About
Length (round trip)6.8 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain2,050 ft up
Typical time4 hr 30 min
TrailheadUpper Lehman Creek Campground
SurfaceShaded forest path beside a creek
Best seasonJuly to September for the high trails; the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly November to June.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
AccessibilityThis trail is not accessible.
What you'll see 🌊 River or creek🌼 Wildflowers🌲 Old growth

Trail Overview Total Distance: 6.4 miles / 10.3 kilometers Starting elevation: 7,750 feet / 2,362 meters Elevation Gain: 2,040 feet / 622 meters Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous Time: 3 hours - 6 hours Begin at : Lehman Creek Trailhead in Upper Lehman Creek Campground The Lehman Creek Trail takes visitors on a deceptively steep trip up from the Upper Lehman Creek Campground to the Wheeler Peak Campground and Bristlecone Trailhead. Following the creek, passing by meadows, and through dense aspen forest, this trail wows any who travel it year round with fall colors, wildflower blooms, and the babbling of Lehman Creek. Reaching an elevation of just under 10,000 feet, this trail provide both a respite from the summer heat of the Snake Valley, but also added dangers in the form of altitude sickness and afternoon thunderstorms. Be prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks, or to return to your vehicle if you become symptomatic of altitude sickness or see thunderclouds rolling in. During winter, this is the best route to snowshoe or crosscountry ski to reach the upper trails when the Scenic Drive is closed. This hike starts at the Lehman Creek Trailhead in the Upper Lehman Creek Campground, three miles up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Park at the trailhead in summer or at the pullout across from the campground in winter. Parking outside of designated spaces or along the road is prohibited. No pets permitted on park trails. Trained service animals allowed. Learn more about service animal regulations at this link. Water Potable water is not available along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Pack sufficient water with you, about one gallon per person per day. Water is available year-round at the nearby Lehman Caves Visitor Center or seasonally at the dump station. Restrooms The nearest restrooms are pit toilets with no running water in the Upper Lehman Creek Campground

Tips
The most shade of any trail in the park, which matters in summer. Aspen colour in late September is excellent. Walking it downhill from the top is far easier.
Location

Upper Lehman Creek Campground

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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