Crown Mountain Trail

If you’re looking to add a new backpacking adventure to your bucket list, the Crown Mountain Loop is a prime candidate. Starting on the west side of the Scapegoat Wilderness near Augusta, this 30-mile loop begins with a climb up Crown Mountain Pass before dropping down into a large burn. Shade here is rare, so avoid the peak of summer if you can. As you traverse the southern Scapegoat, you’ll have the chance to summit Scapegoat Mountain and camp underneath the towering cliffs of Halfmoon Park, which rival the Bob Marshall’s famously imposing Chinese Wall. Photo by George Chord