White Mountains National Recreation Area

TRAIL BEGINS: Milepost 28 Elliott Highway
TRAIL ENDS: Borealis-LeFevre Cabin
LENGTH: 20 trail miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate
ELEVATION CHANGE: 1,150 feet
RECOMMENDED SEASON: Because of wet, muddy sections of trail in the summer, it is easiest to use this trail in the winter when the ground is frozen and covered with snow.
USE: Moderate to heavy winter use by snowmobiles with moderate dog sledding and skier use. Light summer use by hikers and ATVs.
U.S.G.S. 1:63,360 TOPO MAPS: Livengood A-2, A-3, B-2

TRAIL DESCRIPTION:
The Wickersham Creek Trail begins near Wickersham Dome at milepost 28 on the Elliott Highway. The trail runs along a hill eastward for two miles to its junction with the Ski Loop Trail. The trail follows forested ridgeline another 3.5 miles past a high rocky peak (2,545 feet) before meeting the old "Winter Trail." This rocky peak offers good views of the Alaska Range and the White Mountains. One mile farther down the trail is the junction with the Trail Creek Trail, which goes past Lee's Cabin (0.75 miles), crosses Beaver Creek and continues on to the Cache Mountain Cabin. From this trail junction, the Wickersham Creek Trail drops steeply for 2.5 miles before it crosses Wickersham Creek. The trail goes through wooded areas of black spruce and meadows for another three miles before reaching the Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter and the Moose Creek Trail junction.

From the trail shelter, the trail gently descends for four miles through spruce forests. In these forested areas, the cut trail is visible and marked. There are also several sections of trail that usually have overflow ice across them. Use caution when crossing these icy sections, as the ice crosses the trail and slopes downward. These areas can be traversed by taking your time and walking your snowmachine across them. The trail then climbs for the next three miles before breaking into open forest near the Summit Trail junction and views of the White Mountains, "Big Bend," and Beaver Creek. The trail drops steeply for two miles, past the Big Bend Trail junction and through White Spruce forests before reaching Beaver Creek. The Borealis-LeFevre Cabin is on the north side of Beaver Creek. Cross Beaver Creek and follow the trail left around the bluff to access the cabin. The Wickersham Creek Trail connects with the Fossil Creek Trail past the cabin access trail.

CABIN INFORMATION:
The Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter is located at mile 11 on the Wickersham Creek Trail. This small 8' by 10' log cabin can sleep two people in bunk beds. There is a small wood stove for heat, a Coleman lantern, and an outhouse. This free trail shelter is on a first-come basis.

The original Borealis-LeFevre A-frame cabin was built in 1970 by the Borealis-Kiwanis Club and sponsored by Dr. LeFevre. That cabin was replaced in 1996 with a log cabin. The new cabin is located close by on a bluff overlooking Beaver Creek and Big Bend. This 12' by 16' cabin has bunk beds and a loft that can sleep six people comfortably, a wood stove for heat, a Coleman cook stove and lantern, a table and benches, and an outhouse.