter mile.

Back on the Cow Creek Trail with my water long-depleted, I took the irresponsible last-minute choice to hike the short detour to get to Peak 8566, an insignificant bump with some nice views. There was even a hint of a social trail up its northern slope.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 10013
10013 ft
1493 rise
2
Peak 9383
9383 ft
383 rise
3
Peak 9720
9720 ft
760 rise
4
Cream Puff Peak
9685 ft
445 rise
5
Peak 8566
8566 ft
326 rise

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Starting along the Cow Creek Trail.
Starting along the Cow Creek Trail.
Wrapping around the slope to get into the Cow Creek drainage. Hoback River below on the left.
Wrapping around the slope to get into the Cow Creek drainage. Hoback River below on the left.
View back as I near the Cow Creek drainage and start ascending north along the trail.
View back as I near the Cow Creek drainage and start ascending north along the trail.
Ascending north.
Ascending north.
View back down the Cow Creek drainage.
View back down the Cow Creek drainage.
Peak 8566 visible on the left. I'd be getting that one on my way back.
Peak 8566 visible on the left. I'd be getting that one on my way back.
Another shot back as the trail curves and starts heading northwest.
Another shot back as the trail curves and starts heading northwest.
Peak 10013 comes into view.
Peak 10013 comes into view.
The trail descends a little along a low ridge.
The trail descends a little along a low ridge.
Ridgeline visible ahead, Peak 9383 (right) and Peak 9720 (left) in view.
Ridgeline visible ahead, Peak 9383 (right) and Peak 9720 (left) in view.
View back.
View back.
Peak 10013 on the right.
Peak 10013 on the right.
The east ridge of Peak 9720 seen ahead. Cream Puff Peak seen far left.
The east ridge of Peak 9720 seen ahead. Cream Puff Peak seen far left.
A junction. Left leads to the hunter camp. right is marked as simply "Trail".
A junction. Left leads to the hunter camp. right is marked as simply "Trail".
View toward the hunter camp.
View toward the hunter camp.
An unmarked junction. Left leads up to Cream Puff Peak, right toward Peak 10013. I kept to the right.
An unmarked junction. Left leads up to Cream Puff Peak, right toward Peak 10013. I kept to the right.
A bit of wiggling through the forest on a nice trail.
A bit of wiggling through the forest on a nice trail.
And then I emerged into a field.
And then I emerged into a field.
Image 18 from gallery
The trail ascended through a meadow, quite overgrown.
The trail ascended through a meadow, quite overgrown.
View back toward the forest. It was actually easy to stay on the trail, but it was very overgrown.
View back toward the forest. It was actually easy to stay on the trail, but it was very overgrown.
The brush dies down a little as I head along the slope toward the ridge above.
The brush dies down a little as I head along the slope toward the ridge above.
Another shot back at my progress, Peak 8566 seen left of center.
Another shot back at my progress, Peak 8566 seen left of center.
Image 23 from gallery
The last little bit to gain the ridge, seen on the left. Peak 10013 seen top right.
The last little bit to gain the ridge, seen on the left. Peak 10013 seen top right.
Along the ridgeline to Peak 10013, a social trail helping lead the way.
Along the ridgeline to Peak 10013, a social trail helping lead the way.
View back along the ridgeline, Peak 9383 seen on the right.
View back along the ridgeline, Peak 9383 seen on the right.
Peak 10013 seen center. The trail fades away just ahead.
Peak 10013 seen center. The trail fades away just ahead.
Ascending a slope to some talus.
Ascending a slope to some talus.
View back down the talus.
View back down the talus.
A nice view north along the way.
A nice view north along the way.
Class 2 to the summit of Peak 10013.
Class 2 to the summit of Peak 10013.
View back along the ridgeline to come.
View back along the ridgeline to come.
Summit of Peak 10013, view toward Gros Peak.
Summit of Peak 10013, view toward Gros Peak.
Summit view toward Doubletop Peak.
Summit view toward Doubletop Peak.
Close-up at the ridgeline, Cream Puff Peak seen far left.
Close-up at the ridgeline, Cream Puff Peak seen far left.
After returning from Peak 10013, now headed south.
After returning from Peak 10013, now headed south.
View back toward Peak 10013 on my way to Peak 9383.
View back toward Peak 10013 on my way to Peak 9383.
Another shot back, higher up.
Another shot back, higher up.
Peak 9383 summit, view toward Peak 9720.
Peak 9383 summit, view toward Peak 9720.
Along the ridge to Peak 9720. It's got some brush, but nothing more than ankle-height.
Along the ridge to Peak 9720. It's got some brush, but nothing more than ankle-height.
View back at one of the humps along the ridgeline.
View back at one of the humps along the ridgeline.
Steeper section on my way up Peak 9720.
Steeper section on my way up Peak 9720.
Mostly open hiking with some sparsely-vegetated forest.
Mostly open hiking with some sparsely-vegetated forest.
View back along the ridgeline, Peak 10013 seen center.
View back along the ridgeline, Peak 10013 seen center.
Close-up toward Peak 10013.
Close-up toward Peak 10013.
Just below the summit of Peak 9720, looking back down a steep section.
Just below the summit of Peak 9720, looking back down a steep section.
Northern summit of Peak 9720, view toward the southern knoll.
Northern summit of Peak 9720, view toward the southern knoll.
Cream Puff Peak ahead.
Cream Puff Peak ahead.
View back toward Peak 9720.
View back toward Peak 9720.
Nearing the saddle with Cream Puff Peak.
Nearing the saddle with Cream Puff Peak.
Social trail up Cream Puff Peak.
Social trail up Cream Puff Peak.
View back toward Peak 9720.
View back toward Peak 9720.
On the false summit, view toward Cream Puff Peak's high point.
On the false summit, view toward Cream Puff Peak's high point.
Hoback River below.
Hoback River below.
Cream Puff Peak summit, view northeast.
Cream Puff Peak summit, view northeast.
Close-up toward Gros Peak (right) and the Tetons (left).
Close-up toward Gros Peak (right) and the Tetons (left).
From the saddle, I headed on what was marked as a trail, but no longer is. It traversed beneath Peak 9720 (top left).
From the saddle, I headed on what was marked as a trail, but no longer is. It traversed beneath Peak 9720 (top left).
View back toward Cream Puff Peak at the nonexistent trail.
View back toward Cream Puff Peak at the nonexistent trail.
It got a bit brushy and there were lots of little lumps along the way.
It got a bit brushy and there were lots of little lumps along the way.
Finally, back on a trail. I believe this is what the trail would look like if you take the easy ridge of Peak 9720 instead.
Finally, back on a trail. I believe this is what the trail would look like if you take the easy ridge of Peak 9720 instead.
Descending the trail.
Descending the trail.
On my way back, a quick detour to go get Peak 8566, hidden by the lump ahead.
On my way back, a quick detour to go get Peak 8566, hidden by the lump ahead.
Just below the summit of Peak 8566, view back. Peak 10013 seen center.
Just below the summit of Peak 8566, view back. Peak 10013 seen center.
A shot on the way back down the Cow Creek Trail.
A shot on the way back down the Cow Creek Trail.

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