Encampment River Trail
~2 days · 15.6 mi · moderate · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Encampment River Trail is known for
This trail follows Wyoming's Encampment River about 16 miles from the canyon mouth near the town of Encampment upstream through the Encampment River Wilderness to Commissary Park near the Colorado line, gaining around 1,100 ft at river grade. Point-to-point with a shuttle, or an out-and-back over 2 days.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 23,734 ft to 27,523 ft over 15.6 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 10.6 mi · 68%
- Downhill 2.8 mi · 18%
- Flat 2.2 mi · 14%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Encampment River Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Encampment River Trail scores 15/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Encampment River Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Encampment River Trail in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 15.6 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Encampment River Trail?
The Encampment River Trail climbs roughly 2,093 ft total — about 134 ft per mile, topping out near 8,389 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.