- Recommended Route: North Fork Trail from Mulebridge Campground, up the North Fork of the Salmon River.
- Trail is recommended for mid to late summer due to high flows at creek crossings.
- The Garden Gulch and Little North Fork Trails are not recommended.
- Season: June – October
- Moderate to Difficult Trail
- Camping: Idlewild or Mulebridge Campgrounds on North Fork Salmon River
From the Mulebridge Trailhead going up the North Fork Salmon River:
- 13 miles to Hancock Lake
- @ ? miles in, Right Hand Fork trail
- @ 8.5 miles in, Lake of the Island Trail
- 2 miles each way to Lake of the Island, river crossing, 4,200 feet elevation
- Lake of The Island: 13 acres, 25 feet deep, 5,600 feet elevation, brook and rainbow trout
- @ 10.5 miles, Abbott Lake Trail, 2 river crossings past Lake of the Island Trail
- 1 mile each way climb to lake, river crossing, 4,800 feet elevation
- Abbott Lake: 8 acres, 20 feet deep, 5,700 feet elevation, brook trout
- @ 10.5 miles Big Meadows/Big Gulch Trail to Wild Lake, Lake Ethel, Lake Katherine, Horse Range Lake, Wooley Creek
- 4 miles each way to Wild Lake
- Wild Lake:
- @ ? miles, English Lake and Upper English Lake
- @ miles in, Diamond Lake, Hancock Lake and Little Hancock Lake
- @ miles in, English Peak Lookout
- @ miles in, Tom Taylor Cabin
- @ miles in, turn to Pine Lake
- @ ? miles in, Hamilton Camp
- @ miles in, turn off to Clear Lake
To reach Wild Lake directly is 14.5 miles from the Mulebridge Trailhead, not including side visits to Lake Ethel and Lake Katherine:
- @5.5 miles – Right Hand Fork Trail
- @8.5 miles – Lake of the Island Trail (+3 miles)
- @10 miles – Abbott Cabin
- @10.5 miles – Big Meadows/Big Gulch Trail above Abbott’s Ranch (+2 steep miles)
- @ 14.5 miles – Wild Lake (+4 steep miles)
- @ 13.5 miles – Horse Range Lake (+3 steep miles from Abbott Cabin)
- Exiting Wooley Creek Trail #5832 = 19 miles from junction with Big Meadows Trail from Wild Lake, to the Wooley Creek Trailhead
- Exiting Marble Rim
- Big Elk Lake is 7.3 miles from Lover’s Camp Trailhead
- Exiting Garden Gulch or Little North Fork Trail – not recommended
