Difficulty level : intermediate to advanced
Elevation gain / drop : 2674 ft. (min. elev.
6047 max. elev. 7188)
Distance covered : approx. 21 miles
It is recommended that you are in good physical
shape and take lots of water & some snacks for this trail. It takes
some work to get to and stamina to finish but the view and technical sections
make it worth a half days’ ride. Take highway 530 up ‘South Hill’ out of
town to the airport turnoff on your left. This is only marked with a small
green picture of an airport. On the GPS this airport is the ‘Greater Green
River Intergalactic Spaceport’....figure that one out! Head to the airstrip
and take either two track road that skirts the west side of the airstrip
and head north for the fence line. The road goes around the north side
of the airstrip and immediately turns down the east side of the strip and
heads south again. About 2/3rd down the strip the road forks and
heads east. Follow this as it drops in elevation and the road turns a bit
off camber but passable for most vehicles despite the mix of drops and
climbs to the ridgeline. At the ridge line the road forks. Turn south and
watch for the first left fork that heads for Lauder Slide viewpoint. You
can park here if you shuttled to this point. There is only one way down
from here. This is one of the best views along the Green River. Photo ops
abound if you remembered your camera. This is where you catch the trailhead
for Chicken Springs Draw and the connecting trail back to Davis Bottoms
directly below you east. If you get lost at any point from here just head
downhill through any draw or wash and you’ll hit the jeep trail. Drop down
the first saddle, climb to the second viewpoint and head down the second
saddle looking for the trail to skirt the steep section coming up next.
This started out as a game trail and is the only way to skirt the steep
stuff. Keep you balance if you’re riding and this trail empties out on
a narrow finger of a ridge. Skirt the right side of the ridge dropping
just to the next level and head south along base towards the tip of the
‘finger’ and you’ll catch the ATV trail at the tip of the ‘finger’. Follow
the trail around the base of this ridge around towards the river and look
for the two track jeep trail & follow it down to the river level. Before
the drop look for rock cairns on you left signifying the spur trail under
development that drops to the river level and catches the cow trail along
the river north back to Davis Bottoms. If you choose to head to Chicken
Springs Draw stay on the two track jeep trail to the river level south
and turn west at the fork. If you stick to this trail you cannot get lost.
There is only one trail and it is well defined. It winds its way through
ravines & washes as it heads for the Draw. Once you are in this area
the trail drops into the wash, where you will pick up the draw trail. Drop
into the wash forking left or down stream and take the first fork right
(up stream), a tight turn in any 4WD rig. Head up the trail and negotiate
one hairpin turn, a tricky on a dry day and nearly impossible when
wet. Follow the trail as it climbs toward Lost Dog road. The trailhead
at Lost Dog is 7/10th mile from highway 530 and a few miles back to the
airport road turnoff.
Lander Slide Area Trail map
The Firehole North and South Chimney view point
On The Wash Trail
Greyhair Bike Repair's Wade Liedtke, on the Wash Trail
Wade jumping a wash drop
Jump or turn and run?
Our friend Matt Hildreth on the Wash Trail
Matt down and into
Wade resting from drop to the Green River
