Wrights Lake
Distance
~1.5 mi one-way above Yankee Boy, out & back
Time
1–1.5 hours from the falls
Difficulty
Difficult
The top end of the Yankee Boy Basin road and the highest point of the Yankee Boy group's day at roughly 12,170 ft. Past Twin Falls the road stops being a scenic cruise: rocky sections that need real line choice, a notable drop just beyond the falls, and a set of tight switchbacks climbing the headwall to the lake itself. The reward is a shallow alpine lake sitting in a bowl directly under the Sneffels ridgeline, well above timberline, with the whole basin falling away behind you. This is the optional upper leg — anyone not comfortable putting a full-size truck through the switchbacks can turn around at Twin Falls and still have had the best of the basin.
Highlights
- •~12,170-ft alpine lake above timberline
- •Directly beneath the Mt. Sneffels ridgeline
- •Tight switchbacks up the basin headwall
- •The technical payoff leg above Twin Falls
- •Natural turnaround point for the Yankee Boy group
Access & Permits
No permit required, but the road borders the Mount Sneffels Wilderness — motorized travel is prohibited inside the Wilderness boundary, so stay on the established road. Ouray County / GMUG National Forests (Ouray Ranger District). Typical season July through early October; snow lingers in the upper bowl.
Terrestrial Armor Recommended
The Tesla Cybertruck Terrestrial Armor kit is strongly recommended for this trail. This includes underbody skid plates and protection for critical components. Stock trucks can attempt with extreme caution and experienced spotters.