Trip
BPX Trip – 3-Day: Goose Creek Trail to Shafthouse from Goose Creek TH
FAMILY TRIP - An easy out-and-back for Parents with Kids (ages 10+) over 3 days allowing for an exploration of the historic Shafthouse area in Lost Creek Wilderness from a basecamp. Discover unusual rock formations, early 20th century buildings, a canyon, and some fishing/wading pools along Goose Creek.
Contacts
- Fri, Jun 14, 2024 — Sun, Jun 16, 2024
- Backpacking Section
- Family, Backpacking
- Families
- Easy
- Easy
- Mileage: 8.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 900 ft
- High Point Elevation: 8,766 ft
- 8 (10 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Meet at the Goose Creek Trailhead. Friday at 10am ready to hike w/ packs on.
Driving Directions: Take US 285 to Pine Junction and turn south onto County Road 126. Drive for 21.8 miles. Just south of Wigwam Campground, take a right (west) on FR 211, following the signs for Cheesman Lake and Goose Creek Campground. After 2.0 miles, turn right for Lost Valley Ranch and Goose Creek Campground. Go west for 1.1 miles, stay left at a fork in the road and continue for another 5.2 miles. At a junction past Molly Gulch Campground, turn right for Goose Creek Campground. Drive 4.7 miles, bearing left when Forest Road 51 descends to the right. Cross Goose Creek and pass Goose Creek Campground. Head right onto the Goose Creek Trailhead access road and drive for 1.3 miles to the large parking area.
This is a FAMILY backpacking trip. FAMILY is defined as at least one parent per family minimum (two encouraged) accompanying at least one child age(s) 10 yrs and up. No solo adults nor kids.
Day 1. From the Goose Creek Trailhead, take Goose Creek trail, #612. Hike through the woods 3.8 miles to the Shaft House. Find a campsite. Visit the historic buildings. (3.8 miles/897’).
Day 2. Hike and explore from/to campsite with light pack along the Goose Creek trailhead. (4 miles/989’).
Day 3. Break camp, hike out, and drive home.
Details: This trip takes us to the Shafthouse area off Goose Creek Trail. We will find a good campsite and spend 2 nights in the same spot, allowing a full day for exploring the area. To/from camp the trip is 8 miles roundtrip; we will add another 4 miles with a lighter pack on the exploration day (Saturday). Things to discover here: historic cabins, a climb beyond the cabins to a scenic overlook that is a good spot for sunrise/sunset, caves and boulders, then continue on the Shafthouse trail into the canyon where people attempted to build a dam in the 20th century–you can still find some equipment along the trail. Back at the cabins, if you go south/downhill along the drainage through a series of campsites, you’ll eventually run into the Goose Creek, which flows fast over big boulders and then smooths out into wide, placid pools that are great for fishing and cooling off your feet.
Required Equipment
10 essentials plus all your backpacking needs (tent, sleeping bag, warm clothes, etc. etc.) Please contact the trip leaders with any questions.