Alot of off trail hiking is required to see the north side of the big peaks found in Cloud Peak Wilderness. The Solitude Trail is the logical point to start and finish this loop. Exit Pass connects the east and west aspects of the trail. The distance covered from Princess Falls to Exit Pass is where the excitement lies. Along the way I was able to explore Penrose Canyon and Loomis Lakes. All told a good loop that starts and ends at Bighorn Reservoir.
View Trip Map for loop details and campsite locations
MORNING VIEW OF BUFFALO BACK
MORNING VIEW OF HALLELUJAH AND BUFFALO BACK
A BETTER VIEW OF THE INNOMINATE AS THE SUN FINALLY HITS THE CANYON FLOOR
SEVENTH LAKE AND THE INNOMINATE, PENROSE CANYON
INNOMINATE AND WOOLSEY FROM 7TH LAKE
TELEPHOTO VIEW OF THE SOUTH RIDGE OF WOOLSEY FROM PENROSE CANYON
THE FULL NORTH FACE OF THE INNOMINATE FROM 7TH LAKE, PENROSE CANYON
A TELEPHOTO VIEW OF THE UPPER NORTH FACE OF THE INNOMINATE
STARTING THE PLEASANT TRIP BACK TO CAMP
LOOKING DOWN OF 6TH LAKE IN PENROSE CANYON
SHORELINE 6TH LAKE, PENROSE CANYON
BACK AT CAMP WITH NOTHING TO DO
FOLLOWING THE FAINT AND SOMETIMES NON-EXISTANT PATH TO EXIT PASS
SPEAR LAKE, KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
SCREE AT THE EAST END OF SPEAR LAKE, KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
TYPICAL TERRAIN ON THE WAY TO TREELINE ABOVE SPEAR LAKE
THE ONLY BUGGY CAMPSITE OF THE FOUR NIGHTS OUT
TYPICAL AFTERNOON CLOUD BUILDUP
SUNSET AND LOOMIS FALLS FROM THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE,
SUNRISE DAY FOUR, CLOUD PEAK WILDERNESS
WHAT APPEARED TO BE EXIT PASS
SUNRISE DAY FOUR AT THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
LOOKING OVER AT WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE THE WAY TO GET TO EXIT PASS
ELK GRAZING AT THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
ALPINE BASIN AT THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
STARTING THE SHORT ASCENT TO LOOMIS LAKES ABOVE KEARNY CREEK, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS, WY
DROPPED MY POLE SO GOT TO CLIMB DOWN AND UP THIS DELIGHTFUL CRACK ON THE WAY TO LOOMIS LAKE
EASY TERRAIN ABOVE THE SHORT STEEP SECTION
LOOMIS LAKE FALLS
PLEASANT SLABS LEAD TO LOOMIS LAKE
CAMPSITE JUST BELOW LOOMIS LAKE
LATE AFTERNOON VIEW OF PEAKS ABOVE LOOMIS LAKE, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS
LATE AFTERNOON VIEW OF LOOMIS LAKE
HIGHLAND PARK FROM LOOMIS LAKE CANYON
SLABBY CLIFFS AND BLACKTOOTH FROM LOOMIS LAKE CANYON