The Hell’s Hole Trail runs 4.1 miles through the Mt Evans Wilderness to a scenic tarn in a wide glacial valley. The tarn occupies a wide, marshy basin ringed by ancient bristlecone pine in a park-like setting. Visitors will enjoy abundant aspen, diverse wildlife and large bristlecone stands.

Bristlecone pines in the Mt Evans Wilderness range 1500 - 2500 years old; there are stands in eastern Nevada thought to exceed 5000 years old

Bristlecones may take a century to add just 1" in diameter, and can become nearly dormant during a drought

Rams will sometimes shorten their own horns by scraping them on the rocks if the horns impede vision

Looking over the Hell's Hole and West Chicago Creek Valley on the cross-country trek to Gray Wolf Mountain

Looking down on Hell's Hole, a large alpine tarn ringed by a 13,000' cirque

Bristlecone pine grow particularly well on dry, south-facing slopes over 11,000'

Bristlecone pine strip-barking enables a small patch of bark to support entire limbs

Challenging but non-technical routes lead above Hells Hole to great views over Guanella Pass, and on to Gray Wolf Mountain

The Hells Hole Trail gains 1600' in the first two miles, then moderates considerably into the upper valley

Though Engelmann spruce will germinate in a range of light intensities, seedlings establish best in 40 - 60% shade at high elevations