5-day Summer Pack Trip
Fly into Cody, we will pick you up on the day before your trip begins or you can drive to Hyattville, where you will be greeted by one of us. Then it's off to Tensleep or Hyattville where you will spend the rest of the afternoon and evening before your adventure begins. There are 2 different trailheads that we can use to access the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
- DAY ONE: We will pick you up bright and early, have a small bite to eat, and head up the mountain via a vehicle for a short trek. At the trailhead, the saddle and packhorses will be ready for the ride. We'll pack your gear, adjust saddles and familiarize you with the horses. Camp is about four hours from the start, but we'll stop have lunch, fish the Main Fork of Paintrock Creek for some Cutthroats & Brook Trout. We should arrive at our Grace Lake Camp (elevation 9,600 ft) in the early evening, where a splendid supper will await you.
- DAY TWO: Today we can choose one of two areas to venture. Head down the hill to Grace Lake pocketed up against the spectacular Elk Mountain where you may choose to fish via a float tube or just off the shore. Grace holds some of the largest wild Brook Trout you will ever have a chance to catch. Or, we can travel further down the trail to the upper stretches of Paintrock Creek if you haven't had your fill of the abundant brookies and native cutthroats, which inhabit this stream.
- DAY THREE: Today we'll saddle up and ride to spectacular Lake Solitude (largest and one of the most beautiful lakes in the Cloud Peak Wilderness). We'll ride to the upper end of this blue green shimmering lake, unpack and tie the horses up and make the hike up into Wilderness Basin (elevation 11,000 ft). This is usually the favorite portion of our guest's trip. The hike is strenuous, but certainly well worth the effort. Break out on top with a string of mountain lakes spread out before you connected by flowing creeks. The highest peak of the Big Horns, majestic Cloud Peak is your backdrop at over 13,000 feet above sea level. This landscape of granite mixed with tundra like foliage will take your breath away. Few people get to see these areas, and as if this is not enough these lakes are simply brimming with Golden Trout. They are hungry and your guide can outfit you with the desired fly to tantalize these brightly colored trout.
- DAY FOUR: This is the day that is just for you. We can return to a now favorite place to fish, take a short ride from camp, or hike up Elk Mountain right from camp.
- DAY FIVE: Today its time to say good-bye to Grace Lake and the high mountain camp. We'll pack out to the trailhead today, probably getting a little fishing done along the way. Then it's into the vehicles and back to another night in Hyattville or Tensleep. We'll escort you to your room where a hot shower will feel better than ever.
The above itinerary is a guideline, as you probably know the weather can be somewhat unpredictable, so the number of lakes and sequence of events may vary. If you do not fish, this trip can be customized to sightseeing & photography, rock climbing, riding, hiking, or just plain laid back relaxing. We do enjoy personalizing the adventure to your liking and will try to make your vacation one that memories are made from. At the end of your stay we will shuttle you back to the airport for your flight home. Included in this package: your accommodations and meals while in camp, transportation to and from the trailhead, and transportation to and form the airport in Cody if applicable. Guests are responsible for other expenses such as gratuities, souvenirs, fishing license, shopping expenses, food & lodging on either end of your trip – the day before and the evening after.