In 1929, the original eastern border was revised, turning over to the Forest Service any land east of the Absaroka summits and, at the same time, annexing some of the headwaters of streams already in the park. Thus, Crow Creek and Jones Creek, which flow east out of the mountains north of Sylvan Pass to the North Fork of the Shoshone River, are entirely outside the park. Almost all the tributaries of the Lamar River (farther north) are within the park. Most of the eastern border now follows drainage divides, meandering along ridge crests and over mountain peaks. 3.0/23.0 I For the next mile or so, there are several parking areas and a road toward Middle Creek. Some of the turnouts provide good views of the mountains. The original East Entrance Road followed Middle Creek more closely than it does now. Pleasant features of the present road in early to mid summer are the riot of color from roadside wildflowers and the numerous small waterfalls that rush down from the hillsides above. But don’t drink the water it may not be safe.
As the road gradually climbs toward Sylvan Pass, you’ll see trees on both sides that are dying from a mountain pine beetle infestation. Damage from fires in 2001 and 2003 is also visible to the south. 6.5/19.5 Stop at the Corkscrew Bridge Viewpoint to see a trace of the very unusual Corkscrew Bridge (also called Spiral Bridge). You can now see only a gently curving smooth path, but 100 years ago it was an engineering marvel. At the bottom of the Sylvan Pass grade was a large and excellent cold spring, Mammoth Crystal Spring, the source of Middle Creek. The spring is now very hard to locate. 6.9/19.1 Sylvan Pass (8541 ft/2603 m). In 1901, Army Engineer Captain Chittenden, who designed this road, wrote that Sylvan Pass [GEO.6] is unique among mountain passes in that it is almost entirely loosened from the cliffs on either side by the action of frost. This broken rock varies in size from fine pebbles to pieces a cubic yard in volume. You may wonder why it was named Sylvan, meaning forested, when it’s so rocky.
The pass is named after the larger of the two tree-ringed lakes near it. North of the road is Hoyt Peak (10,506 ft/3202 m), named for John W. Hoyt, first governor of the Territory of Wyoming and later Corkscrew Bridge afforded a manageable grade up Sylvan Pass on the original East Entrance Road. University of Wyoming president. Hoyt 7.6/18.4 0(2) Eleanor Lake, prob-Peak is part of the volcanic Absaroka ably named in 1901 by road engineer Range. Chittenden for his infant daughter.
