(1), Comments Trip Type: Out-and-back It is overused and the alpine tundra is fragile. Looking over Marms Lake Lakes dominate much of the Wind River Range, meaning you don't have to carry too much water. #2. One section of this trail lies along the Highline Trail/Continental Divide Trail, delivering epic views of the iconic Squaretop Mountain, White Rock, and Lower Green River Lake. Make your way north past a myriad of small lakes to Crescent Lake. According to Pallister, the safest way down is on the Glacier, instead of traversing the surrounding cliffs. From Temple Pass, descend to the east shore of Temple Lake. By 1838, four additional American missionary women had crossed the pass, Myra Fairbanks Eells, Mary Richardson Walker, Mary Augusta Dix Gray and Sarah Gilbert White Smith. Directions from Pinedale: From the intersection of Pine Street (US 191) and North Tyler Ave (the Pinedale Tourism office is located on the northeast corner) in Pinedale, WY, drive south on Highway 191 for 11.7 miles and then turn left (east) on WY . Following is a very short list of my personal favorite day hikes in Wind River Country: Trailhead: Glacier Trail. Free Trail Guides. The passes furnish a natural crossing point of the Rockies. Composed mostly of National Forest land and the Wind River Reservation, the Winds are protected by three quarters of a million acres of public lands. says Kelsey. Outside of the Sierras, Wyoming's Wind River Range is home to the West's best golden trout fishing. There's a possible high camp (pictured) on the Lizard Head Plateau overlooking the Cirque. The strenuous Lizard Head Trail leaves the North Fork Trail in these meadows and climbs nearly 2000 feet to the bare upper slopes of Windy Mountain. From Middle Fork Lake, it is approximately 2 trailless miles to Hall's Lake. You'll pass no fewer than 100 large lakes (and innumerable small tarns), pass or traverse dozens of notable peaks, and see the largest glaciers in the American Rocky Mountains. The sight of the Continental Divide towering over the picturesque Dream Lake is fantastic, so plan to spend a few minutes here soaking in the views before you start your adventure. Unless any of you are crazy enough to try it with me! Cirque of the Towers, Green River Lakes . Rainbow Lake is a popular fishing destination, so hikers typically bring along fishing poles to spend a relaxing afternoon on the water. The 2022 Glampys: The Coolest Glampsites You Can Book Right Now, The Dyrt Is Hiring! My only experience is in the WRIR roadless area, though. Pole Creek Trail is another trail that takes off from the Big Sandy Trailhead and is the gateway to the Cirque of the Towers area. Trip Type: Out-and-back If you cant plan your trip in September, I recommend wearing long layers and applying a healthy dose of DEET. Vast views of the Wind River Ranges glaciers and towering peaks proudly give this lookout its name, where photographers come from all over the world to capture Wyomings iconic steep and jagged peaks. Why you should go: Discover a hidden treasure while enjoying sweeping views along the Slide Lake Trail. Almost relentlessly rugged and physically and mentally taxing, with navigational challenges, and mile-for-mile arguably the most jaw-dropping trek through any mountain range in Americaand I've taken many of the very best over the past three decades, including the 10 years I spent as . Pick up all dog waste as well as any human trash. View Wind River Range Traverse Image Gallery - 1 Images. The placer gold in the streams was exhausted quickly, however, and by 1870 the miners began leaving the region. Its a pretty mountain lake that we always seem to have to ourselves. Explore the World. (It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Lander, WY, up the switchbacks and to the Christina Lake Trailhead.). The Wind River Range is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, moose, bald eagles, wolverines and grizzly bears, making it an incredible location for viewing rarely seen animals in their natural habitat. This is one big lake but it seemed like a challenging place to find a campsite due to the steep, rocky shoreline. Allrightsreserved. Among the best ways to explore the Wind River Range is to travel one of the spectacular trails through the region. The Wind River Range is located in western Wyoming, just south of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. Temple Peak, the second-highest peak in the southern Wind River Range, is a class 3 scramble from the South Ridge route. Tyler Wildeck is a writer with a passion for all things outdoors. From here the trail ascends 400 feet and then drops down into Dickenson Park. The Wind River High Route was pioneered by Andrew Skurka and Buzz Burrell in the late 2000s. Some of our favorite day hikes are: Stough Creek Basin, Smith, Middle and Cathedral Lakes, Island and Thumb lakes in Silas Canyon, Lake Louise, and anything on the Middle Fork Trail, which starts at Bruce's Bridge at the end of Sinks Canyon, and takes us all the way to Wind River Peak. Judging from a recent picture, it may go, but only in late summer. It offers panoramic views and excellent backcountry camping without the heavy mileage of its longer cousin. Though it approaches a mile and a half high, South Pass is the lowest point on the Continental Divide between the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains. Hidden Lake can be reached by bushwacking 2 miles from Ross Lake. My alternative to using pro would be to drive back out to cell service. Last year on our Jerrys and my anniversary, we took the boys on a hiking and fishing trip to Silas. On Lizard Head Plateau. 