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Short, hard to find, but easier start to Europe Canyon Trail.


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Map Key

0.2

Miles

0.3

KM

Unknown

10,262' 3,128 m

High

10,172' 3,100 m

Low

90' 27 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Wildflowers · Wildlife

USFS rules, please:
- camp at least 200 feet away from lakes, creeks, and trails.
- leash dogs in crowded areas
- follow Leave No Trace Principles

Need to Know

This is an alternate start to Europe Canyon Trail. It bypasses the rocky, muddy start of Europe Canyon Trail, and instead goes up an easy to hike, dry route to join Europe Canyon Trail after about a fifth of a mile.

Its terrain is easy. The only reason it is rated intermediate/dificult is because it requires route finding by following small, widely spaced cairns on a grassy slope for the first one tenth mile. After that the trail appears as forest is entered.

Description

This alternate start to Europe Canyon Trail is found at a noticeable rock pile along Valley Lake Trail at the northeast end of Valley Lake. This is about 0.9 miles along Valley Lake Trail from Valley Lake Trail's northern trail start along the CDT. Standing at the rock pile (see pictures below), look north-northeast up the meadow toward the forested ridge. This alternate, goes directly up the meadow to the ridge, but is too faint here to be seen. There are small, widely spaced cairns in the meadow. So head toward the forested ridge, watching for the cairns.

Once at the edge of the forest, look around for good trail - it's there. Continue on the good trail to its unmarked junction with Europe Canyon Trail. Go right/northeast on Europe Canyon Trail to enjoy the scenic hike to Europe Pass on the Continental Divide.

Flora & Fauna

Grassy, rocky meadow and rocky pine forest.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#39899

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#690

in Wyoming

#39,899

Overall
1 Views Last Month
5 Since Aug 18, 2021
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

The bigger cairn marking Europe Canyon Alternate Trail Start is next to Valley LakeTrail on the north side.
Oct 11, 2021 near Big Sandy, WY
Lower center is the bigger cairn that marks the start of Europe Canyon Alternate Trail Start. Head straight up the center to pick up more obvious trail in the trees.
Oct 11, 2021 near Big Sandy, WY

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