Hike Hoback Peak via Kilgore Creek Trail Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

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Hoback Peak is a large mountain in the Wyoming Range, offering excellent views of the colorful peaks of the area. It would serve as a lighter outing before we headed up Grand Teton the following day. We drove to the Kilgore Creek Trail, which leaves WY-189 here (43.16076, -110.36804) and heads southwest. Any vehicle can make it. Chris and I set out along the nice trail, which initially headed though some meadows and crossed Kilgore Creek a couple of times. Slowly gaining elevation, the trail entered some pretty forest and progressed toward the head of the drainage. Quite abruptly, the trail climbed with some steepness and emerged at a view of a gorgeous waterfall cascading from the west.

Past the waterfall, the trail continues north and beyond, but a social trail pops in just below 9200' on the left and leads above the waterfall and into the wide basin on the east side of Hoback Peak. Initially pretty easy to follow, this trail sort of ends at a small stream, so we just continued west into a combination of tundra and ankle-high brush. Often we found what resembles a social trail, but at this point it didn't matter. Hoback Peak was mostly visible and we just had to chose one of many steep slopes to gain the peak's northeast ridge. The hike was a bit steep from here, and it didn't seem like any ascent choice would be better than its neighbors. Once along the northeast ridge, some Class 2 led up steep and lightly-colored terrain and over to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Hoback Peak

10862 ft

2542 rise

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Starting along the Kilgore Creek Trail.

Crossing Kilgore Creek.

Pretty meadow toward the start of the hike. Also, some wildfire smoke that faded as the morning progressed.

Hoback Peak somewhat visible ahead.

Entering the forest.

A washed out section along the trail.

Emerging into another meadow toward the head of the drainage.

Quite a bit more steep.

View back down the drainage.

At the top of the steep section at an overlook of a pretty waterfall. The social trail we'd be continuing along leads toward the center of this photo.

Close-up of the waterfall.

Just after leaving the trail, heading along a social trail. You can see the social trail continuing farther up in the center.

View back down the Kilgore Creek drainage as we ascend above the waterfall.

Good social trail for a while.

Once reaching a creek, the social trail became unclear. We headed to the right and continued west.

Hints of a social trail through the basin below Hoback Peak.

Hoback Peak seen top left. We ascended to the ridge above.

A slope of choice to reach the northeast ridge, seen above.

View back toward Chris on his chosen slopw.

Higher up, view back the way we came.

Progress along the northeast ridge.

Class 2.

View back down the Class 2. We came from the basin on the right.

Last bit to the summit of Hoback Peak.

Hoback Peak summit, view north.

View southwest.

View southeast.

Wide-shot view back east, the way we came.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!