Mount McDougal in Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

Hike Mount McDougal Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

Class 2 4.1 miles 2300 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Aug 20, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount McDougal GPX Track

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Mount McDougal is a colorful mountain in the Wyoming Range just north of McDougal Gap. The trailhead can be reached either from the west via Alpine, WY or the east on good roads. Don't let Google choose your route or you may get to enjoy the thrills of primitive Wyoming roads, as I had the pleasure of doing. I was chatting with a NFS ranger at the trailhead while snacking on kale because I'm on some nonsensical fleeting health kick at the moment. She casually noted clouds building, so I decided to cut our chat and attempt Mount McDougal despite her completely reasonable warning of lightning, being the simple human I often am. I had to at least try. After all, when would I be way out here next?

I chugged an energy drink and many ibuprofen and began basically running north along the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail, which gained elevation gradually until about 9000'. Here I left the trail since it continued north and away from Mount McDougal. I think you could continue north along the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail and then ascend via the east ridge of a bump to the north of Mount McDougal here (42.86955, -110.58645), but I don't know of the quality of that route. I didn't want to attempt that anyway since I was concerned about the foreboding clouds and I already knew there was a chance I'd have to bail before reaching the summit.

I started west up the laughably steep slope, nonchalantly knocking burrs from knee-high mountain growth into my shoes. I was somehow making very quick time, driven by caffeine and stoke. Some small limestone cliff bands above were my initial landmark goal. Once I got beneath them, I curved slightly left and found a weakness that seemed to attract enough attention to form a thin social trail (from animals or people, I don't know). With just some light Class 2 I was over the cliff bands. I followed the social trail as it made an ascending traverse sort of away from the summit. I didn't know where it would ultimately lead me, so I veered away from it and headed northwest directly up the steep slope. Fortunately none of this was loose, so it was just a matter of keeping my quads from dying as I huffed to the ridgeline above. I did encounter a Class 2+ cliff band, but this can likely be avoided if you have more time to look around for the path of least resistance.

Once along the final ridgeline, a short Class 2+ section of fun scrambling on solid limestone brought me to a mostly tame final hundred feet to the grassy summit. The views were absolutely wonderful, definitely better than anticipated. I returned the way I came, now actually running to escape the very loud thunder.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount McDougal
10780 ft
2340 rise

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Mount Mcdougal seen from the trailhead.
Mount Mcdougal seen from the trailhead.
View back along the Wyoming Range NRT.
View back along the Wyoming Range NRT.
Along the Wyoming Range NRT as it heads through the forest for a time.
Along the Wyoming Range NRT as it heads through the forest for a time.
Mount McDougal pokes in on the left.
Mount McDougal pokes in on the left.
View back again along the Wyoming Range NRT.
View back again along the Wyoming Range NRT.
I left the trail and headed up the steep slope.
I left the trail and headed up the steep slope.
Nothing too crazy, but the plants were often knee-high.
Nothing too crazy, but the plants were often knee-high.
Approaching the limestone cliffs above. I went to the trees in the center, the kept left.
Approaching the limestone cliffs above. I went to the trees in the center, the kept left.
View back, the Wyoming Range NRT somewhere below in the trees.
View back, the Wyoming Range NRT somewhere below in the trees.
Now at the base of the limestone, a weakness was more clear on the left.
Now at the base of the limestone, a weakness was more clear on the left.
View back down the weakness.
View back down the weakness.
Steep ascent now.
Steep ascent now.
More step stuff.
More step stuff.
Class 2/2+ obstacles, though all likely avoidable if you care to find a route around them.
Class 2/2+ obstacles, though all likely avoidable if you care to find a route around them.
View back the way I came.
View back the way I came.
Approaching the final ridgeline.
Approaching the final ridgeline.
Along the ridgeline. Above is a fun Class 2+ limestone scramble section.
Along the ridgeline. Above is a fun Class 2+ limestone scramble section.
Looking down the fun, short scramble. Also below is the silly steep slope I came up.
Looking down the fun, short scramble. Also below is the silly steep slope I came up.
View down to the trailhead (left of center).
View down to the trailhead (left of center).
Mount McDougal summit, view north.
Mount McDougal summit, view north.
Close-up north.
Close-up north.
Mount McDougal summit, view west.
Mount McDougal summit, view west.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!