Buffalo, WY: Willow Lake

Serving up prime fishing, solitude and stunning scenery at the foot of Wyoming’s awe-inspiring Bighorn Mountains, this 8.4-miler through the Cloud Peak Wilderness links the Circle Park trailhead to Willow Lake. Begin by heading west through dense lodgepole pine forest on South Fork Trail 182. After pushing up a steep ridgeline, you’ll pick up Trail 46 as the grade becomes more gradual. Pass by the tree-lined Sherd Lake and cross Oliver Creek as the trail begins climbing the ridgeline leading to Willow Lake. While continuing straight through the four-way junction at Rainy Lake, you’ll nab revealing views of the Bighorn Range looming to the west.
From the top of the ridge and the hike’s highest point (9,573 feet), you’ll gain your first views of the boulder-bordered Willow Lake before dropping down almost 800 feet in elevation to shoreline. Camping is permitted, but flat spots in the rock-strewn terrain are sparse. Willow is loaded with grayling, but the holding pond just above the lake offers the best fishing. Return to the trailhead via the route you hiked in on, or make your hike into a loop by heading south at Rainy Lake to link Trails 46, 95 and 183. 

-Mapped by Brian Williams

Trail Facts

• Distance: 21.6

Waypoints

WLW001

Location: 44.27676, -106.984405

Leave your car in the lot at the Circle Park Trailhead and head west on South Fork Trail #182.

WLW002

Location: 44.275365, -106.999004

At Y-junction, bear left onto Trail 46.

WLW003

Location: 44.270556, -107.011814

At four-way junction next to Sherd Lake, take the middle fork to stay on Trail 46.

WLW004

Location: 44.26819, -107.035847

The trail splits upon reaching Rainy Lake. Bear right to follow Trail 87 along the lake’s northern shore. The left fork leads to Otter Lake and Trigger Lake on Trail 46, which connects to trails 95 and 183 to return to the Circle Park parking lot.

WLW005

Location: 44.276291, -107.05262

Camping is available all around the Willow Lake. The lake is full of grayling, but some of the best fishing is available in the holding pond just above Willow’s northwest edge.

ARR001

Location: 44.267837, -107.035804

Alternate return route: turn left (south) on Trail 46.

ARR002

Location: 44.253238, -106.999969

Alternate return route: Fork left (north) onto Trail 95.

ARR003

Location: 44.260553, -106.994691

Alternate return route: bear right onto Trail 183 to return to trailhead.

Cloud Peak Wilderness

Location: 44.274834, -106.996033

Cross into the Cloud Peak Wilderness while heading west on South Fork Trail 182.

Rainy Lake

Location: 44.267791, -107.035589

Rainy Lake sits just beyond the junction of trails 46 and 87.

Big Horn Mountains

Location: 44.269527, -107.04464

The bald faces of the Big Horn Mountains loom on the horizon as you push west toward Willow Lake.

Willow Lake

Location: 44.274231, -107.05233

Climb to the top of a ridge on Trail 87 to notch your first views of Willow Lake.