Robinson Canyon - Ainsley Canyon

This is a loop with wildflowers and aspen groves that wind through meadows above the canyons, past an old stone building and back into the canyons.

From the parking area, follow the road into Robinson Canyon. After about a quarter mile, watch for a trail going off to the left; if you reach a big washout, you’ve gone too far. The trail crosses the creek and shortly comes to a fork. The main trail goes to the right up Robinson Canyon, but for this hike take the trail to the left, traversing up the hillside to a large open flat and an intersection with a well-used double-track.

Turn right here, going straight ahead at the four-way intersection, and proceed to a low saddle with nice views of the surrounding countryside. Follow the road across the saddle, watching for a fainter double-track heading downhill to the right. This track leads down through a grove of aspen and across a creek to intersect another trail.

Turn left here and follow this trail past a beautiful grove of aspen and into a large meadow. Where the trail bends right, look across the meadow to spot the old stone building. After exploring the building, continue across the meadow and find another old double-track heading downhill into Ainsley Canyon, just above the confluence with Robinson Canyon; turning left takes you up Ainsley Canyon; to go up Robinson Canyon turn right, then left where the trail forks.

Whichever way you go, do not return along the bottom of Robinson Canyon because the road is completely washed out below Ainsley Canyon. Instead, follow the obvious trail that climbs above the canyon and then drops down to your original crossing of Robinson Creek.

WTA Pro Tip: This area can be subject to seasonal closures from December 10 to May 1 to protect wintering elk herds.