Hiking Pat O’Hara - Endless Views and Sun
Difficulty: 3
Time to Complete: 3.5 hours
Distance: 6.5 miles
Seasonality: Summer
Fees/Permit: No
Dog Friendly: Yes
Destination Highlights: Beautiful mountain climb, close to town
Enjoying one of the best vistas in the Rockies
Summary: This 6.5 mile out-and-back trail climbs to the top of 9,928 foot Pat O’Hara Peak. The trail follows a ridge line with continuous views of snow capped mountains, deep green forests, and sloping meadows filled with wildflowers. At just 40 minutes from town, this high country hike is a local favorite.
Map of Pat O’Hara, courtesy of Natural Atlas
Intro: The Pat O’Hara trail is mostly unmarked, but once on the trail, the route is easy to follow. From the trailhead along Road 103, the first section of trail climbs gradually on two-track through a mix of open green hillsides and forest. At mile 1.1, the trail (now single-track) enters a grassy meadow. Enjoy this flat section before a long climb through the forest at mile 1.4. At mile 2.5, the trail reemerges above the forest into a grassy alpine tundra. Pat O’Hara peak is clearly visible up ahead and is the highest point on the ridge to the south. At about mile 2.8, leave the trail and choose one of the routes across the grass to the top, enjoying the wildflowers along the way. From the top of the mountain, there are 360-degree views of the blue peaks of the northern Absarokas, Heart Mountain, the Bighorn Basin, and Cody far below.
What Makes It Great: Pat O’Hara’s signature triangle-shaped peak, visible high on the ridge to the northwest, is a familiar navigation point in Cody. As summer approaches, locals look up toward Pat O’Hara to check the changing snow levels and to gauge when this beloved trail might be hikeable, with wildflowers all in bloom. In the language of the Absaroka Crow, the mountain was known as “Blue Bead Mountain” because of a blue rock quarry on the mountain’s south flank. Later, the mountain was renamed after an early settler who lived in a dugout nearby.
Who is Going to Love It: Pat O’Hara Trail is a local favorite because the entire route is gorgeous. Even the first few moments on the trail include sweeping views into the North Absaroka Wilderness. The climbs are challenging, but at just 3.3 miles to the top of the peak, this trail is appropriate for families and hikers of all ages. Trail runners, photographers, equestrians, and hunters also enjoy this scenic trail.
Directions, Parking & Regulations: From Cody, travel north on WY-120 for 17 miles and turn left on the Chief Joseph Highway (WY-296). In 12.1 miles, turn left on Road 103. This dirt road is easy to miss, but it’s the first left turn after the road for the Northwest College Field Station. Stay on Road 103 for 2.4 miles and then look for the trailhead on the right side of the road where a small, wooden “Trail” sign is nailed to a tree. Parking is available on the side of the road. Road 103 is notoriously rough and can be impassable when wet. It’s possible to reach the trailhead in a passenger vehicle, but 4WD is recommended. The Pat O’Hara trail straddles the wilderness boundary, but a permit is not required to hike this trail. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under control because of grizzly activity all along the route. There is no cell phone service along the trail, but there is a good signal at the top of Pat O’Hara peak.
This hike is an excerpt from Sunlit Trails, our locally written guidebook to hiking in Northwest Wyoming and Yellowstone. If you’re looking for more trail inspiration, maps, and local insight, you can pick up a copy in-store, online, or at Legends Bookstore in Cody.