Leg Lake – Stough Creek Basin Loop (Worthen Meadows)
Popo Agie Wilderness, Shoshone National Forest, WY
14.3 mi · ~3,120 ft gain · high point ~11,000 ft · lollipop
What's awesome: spectacular loop that's very accessible from Lander that gets you high into the Winds, and gives a tour of two different cirques and basins. Mostly on-trail, with an off-trail connector in the middle. A classic half-day run!
Start/Finish: Worthen Meadows trailhead sign, ~20 mi from Lander via Sinks Canyon Road and the switchbacks to Louis Lake Road (FR 300). Road typically clear July–October.
Route: From the trailhead sign, follow the Stough Creek Lakes Trail west for ~1 mi. Just before Roaring Fork Lake the trail forks: go left toward Leg Lake (right is the direct Stough approach). Round Roaring Fork Lake and stay right over a planked muddy stream; follow the main trail, using the blazed trees when in doubt. As the Leg cirque comes into view the trail fades into route-finding — stay right at splits on the final scramble to avoid the unnamed lakes below and the granite slabs.
From the basin (numerous small lakes), head northwest to the obvious saddle. The climb starts with faint trails through waist-high bushwhack over small tributaries and finishes on scree and talus; a snowfield stays in the saddle into midsummer, but there's usually a dry line up the right side by mid summer. Cross the saddle into Stough Creek Basin and descend, staying north (right) for the easiest line.
Navigate north through the Stough Lakes — many braided trails; the forest is open enough that brief bushwhacking is fine. The trail becomes obvious descending a rocky hill. At the one signed fork, just after a small footbridge, go right (left connects to the Middle Fork and Tayo Lake trails). Rejoin the outbound trail near Roaring Fork Lake and return to the trailhead.
Ford: Closing the loop on the Stough side requires wading Roaring Fork Creek — no bridge. Mid-calf at low water (late season), slow current; expect it higher and pushier in peak snowmelt (June–early July).
Terrain: Maintained trail on the lollipop stick; off-trail route-finding from the Leg cirque through the saddle to the Stough lakes (bushwhack, scree, talus, possible snowfield). Exposed saddle.
Water: Reliable from year-round creeks throughout.
Here are links to websites that write up the route: https://www.onxmaps.com/backcountry/trails/hiking/us/wyoming/leg-lake-stough-creek-basin-loop-ndzdp70rvzkv and https://windrivercountryteam.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/team-trek-leg-lakestough-creek-pass-loop/
