White Pine - Bunchgrass Canyon Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildlife

From the parking area, cross the highway and there is a trailhead and a sign soon thereafter that says the mileages to the White Pine Canyon Trail junction, as well as the distance to White Pine Lake (3.8 miles and 8.0 miles, respectively). The trail soon goes through a chained, but not locked, gate and starts to wind up the canyon alongside Bunchgrass Creek. As the trail continues, the trees thicken for about a mile but then the trail emerges into a series of meadows that have several ponds within them. This area also starts to have beautiful expanses of wildflowers and spread-out quaking aspens. It is a gorgeous area.

After passing the several ponds, the trail starts to wind up and over a series of ridges until it eventually reaches down into White Pine Canyon, and meets up with the White Pine Canyon Trail. From here, the trail veers to the west and heads up this glacially carved canyon, which makes for easy grades and great hiking terrain. The trail is also very soft and powdery, but not sandy which makes for some great hiking through this section.

The trail goes by White Pine Creek, which often has a good amount of water flowing through it and is really pretty. This area also allows for great views of Mount Gog, one of the two mountains that flanks White Pine Lake.

After passing through several open meadows of flowers and sagebrush, the trail starts to ascend slightly more steeply as it rises with the steepening creek. After climbing, the trail starts to move on into the canyon that houses White Pine Lake, and you start to get great views of both Gog and Magog. Eventually, the trail ends at a four-way junction that splits off going to Tony Grove or toward the shores of White Pine Lake.

Fireweed, indian paintbrush, all kinds of flowers in season.