West Falls Wilderness

One of the most wonderful things about Camp Loll is that there is an adventure everywhere one turns. For years, Leonard Hawkes, a past Camp Director of Loll, has been trying to get our crew to try a hike to the west of camp toward Boone Creek. With this year's challenges fitting our troops into hike parameters set by Yellowstone; we decided to give it a try. The results have been wonderful. We call the hike, West Falls Wilderness, because it crosses into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness, and it has a host of lovely waterfalls along the way. It is about seven miles long. There is no trail and all wilderness rules apply, so it has challenge, but is not excessively difficult. This seems to fit nicely into the BSA's hiking guidelines. I read with great interest this past week from the 1911, first edition. Quote: "Several things should be remembered when going on a hike: First, avoid long distances. A foot-weary, muscle-tired, and temper-tried, hungry group of boys is surely not desirable. There are a lot of false notions about courage and bravery and grit that read well in print, but fail miserably in practice, and long hikes for boys is one of the most glaring of these notions." Not every one at Loll would agree with W. W. Gibons, but West Falls Wilderness Hike gives bragging rights without danger.


The hike actually begins at CEYHO Basin. This is Loll premier climbing and repelling wall. It was first integrated into Loll's program in 1986, when Todd Wangsgard and Trent Warner went looking for caves and came back to report a repelling rock that would make Copenhagen Basin, where we rappelled at Bartlett, eat its heart out. Hence - Copenhagen Eat Your Heart Out Basin CEYHO Basin. A couple of weeks ago I drove past the Teton High Adventure Base in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson. They have quite a COPE course there. As I contemplated the telephone polls and cables I couldn't but help think that CEYHO could just as easily mean Cope Course Eat Your Heart Out Basin.
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From the top of CEYHO one can see Survey Peak and beyond into the Tetons.
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One soon enters the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. There are not trails, nor will there be any made by the carefully passing feet of Camp Loll Wilderness Hikers. We leave no trace.
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From the ridge line one sees wilderness everywhere.


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The forest primeval stretches to the edge of vision and beyond. Keep your map, compass, guide, and buddy handy. This could be an easy place in which to get lost.

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Everywhere one turns there is some new wonder. These mighty Douglas Fir trees have fought for centuries to look out over the valleys our hikers now survey.

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There is every imaginable terrain. Here is a mountain meadow.

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A hard rock face.
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Below the canyon is carved deep.
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Our adventures avoid stepping on living things or in each others' foot steps.

Often the canyon stream drops over cliffs to form beautiful waterfalls. This is Withrow Falls which singles the turning point in our loop through the forest.

What a wonder to contemplate and enjoy

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There are many ways to appreciate beauty.

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Many adventures to be had in the wilderness.

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Shadow Falls marks the west most point of the hike, it is over three miles from Loll, if you were a crow.

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Heading back toward the east and Lake of the Woods, the hikers follow Beer Bottle Creek.

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It flows from the rich marsh lands above.

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Its color suggests its name.

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As one approaches Camp they find Lost Falls and Preacher Pool.

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The great wonders of the wilderness are made up of billions of tiny treasures. One must look wide and narrow to see it all. This is a Leopard Lilly.

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Blue Camus Lillies in July.

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At the top of this final gorge is Camp Loll Marsh and home. What an adventure - "it would take a thousand days to say what we have seen."