Wyoming · Trail 066

Middle Paintrock

Middle Paintrock Trail is a 6.6-mile trail in Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, motorcycle, ATV and e-bikes. It enters Cloud Peak Wilderness.

Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Bighorn National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.

Map

One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.

One end44.3020° N, 107.3056° W · Directions ↗
Other end44.3458° N, 107.2136° W · Directions ↗

The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 5 segments.

The trail

Length6.6 miles
Trail class2, moderately developed; 3, developed
Typeland trail
Surfacenative material
Typical grade12-20 percent
Typical tread width18-24 inches
Motor vehiclesOpen to at least one motorized use
AccessibilityNot evaluated
Trail numbers066
ForestBighorn National Forest (unit 0202)
StatesWyoming
Detail publishedmanagement level, with uses

Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.

Allowed uses

HikingAllowed year-round
Horse and pack stockAllowed 06/15 to 11/15 (month/day)
Mountain bikingAllowed year-round
MotorcycleAllowed 04/01 to 12/14 (month/day)
ATVAllowed 06/15 to 11/15 (month/day)
E-bikesAllowed year-round

A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.

Wilderness

Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.

Trailheads

Lily Lake TH
No season published
No Camping at trailhead, Pack It In, Pack It Out, Wilderness Regulations apply within Cloud Peak Wilderness.
0.1 mi

Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.

Trails nearby

Camping nearby

Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.

Explore

Guidebooks for Cloud Peak Wilderness and Wyoming

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Hiking Wyoming's Cloud Peak Wilderness
    Erik Molvar, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range
    Ben Adkison, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains
    Ken (Naturalist) Keffer, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How long is the Middle Paintrock Trail?

The Forest Service records 6.6 miles under this name in Bighorn National Forest, the sum of 5 segments.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

What is allowed on the Middle Paintrock Trail?

Hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, motorcycle, ATV and e-bikes are allowed. The trail is open to at least one motorized use. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Where does the Middle Paintrock Trail start?

The line begins at 44.3020° N, 107.3056° W and ends at 44.3458° N, 107.2136° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Lily Lake TH, 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the Middle Paintrock Trail in a wilderness area?

Yes. It enters Cloud Peak Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.

Source: Cloud Peak Wilderness

Where can I camp near the Middle Paintrock Trail?

West Tensleep Lake (4.8 mi) is within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists it with site counts and booking links.

Source: Campsite Atlas

How developed is the Middle Paintrock Trail?

Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed to developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

How steep and how wide is the Middle Paintrock Trail?

The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Who manages the Middle Paintrock Trail?

Bighorn National Forest, Forest Service unit 0202. The trail is in Wyoming.

Source: Bighorn National Forest official page

Source

This page is built from 5 segments named Middle Paintrock in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0202. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.