Lime Creek 51 Ranch - Horseshoe

[SteveHall]

Looking for info on hiking Lime Creek from the 51 Ranch down to horseshoe. My friend and I would like to hike it and not sure if we want to do a day hike or spend a night out. How many miles is it? I did a quick estimate and it looks like maybe 7-8 miles? What is there to see other than the cabin? Any info appreciated.

Steven

[te_wa]

went there a couple weeks back. the cabin is small, supplies are there, charcoal, stoves, mtn house packs and some canned stuff. also a couple gallons of water, but the spring was flowing and filterable. there's a 'glyph panel that looks impressive on photos, we did not search hard for it so it will have to wait...
i have not hiked downstream from there, but the path looks mostly clear from the high ground. we talked about hiking down to the lake on a future trip. great views of the mazzies, of course.

[chumley]

It's about 6 miles from the 51 Ranch to the cabin and about 7 miles from the cabin to Horseshoe Lake.

There's a nice triplog about the lower half here: [ photoset ]
Here's some info on the upper section: [ photoset ]

[Hansenaz]

@SteveHall
I've thought a lot about that hike and done some of it. I think with a big effort it could be done as a dayhike but it could be slow going in places and might be hard to finish. I'd suggest to either do some pre-trip recon of the top and bottom or be prepared to spend a night out...maybe at the cabin.

[SteveHall]

@Hansenaz
Yeah, we came to that conclusion already. Especially if it really is 13 miles like Chumley said. The cabin seems like a good spot to stay the night. It should be a good hike. I am excited to explore Lime.

[te_wa]

so you want to stay at the cabin, then go back out? that's 12 mi r/t right?
or do you plan to go six miles, set up camp and then dayhike up to 14 on TOP of the six?
or would you rather hike 13 miles, camp, then return?

i'd like to hear what you end up doing. either way, you have to hike (up to) 26 miles or forego the half leading to horseshoe?

[chumley]

@te_wa
or set up a shuttle...

[SteveHall]

@te_wa
We will be hiking through. 51 Ranch - Lime Creek Cabin, stay a night and then down to Horseshoe the next day. We will have someone pick us up at Horseshoe.

[whereveriroam]

I’ve gone from the lake 3 times as a backpack. It’s about 8.5 miles, give or take. Its not physically hard to hike but a mental challenge, going can be slow. Don’t miss the bypass out of the creek about halfway, I flagged it with trail tape on New Years. You really don’t want to get into the narrows this time of year, you’ll get wet.

[SteveHall]

@whereveriroam
From the lake to the cabin is 8.5? How much water is there? Up to the knees? up to the waist? How much of the creek gets bypassed?

Thanks

[whereveriroam]

We had 3 different GPS readings on mileage, all between 8-9 miles. Its slow going so figure 6ish hours to get there. The first 2 times I went the creek was flowing the whole way. This time, only about the middle 3rd was flowing. We tried the narrows but didn’t get far, it was waist deep with more water ahead. The bypass is a faint trail but followable, maybe 2 miles and you’ll pass by the smelter. Once back in the creek the easiest way is to hike it. There’ll be a turnoff which I flagged to your right, that’ll put you on a good trail all the way to the cabin.

[SteveHall]

@whereveriroam We will be coming from the 51 Ranch to Horseshoe. Is the bypass marked on both sides?

[te_wa]

We will have someone pick us up

excellent! perfect weather and hiking conditions. i've made a point to camp out in that little canyon around march or so. take photos!!

[whereveriroam]

Long pieces of orange trail tape at both ends.

[SteveHall]

@whereveriroam
Excellent. Thank you.