Basics
- Location:
- 16 miles east of Oakley
- Length:
- 10 miles oneway
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Elevation Change:
- 2600 feet
- Season:
- June to October
Description
A trail following Smith-Morehouse Creek from Smith & Morehouse Campground, past the Reservoir to Ledgefork Campground and on up to the pass above Island Lake. The Smith-Morehouse Trail is a good choice for avoiding mid-summer crowds. The trail between the trailhead and the junction with the Erickson Basin Trail is well-marked and follows an easy grade. There are a few wet and muddy spots early in the season. Above the Erickson Creek crossing, the trail is steep, rocky and poorly marked. There is one particularly bad wet meadow about 1.5 miles above the Erickson Creek crossing. Horses sink deep in this bog, and there is no easy way around it, so proceed with caution.
Details
Location:
16 miles east of Oakley
Length:
10 miles oneway
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Elevation Change:
2600
Season:
June to October
Useful Map(s):
USGS Quad: Erickson Basin
Additional Details:
Lower section (to Erickson Basin Junction): June 6 to November 1. Upper section (above Erickson Creek): July 1 to October 15. The lower three miles of the trail near the campground are accessible early and late in the season when other trails on the Kamas Ranger District are covered with snow...Parking, toilets and water are provided, but there are no facilities for unloading horses. The trail proceeds south from the trailhead, immediately fording Smith-Morehouse Creek. The trail terminates at a junction with the Lakes Country Trail (#066) atop the pass north of Island Lake. Use is moderate early in the season; light in the summer and autumn. Fording Smith-Morehouse Creek immediately south of the trailhead is hazardous at high water. Early-season hikers may choose the alternative of parking near the Ledgefork Guard Station, then walking into the campground, proceeding to the south end of the first campground loop road. From here, proceed southeast along Smith-Morehouse Creek until intercepting the main trail. This route avoids fording the stream.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
The trailhead is located in the southeast corner of the Ledgefork Campground.
