Day 5

ThursdayJuly 22, 2010, Gravelly Range to Sheep Creek

Length: 112 miles (primary route)

Gas: Dell (121 miles from Ennis)

or, Sheridan if the alternate Ruby River Road is taken (see below)

Click on thumbnail above to enlarge. Download routes and waypoints in the the .gpx file here.

The current route under consideration for Day 5 (GS wpts, Red on the map, 116 miles) begins at Wednesdays camp near Crockett Lake at the head of Morgan Gulch and follows the Gravelly Range Road South to the Eureka Basin road, along the West Fork of the Madison River and into the Centennial Valley NW of the Red Rock Lakes. Roughly 20 miles of the first part of this route will be between 8,500 and 9,500 ft. in elevation!

NOTE: The Gravelley Range Road is impassable from Ennis to the Centennial Valley as it is as of 7/8, according to the USFS. It is possib that it will be on the 22nd too, so we recommend that riders call the USFS office in Ennis to check on the status (406-682-4253). We are showing an alternate (Blue on the Map, AC- waypoints) that would involve going West on 287 from where the Granite Creek road intersects 287 to get gas in Sheridan, then back to Alder to Ruby reservoir to camp on Day 4. Then, on Day 5, proceed along the Ruby River Road to the Centennial Valley.

From the Red Rock Lakes, route follows the Red Rock River West via the North Valley Road, passing North of the Lima Reservoir. There is a promising alternate route (not shown on the map) to the Lima Reservoir that would diverge from the route shown West to Fish Creek Lake, joining the Ruby Road SW to the Lima Reservoir.

The route then proceeds from North of the Lima Reservoir NW to cross Sage Creek, then SW to Dell on the Sage Creek road.

Big Sheep Creek is followed about 20 miles to a bivouac point near Meadow creek with a spectacular view of the Lima Peaks.

Horse 607's track used for the route from Long Creek in the Centennial to Sheep Creek. Note, the original route modified to cross to the Eureka Basin and descend Long Creek into the Centennial Valley; Horse_607 discovered closed gates accross Antelope Flats, so the route was also modified to go to Lima, then the frontage road to Dell (instead of Sage Creek), 7/8/2010. Here are some of his pix.

Updated 07/09/2010