Minnie Wapiti

The 3.8-mile Minnie Wapiti Trail continues south from the intersection with Wapiti and climbs up to the summit of Pika Point at 9,500 feet elevation. The beginning of the trail is wide through the pine trees, but almost completely covered in embedded small rocks and roots. The majority of the trail is rocky like this, and the southern half gets harder because it starts to climb up long steep hills that are also full of rocks and roots. There are a few sections of narrow skinny trail through grassy meadows that provide some relief from the rocks, but the majority of the route is rocky. After 2 miles, it goes up a long sustained steep climb that is more difficult, with big roots, more embedded rocks, and blunt root ledges where you have to get your front end up a foot to get over the root. It stays wide the whole climb but keeps getting rockier. Finally, it pops out into beautiful meadows, and the rocks finally let up, looking out at the Madison Mountain Range and towards the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. This trail is open to motorcycles 7/16 - 10/14. Look out for mountain goats in the area.