Wind Caves Way

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Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail is practically one really long switchback leaving from the Wind Caves Trail about halfway up to get to the ridge that leads over to Beirdneau Peak. For the most part, it is a beautiful trail with a nice grade for heading up or down, although it does get steep at some points. To get to where the trail starts, follow the Wind Caves Trail for about 1 mile or more until you see a split in the trails at the end of a switchback where there is a brown "designated use" sign. The fork that goes to the right is the trail that goes up to the ridge.

As the trail leaves the Wind Caves Trail, it starts to climb through a small, sparse forest but pretty soon gets out into a barren, rocky hillside and traverse for a while until it reaches the point where it switches back and starts ascending to the west. As it ascends, it crosses several drainages and goes through various types of vegetation - tall grasses, where elk and deer sometimes sleep, and scrub oak forests, etc. As the trail gets closer to the ridge, you can see several rock outcroppings up above, and if you take a look to the south you can get great views of the China Wall and the Crimson Trail. Once you reach the top, you can get great views of the gullies below Logan Peak and all of the cliffs below it as well.