Cliff Creek Falls
Highlights
- Stunning Wyoming mountains
- Extraordinary solitude and beauty
- A waterfalls over 200 feet high
- Views of the Wind River Mountains
- Remote, pristine wilderness
- Fantastic wildlife habitat
Description
This trip is a relatively quick 3-day adventure into the Wyoming Range, one of the least traveled and most beautiful mountain ranges in Wyoming. Providing the ability to see more animals than people, our Cliff Creek Falls backpacking trip truly offers an opportunity to step back into the Wild West. We'll venture into a wonderland of waterfalls, meadows, rivers, forests and wildlife, with a wonderful campsite and fantastic backcountry cuisine!
Highlights of this trip include amazing waterfalls including Cliff Creek Falls which in total is over 200 feet high; secluded and scenic campsites; vast wildflower-filled meadows; and last but not least fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges including the Wind River Range. As you hike through the high mountain meadows, looking far down on the valleys below, gazing up at Hoback Peak and its perennial snow fields, standing mesmerized by pristine waterfalls, and staring in awe at the distant mountains, it may very well occur to you that you're one of the luckiest people alive.
Trip Dates & Booking
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- Shuttle to Trailhead: 1.5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: appx 6 miles
This Jackson Hole backpacking trip begins as we hike up beautiful Cliff Creek. Our hike is consumed by views of the creek as it twists down a valley laden with pristine forests and wildflowers. We will hike past towering cliffs (the namesakes of Cliff Creek), whose rock ranges from bright reds to tan, and we may see the occasional snow patch still clinging to the hillsides. We'll eventually reach a point where three different waterfalls can be seen from one spot, including Cliff Creek Falls, a stunning double waterfall that totals over 200 feet in height. Tonight's camp is just up the hill from this impressive sight beside an expansive, majestic mountain meadow.
After getting camp set up, you'll have time to relax, explore the flora and fauna around camp, or partake in some appetizers as the guide(s) prepare dinner. After dinner we'll enjoy a campfire before settling in for a deserved night of rest under one of the most magnificent night skies you've ever seen.
- Hiking Mileage: appx 6 miles
Today we will not move camp, so after eating breakfast we get to leave everything set up and start hiking. We start by immediately hiking up several hundred vertical feet over 2 miles. Throughout this we get peek-a-boo views of the towering Cliff Creek Falls. Upon reaching our high point we get incredible views from the top of the waterfall to the valley floor below. After leaving the falls behind we will hike beside Cliff Creek up a winding trail through gorgeous meadows and woods. Cliff Creek is made of a multitude of smaller streams ranging from crystal clear to white from the silt of year round snow packs. Moose and other animals love these meadows, and we have a good chance of seeing wildlife during this stretch. Upon reaching the top of Cliff Creek Pass we will be amazed by more breathtaking views. From the glacier covered Wind River Mountains, to the towering Tetons, we will get views of no less than 5 mountain ranges. Closer to us is the large Horse Heaven Meadows, red Cliffs, and more winding streams and valleys. After soaking up the views, we will begin our decent back to camp. Upon reaching camp, the remainder of the day can be spent relaxing, soaking feet in the creek, or exploring on your own while the guide prepares dinner.
- Hiking Mileage: appx 6+ miles
- Shuttle to Jackson: 1.5 hours
Today we will hike back to the trailhead. Despite hiking the same trail we came up on, you will be surprised at how much the view changes on the way back. From seeing the valley from a different angle, to one last chance at some more wildlife, you will enjoy this hike as much as the hike in. Upon reaching the trailhead, you can have one last chance to enjoy the stream and the beautiful valleys while the guide packs up. You will then shuttle back to Jackson and drop you off at your hotel.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.
Trip Details
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Jackson Hole hiking guide
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson, Wyoming to the trailhead and back
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
- Clothes, raingear and footwear
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Please refer to the trip packet for a recommended clothing list (we email you a detailed trip packet when you inquire and when you register). All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and non-cotton and cotton clothing layers. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters. Also, please be sure and pack a swimsuit and towel for our post-trip soak at Granite Hot Springs.
NOTE: See the Packing Lists page for more detailed information on what clothes and gear to bring on your hiking tour. The trip packet you receive when you contact us will have the most accurate clothing and gear list for the tour you're interested in.
Trip Logistics
Ready to hike? In the Dates section of this trip page, the green dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you're ready to register we'll email you a link to a registration profile. You'll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit ($100).
Feel free to call us for more info - we're here 7 days a week!
You'll meet your hiking guide and group at predetermined hotel in Jackson, Wyoming for an orientation meeting at 6:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. The next morning we'll pick you up at your hotel for transport to the trailhead.
Check out our Travel Resources page for information on flights, shuttles, discounted lodging and more.
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT's, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We've developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time...etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides' off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
The standard group size on backpacking trips is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 12 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we'll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Being a Northern mountain environment, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Wyoming's mountains. On trips in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer you're likely to get rained on at least once during your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures around Yellowstone:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | |||
Month |
High |
Low |
|
June |
70° |
42° |
|
July |
80° |
47° |
|
August |
78° |
45° |
|
September |
68° |
37° |
|
Camping on Backpacking Trips
Backcountry Sleeping
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Of course campsites vary tremendously by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
