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Pinedale Online > News > June 2004 > Wildflowers Everywhere on Granite Creek

Yellow Mountain Field. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Yellow Mountain Field

Granite Hot Springs and Campground are located at the end of this road. To contact them about hours and prices, call 307-734-7400.

Indian Paintbush. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Indian Paintbush

Granite Creek Storm. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Granite Creek Storm

Yarrow. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Yarrow
Wildflowers Everywhere on Granite Creek
by Clint Gilchrist
June 27, 2004

The 10-mile dirty road up Granite Creek starts in Hoback Canyon and ends in the heart of the Gros Ventre Mountain Range at Granite Hot Springs. This is a favorite destination for the locals, but not well know to the rest of the world. Even on a cloudy rainy day like Sunday June 27, 2004, the June wildflowers and high rugged peaks towering over the creek make for a stunning trip.

The road is rough as most backcountry roads around here, but clearance is not a problem and can be traveled by any vehicle. You just need to take it slow. Of course that shouldn’t be a problem. You will have to stop only a couple miles in for pictures of the first patch of flowers with at least 8 different flowers and colors. Seems like the view around every turn after that is more amazing than the previous one and you will probably want to take frequent pictures. The road is narrow and has sharp drop offs in places. There are plenty of places for two cars to pass, but look for pullouts because parts of the road are only wide enough for one vehicle at a time especially if you meet a camper coming the other way.

Seems like about every kind and color of wildflower are blooming right now. The frequent rain showers we are having should help them stay around for a while longer, but don’t wait too long. This is a perfect time to make the trip. The road ends at Granite Hot Springs. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) built a pool in the 1930s to trap the natural hot spring and is now open to the public. Temperatures in the pool are 93 degrees in the summer and 112 degrees in the winter. The pool is open from 10am to 8pm. Just before you reach the pool, you will pass Granite Falls. It is a short hike down to the base and well worth the trip. Just down the road from the falls is the Granite campground. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and fire pits, but no running water. The trailhead providing access to the Gros Ventre Wilderness has plenty of parking room for cars and horse trailers, but there are no corrals.



Related Links
  • Gros Ventre Moutains and Wilderness
  • Gros Ventre Photo Gallery

  • Blue Flax. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Blue Flax

    Roadside Flowers. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Roadside Flowers

    People at Granite Falls. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    People at Granite Falls

    Sky Rocket. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Sky Rocket

    Purple Flower. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Purple Flower

    Granite Falls. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Granite Falls

    Patch of Colors. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Patch of Colors

    Arrowleaf Balsam Root. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Arrowleaf Balsam Root

    Bumble Bee. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Bumble Bee

    Trail Flowers. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Trail Flowers

    Beaver Pond. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Beaver Pond

    Bridge over Granite Creek. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Bridge over Granite Creek

    Penstemon. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Penstemon

    Lupine. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Lupine

    Geranium. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Geranium

    Flowers near Granite Falls. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Flowers near Granite Falls

    Buttercups. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buttercups

    Horses Waiting at Trailhead. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Horses Waiting at Trailhead

    Teepee. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Teepee
    Teepee at the American Wilderness Leadership School camp.

    Flower Patch. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Flower Patch

    Sign at Start of Road. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Sign at Start of Road
    Pinedale Online > News > June 2004 > Wildflowers Everywhere on Granite Creek

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