Unit 90

Mount Fitzpatrick and Mount McDougal anchor the eastern divide system and serve as major reference points for orientation. The Box Canyon and Tri Basin Divide features mark critical topographic transitions hunters use for route-finding through the broken terrain. Spring Creek Falls provides a recognizable drainage landmark.

North Twin Creek and Sheep Creek drainages function as major travel corridors and elk movement routes. Corral Creek Lake and Rock Lake offer both navigation markers and water sources in otherwise limited supply areas. These features create a rational grid for hunters working the unit's steep sidehills.

The unit spans from about 6,500 feet in river bottoms to over 11,300 feet on high ridges, with most hunting occurring between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. Dense coniferous forest dominates the terrain—primarily spruce-fir at upper elevations transitioning to lodgepole and aspen on lower slopes. Alpine meadows punctuate the ridge systems, particularly around Poison Meadows and Lunch Creek Meadows, creating natural concentration zones for elk.

The steep sidehills force vegetation into distinctive bands; willow and grass pockets mark reliable water corridors within otherwise continuous forest.

The connected road network totals 281 miles but sits primarily on unit boundaries and lower approach routes; internal road density is minimal to nonexistent. Hunters typically stage from Greys River valley access points and foot in via canyon bottoms and ridge systems. This limited internal access actually moderates pressure—the terrain demands commitment and fitness.

Most hunters concentrate on lower-elevation approaches, leaving higher ridges and upper drainages less crowded. The steep topography itself acts as a natural pressure diffuser; hunters self-select toward easier country elsewhere.

Unit 90 occupies the Greys River drainage west of the Wyoming Range, bounded by Blind Bull Creek to the north and the Greys-Green River divide to the east. The unit encompasses steep terrain defining the watersheds between Greys River, Green River, Smith Fork Creek, and Salt River drainages. This moderate-sized unit sits entirely in the high country with no low-elevation approaches; the western boundary follows the Greys River corridor itself.

Access context flows from the connected road network on unit perimeter rather than internal penetration.

Despite the limited badge rating, spring-fed creeks provide reliable water through the season in most drainages. Young Spring and Shot Hole Spring anchor high-country water strategy. Major drainages—North Twin Creek, Sheep Creek, Poison Creek, Ridge Creek, and North Corral Creek—carry consistent flows from snowmelt and seepage.

The Greys River itself forms the northwestern boundary and provides perennial water access. High-elevation hunters must plan water caches or follow drainages; mid-elevation meadows concentrate both water and elk during dry periods. Understanding which creeks hold water separates efficient hunting from frustration in this steep country.

Unit 90 is high-country elk terrain requiring elevation management and drainage understanding. Early season hunting focuses on aspen and meadow edges where elk feed in cooler morning hours before retreating into dense timber. As temperatures warm, bulls move upward to high ridges and cirque basins where cool air persists.

Rut hunting concentrates on elk travel corridors between bedding and feed in major drainages like Sheep Creek and North Twin Creek. Late season pushes elk downward toward lower-elevation parks and sidehill brush. Water sources drive late-season location—identify functioning springs and creeks early.

Success requires glassing from high vantage points, then navigating steep sidehills quietly. The complexity demands fitness and map-reading skill.