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
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
CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE INTERESTING PEAK AT THE HEAD OF LOOMIS LAKE CANYON
THE VERY PLEASANT EXIT FROM LOOMIS LAKE CANYON BACK DOWN TO KEARNY CREEK
DESCENDING TO THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
MORNING VIEW OF DRAINAGE FROM LOOMIS LAKE ABOVE THE LOWER CASCADE, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS
THE BASE OF LOOMIS LAKE FALLS
EXIT PASS AT THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK DRAINAGE
THE FUN LITTLE SLAB THAT MARKS THE ONLY PLACE YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION ON THE WAY DOWN FROM THE LAKE
STARTING THE TRAVERSE OVER TO THE HIDDEN WAY TO EXIT PASS
THE SHALLOW GROOVE TO THE LEFT OF THE SNOWFIED PROVED TO BE THE VERY EASY WAY TO GET TO THE PASS
LOOKING BACK AT BARD LAKE CANYON AND LOOMIS FALLS FROM GRASSY SLOPES THAT LEAD TO EXIT PASS
STARTING THE GRADUAL ASCENT TO EXIT PASS AT THE HEAD OF KEARNY CREEK, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS
TELEPHOTO VIEW OF SPEAR LAKE FROM EXIT PASS, KEARNY CREEK, BIGHORN MOUNTAINS
THE PARTIALLY HIDDEN GROOVE / CHIMNEY THAT GETS YOU TO THE TOP OF EXIT PASS
THE VERY FLAT TOP OF EXIT PASS
LAKES ABOVE ELSA LAKE
LOOKING BACK AT EXIT PASS AND BLACKTOOTH MT
LOOKING DOWN AT RAINBOW LAKE
ANOTHER VIEW OF LONG THING RAINBOW LAKE
THE VERY PLEASANT DESCENT TO RAINBOW LAKE
LOOKING OVER AT THE UNNAMED (4TH) CANYON FROM RAINBOW LAKE
NORTH END OF ROBIN LAKE, BELOW GENEVA PASS
THE NORTH SIDE OF GENEVA PASS
GENEVA LAKE, CLOUD PEAK WILDERNESS
THE ROAD HOME - BIGHORN RESERVOIR