13 Halloween Camping Activities, The Checklist Every First Time RVer Needs, Everything You Need To Know About Wifi For Your RV, 14 Wilderness Survival Tools You Should Have in The Backcountry, How Marfa Became the Art and Glamping Capital of Texas, 30+ Tips on Camping with Kids, From Parents Who Have Been There. The section from Big Sandy Lake to the Cirque of the Towers will be the busiest part of the entire WRRT. They were trying to avoid Crow warriors further north, on their return to St. Louis, Missouri from Astoria, Oregon. If traveling lightly and in peak physical condition, it could be possible to do this route in a little over a week. For the last five years the mythical Wind Rivers have eluded my presence. The route traverses glaciers, boulderfields, alpine . Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. Great news: Dads Lake is a dog-friendly trail, just be sure to bring a leash along. Marms Lake (near Dads Lake), is on one of the more popular treks in,. The Cirque of the Towers is one of the most popular destinations in Wyoming's Wind River Range. Continue straight onto the Green River Lakes Road for 18.5 miles. The Big Piney Ranger District hosts a wide variety of cultural and natural history, recreational opportunities, timber, range, mineral reserves, and wildlife. The Big Sandy Trailhead is the gateway to several popular backpacking trails, so you will pass more hikers here than in other areas. Try traveling this trail anytime between May and September, but remember: Its always a good idea to check the snowpack reports. All lakes can be accessed using the Stough Creek, Sheep Bridge, or Sweetwater trailheads in the Shoshone National Forest. The Wind River Roadless Area also lies within the Wind River Range. I'm very interested in this hike right here: https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/smith-lake-basin-in-wyomings-wind-river-range-is-a-hikers-haven and I am wondering if anyone could point me to a trail map or something along those lines to visualize what I would be doing. Depending on your experience and relative skill level, the Cirque of the Towers is another staple when it comes to Wind River Range backpacking. Labeled Pinedales most popular day hike, this hike is a guaranteed winner if you can handle the distance. Check the Map. Boulder Lake-High use 9. Although it gets spotty between Deep Lake and Clear Lake, you can't really get lost; just head north down the granite slabs to the east end of Clear Lake. All in all, its a highly accessible backpackers dream. The trail to the lake, if done in one day, is long and tiring with lots of ups and downs. Plus, the camping at Seneca Lake is some of the best camping in the Wind River Range, not to mention its world-class alpine fly fishing, too. Cirque of the Towers Wind River Range #78372 Purchase. The Wind Rivers humbly hide 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, including Wyomings tallest mountain Gannett Peak. Wind River Range " A great and fun trail with awesome views. It was spectacular. Everest!! Another mile or mile and a half up the trail, you see a cairn and hear Silas Creek to your right. This article on Wind River Range backpacking is brought to you by Gregory, whose lightweight backpack line is made from durable, rip-stop materials on an ultra-lightweight, durable aluminum frame. Its in the name! Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet over 6 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft). From the Elkhart trailhead parking lot, take the Pole Creek Trail directly adjacent to the restroom. Directions from Pinedale: From the intersection of Pine Street (US 191) and . smith lake alabama 10,470 Smith Lake Premium High Res Photos Browse 10,470 smith lake stock photos and images available, or search for lewis smith lake or lewis smith lake alabama to find more great stock photos and pictures. A translation of his journal was published in an 1821 French journal, but South Pass would have to be rediscovered by later explorers from information provided by Crow Indians. The Wind River Range of Wyoming is a place that nearly every backcountry enthusiast dreams of visiting. Continue northwest up the basin towards Lake 10,756, which is directly south of Hay Pass. Mileage: 23-24 miles RT Island Lake is beautiful! Go south up the glacier to the top of Indian Pass. Weve spent Labor Day weekend here with the kids on a couple of occasions. ), But I digress. September is when temperatures begin to drop low enough to get rid of the little buggers. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. The Bear's Ears Trail continues down the stream's west bank (headed north) and climbs west and descends to Grave Lake. I have taken backpacking trips to the Cirque of the Towers and Temple Lake area, as well as the Titcomb Basin area; however, I have not completed the WRRT yet. Widely considered the best trail for seeing the wide range of geography and terrain in the range, Titcomb Basin is a 30-mile round-trip trek that offers panoramic views, campsites at alpine lakes and a possible visit to the highest point in the state of Wyoming, Gannett Peak. See more of his great photography at Best.ChuckSutherland.Com, Press J to jump to the feed. Follow it's north shore west to the unnamed pass between Native Lake and Faller Lake (maps show a trail from Native to Faler Lake, but reportedly it is unmaintained and almost non-existent. The Wind River Range Traverse (WRRT) is the finest non-technical alpine backpacking route in the lower 48 states. It contains 40 peaks over 13,000 feet, the largest glacier in the American Rockies, and over 1300 named lakes. Only Island Lake and Titcomb Basin come close in popularity. Elevation Gain: 3,100 feet over 10.5 miles (9,400 ft to 10,626 ft). Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park All Tours Tour Sale. From the peak, descend west to the saddle, and northeast down the valley (cirque) to a group of lakes, one of which is Windy Lake. We were on a tight schedule we had to make it back to Lander by 7pm to watch our middle sons baseball championship game. The goal of the WRRT is to traverse the entirety of the Wind River Range in the most scenic and spectacular way possible. I have hope, however, that the Mammoth has receded enough that there is a possible non-glacier route following the southern edge of the glacier. From the Pass, follow the Osborne Mountain Route as described by Pallister and Kelsey. #WindRiverCountry, Wind River Visitors Council Shelli Johnson, owner of Epic Life, is an entrepreneur, life and leadership coach, leadership development facilitator, keynote presenter, writer, adventurer and guide. The route down the glacier is detailed in Pallister's book, and unless you are slightly crazy, you should plan to carry some form of light crampons and an ice axe. Matthew Dickerson July 18-25. Grand River and Spring Valley . My name is Shelli Johnson, and I love to hike. From the Pole Creek Trail, you will see a trail that diverts and is labeled as Photographers Point. https://youtu.be/aeQ61IH9fv4A six day solo backpacking loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range starting at Boulder Canyon trail head. Historic South Pass is the lower of the two passes (elevation 7,412 feet (2,259m)), and was the easy crossing point used by emigrants. The Dorothy Harvey papers (1902-2005) is a collection of materials focusing on the Central Utah Project (CUP), a water resource development program to use Utah's alloted share of the Colorado River. This section was inspired by Matt Lemke's trip report "Gone with the Winds." Brother Benny overlooking Harrower Peak and Indian Basin on our second day in the Wind Rivers. The region is considered to be one of the prime fishing destinations in the lower 48. Updated October 25, 2021. [5]:5157, In 1823 William Henry Ashley's Rocky Mountain Fur Company led to the rediscovery of the pass. You'll want to bring your friends and family to experience the sheer quantity (and quality) of scenic, unbeatable camping across Sublette County. The Wind River Range is home to over 1,500 immaculate alpine lakes. Wind River High Route Trailheads & Transportation Thru-hiking East side The most logical termini for a Wind River High Route thru-hike are on the range's east side: Bruce Bridge, 15 miles west of Lander, entirely on pavement Trail Lakes, 10 miles west of Dubois, mostly on gravel At both trailheads, you will find only a parking lot and an outhouse. Visiting the Space Needle, exploring Pike Place Market, and touring the old underground city are staples on any Seattle trip, but youll need your hiking boots to discover the areas most majestic attractions. By Colorado standards, to think that this trail is the one of the most heavily-used in the entire range is. Nothing in fishing excites me as much as sight fishing mountain lakes with dry flies and the for the last 3 summers the Wind river range has been my go to place. Island Lake is so named because theres an small island with trees on it in the middle. Moose, apparently, can run 35 miles an hour for up to 400 meters, which is way faster than any human has ever run 400 meters. Approximately 4 miles south of Dubois, on Hwy 26/287. A dazzling Wind River Range brook trout, courtesy of Finis Mitchell. _Bald Mountain Basin and Cook Lakes are accessed by descending south on the Hay Pass trail, the heading northwest passing Timico Lake, then on trails west to Baldy Lakes and north to Bald Mountain Basin. Because the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 was searching for a water route across the Continental Divide it did not learn of South Pass from local peoples. The seven persons forming the party were Robert McClelland of Hagerstown, who, with the celebrated Captain Wells, was captain of spies under General Wayne in his famous Indian campaign, Joseph Miller of Baltimore, for several years an officer of the U.S. Army, Robert Stuart, a citizen of Detroit, Benjamin Jones, of Missouri, who acted as huntsman of the party, Francois LeClaire, a halfbreed, and Andr Vale, a Canadian voyageur, and Ramsay Crooks, who is the only survivor of this small band of adventurers. To reach Peak Lake, continue west down the valley after Knapsack Col. Due to the nature of the WRRT, this trip is best savored by taking your time. The majority of the Wind River Ranges hikes and primary backpacking trails are at elevations of 9,000 feet or above, making them difficult and potentially dangerous for unprepared visitors. With lots of ups and downs heavy mileage of its longer cousin Canyon trail.! 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