WYOMING WHISKEY: Burned Wagon Gulch

The Grand Teton's Approach

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The Burned Wagon Gulch is not the most common trailhead into Garnet Canyon. Lupine Meadows is the most common trailhead for Grand Teton climbers. It is the closest trailhead to the AAC Climber's Ranch. Most climbers at the ranch will use the Lupine Meadows Trailhead.

You can reach the BWG trailhead by turning west off the Teton Park Road and onto the the road which takes you to the Climbers' Ranch. There's a sign for the Climber's Ranch on the interior Teton Park Road during the summer. There is no sign saying End Highlands Road as far as we know. Drive past the GTNP employee housing and cross over the Cottonwood Creek bridge. Park at the pullout on the northwest side of the bridge.

Overview of access to the unmarked but maintained Burned Wagon Gulch Trail

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The small dirt pullout on the NW side of the bridge is the parking area.

Click on the map to see a larger image.

An overview of the TPR (interior Teton Park Road)

Employee housing by the Cottonwood Creek bridge.

After crossing the bridge, park on the northwest side by the trailhead.

Trailhead parking - 3 spaces.

The Climber's Ranch is at the very end of the dirt road - to the southwest of here.

Looking back toward the parking area.

The approach to the Burned Wagon Gulch runs by cottonwood creek, past the Lucas homestead, and across an open meadow to reach the mouth of the gulch. It's a beautiful approach but a little longer (10 to 15 minutes, maybe) than the approach from the Lupine Meadows trailhead. If you start at the Climbers' ranch parking area, it's an even longer hike. The two trails meet at the Valley Trail Junction.

The BWG trail can be overgrown early in the summer season. That can mean damp shoes and clothes from morning dew. The trail is maintained by the park service every so often but that doesn't mean it gets cleared of downfall on a regular basis. It's a narrow trail that is a nice break from the heavy traffic found on the lower Lupine Meadows trail.

One of the bridges you will cross by Cottonwood Creek

Trail next to Cottonwood Creek

Lucas Homestead - far right. Trail on left.

Do not head for the homestead.

Meadows with Lucas Monument.

That big rock contains the ashes of the ashes of Geraldine Lucas, the 2nd woman to climb the Grand. The Lucas Monument is on the obvious large boulder in the middle of the meadow. The trail takes you right to it.

Head for the right side of the gulch (north side). The trail can disappear at the mouth of the gulch in the open meadow when the melting snow drains out of the gulch and floods the meadow. Follow the trail that runs up the south-facing slope until you see the well-beaten path running west into the gulch.

To get around the swampy area early in the season, it is often best to head north once you reach its eastern edge. Turn west at the first dry area and head for the toe of the slope. At the toe of the east-facing slope simply follow the toe back south to reach the trail. You will run into the trail as it leaves the valley floor and starts up the south aspect of the gulch.

View of the Grand on the approach in June

Lucas Monument next to the trail.

The ashes of Geraldine Lucas, the 2nd woman to climb the Grand.

Just inside the gulch and just west of the open meadows.

This is the south-facing slope - just a little bit up the slope.

Looking back at the meadows. The Lucas Monument is center-right.

The trail inside the gulch starts on the south-facing slope and stays there for much of the ascent. It flattens out as you approach the trail from Lupine Meadows and then climbs the south-facing slope again to reach the Valley Trail Junction.

Perhaps June.

The trail parallels the trail from Lupine Meadows once you are further inside the gulch.

The trail follows the floor of the gulch before heading up the south-facing slope to the Valley Trail Junction.

The Valley Trail Junction. Note that the BWG trail IS NOT MARKED.

Looking easterly.

The BWG trail goes into the trees and down the south-facing slope into the gulch.

Valley Trail Junction

Looking westerly

There are signs marking the Valley Trail, the trail back to Lupine Meadows, and the trail to Garnet Canyon. There are no signs for the BWG trail. Head up the trail toward Garnet Canyon.

In the picture above, there was a black bear a few feet off the trail and several deer next to the trail. The bear, the deer, and the human just went about their business like none were around.

Alternative Route to reach the BWG trail

You can park at the Teton Glacier Turnout or drive north past the turnout to a small dirt parking area that's next to the pathway and a dirt trial which leads to the Lucas Homestead. You'll cross a footbridge over Cottonwood Creek and see the Lucas Homestead. We don't recommend this route but it is an option if you want to explore the Lucas Homestead. There is no marked hiker's trail from the homestead to the gulch. The trail is south of the homestead and runs to the southwest into the gulch.

This footpath runs from the very small dirt parking area to Cottonwood Creek and to the Lucas Homestead. This is just to the north of the Teton Glacier Pullout along the TPR. The small pullout is by the gate. Do not block the gate. This parking area isn't for long-term parking.