Cloud Peak Wilderness Hike - Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming Elevation:
13,171' June 13, 2023 - Cloud Peak is the highest peak within the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, rising to an elevation of 13,171 feet (prominance 7067'). It is the third highest range highpoint in the state and one of the ultra-prominence points of the United States. The mountain can be climbed most easily from the western side, accessed by either the Battle Park or West Ten Sleep trailheads, and is roughly 23 miles round-trip from both. The Cloud Peak Wilderness is located in the most rugged portion of the Bighorn range and serves as a truly wild and rugged destination. The area is visited each year by thousands of backpackers who hike along more than 100 miles of trails. The Bighorns are actually more gentle than other mountains in Wyoming, and the Cloud Peak Wilderness is one of the finest hiking destinations in America. My plan to run/climb Cloud Peak had to be aborted early on because of very high water in Ten Sleep Creek due to considerable recent rainfall added to spring run-off, making the required stream crossing treacherous and inadvisable... so I took the day off from running to enjoy hiking trails 65 and 67 from the West Ten Sleep TH. The video below and some of the photos record the day's experience. |