5-Day 4-Night Northern Loop Backpacking Itinerary:
This Northern Loop Backpacking Itinerary is a loop trail starting and ending at Carbon River Trailhead(you can park on the side of Fairfax Forest Reserve Road). You will travel along a northern detour of the Wonderland Trail, getting views from Windy Gap, Yellowstone Cliffs, and James Lake. You will then return to your starting point, taking the Wonderland Trail counterclockwise back to Carbon River, where you will get views of Mystic Lake, Winthrop, and Carbon Glacier
Overview:
Type Of Route: Loop
Permit Required: Yes
Special Gear Considerations: May require ice-ax and crampons depending on trail conditions. Need bear hang equipment.
Mileage: ~42 miles
Total Elevation Gain: 10,040ft
Day 1: (park car at Fairfax Forest Reserve Road) Carbon River Ranger Station to Yellowstone Cliffs
- Via Carbon River Trail>Wonderland Trail>Northern Loop Trail
- Mileage: ~10.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~3,560ft
Day 2: Yellowstone Cliffs to Fire Creek Camp
- Via the Northern Loop Trail
- Mileage: ~6.75 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~2,067ft
Day 3: Fire Creek Camp to Mystic Lake
- Via Nothern Loop trail> Wonderland Trail Counterclockwise
- Mileage: ~11.70 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~3,947ft
Day 4: Mystic Lake To Ipsut Creek Campground
- Via Wonderland Trail Counterclockwise>Carbon River Trail
- Mileage: ~8.0 miles
- Elevation Gain ~463ft
Day 5: Ipsut Creek Campground to Carbon River Ranger Station
- Via Carbon River Trail
- Mileage: ~5.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: minimal to none
