Sparhawk Lake
Drainage: Clarks Fork (WY)
Approaches: 4x4 track to Sawtooth Lake, then about 0.5 mi cross-country southwest
Elevation: 9,240 feet
Fish: No WYG&F data
Coordinates: 44.89357, -109.48737
Bugs: Minimal on our visit
Getting there
The driving is the hard part. Take the rough off-road track past Chain Lakes and Lake WGN to the 4x4 endpoint at Sawtooth Lake. You need a lifted truck, a sturdy Jeep or a four-wheeler. There are technical spots on this road and a stock vehicle will not get through them.
The track loses elevation as it goes. Chain Lakes sits at 9,800 feet, Lake WGN at 9,489, and Sawtooth at 9,234, so you are descending most of the drive.
The hike
Park at Sawtooth and walk. It is about half a mile southwest across open alpine ground, and Sparhawk sits within a few feet of the same elevation as Sawtooth, so there is no climbing in it.
There is no trail, but the distance is short and the ground is open. You need basic directional awareness and nothing more.
Sparhawk is 9.1 acres at 9,240 feet. It sits in the shadow of Sawtooth, which at 115 acres is one of the largest lakes in this part of Wyoming, but the half mile of walking is what buys you the difference between a lake you drive to and one you do not.
Wyoming Game and Fish data has not been pulled for Sparhawk. The fishing across this whole area was slow on our visit.
Tips & safety
The road is the real obstacle. Technical 4x4 terrain to reach Sawtooth. Know what your vehicle can do before you commit, because turning around out there is its own problem.
The walk is short and flat. Half a mile southwest on open ground with essentially no elevation change. No trail, but nothing difficult either.
Fishing: No WYG&F data. Fishing was slow throughout this area when we were there.
Camping: Sparhawk sits at 9,240 feet, low enough in this basin to have more shelter than the lakes up near Chain. At nine acres the shoreline is modest. The advantage over Sawtooth is quiet: half a mile of walking puts you past where the vehicles stop.
