Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet over 6 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft). If you find yourself off-trail with a group, everyone should spread out while walking. Although the Wind River Range is not quite as tall on average as the Rockies, altitude is still a major consideration for backpackers and hikers alike, particularly at elevations above 9,000 feet. By Colorado standards, to think that this trail is the one of the most heavily-used in the entire range is. Drop down to Lake 10,566 and follow the East Fork River and pick up the same trail (from Pyramid Lake) further down at Skull Lake.] I feel that this is all the description needed to arrive safely, without spoiling the adventure too much. (1), Comments Shelli Johnson, owner of Epic Life, is an entrepreneur, life and leadership coach, leadership development facilitator, keynote presenter, writer, adventurer and guide. Located on the way up to the Cirque of the Towers, Dads Lake is a pristine alpine setting that offers even the least experienced backpackers the chance to test their trail legs. Why you should go: No need for lengthy trips here views of Squaretop Mountain and alpine lakes are easily accessible from the Lower Green River Trail. Once on the trail, consider spending the first night at Hobbs Lake or Seneca Lake and progressing on to Island Lake for the second. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or _The Deep Creek Lakes and Ice Lakes are accessed by an 8-mile round trip dayhike from Tayo Park. Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range : r/wyoming 2 yr. ago Posted by MeowingtonChaCha Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range Hello everyone, I'm sure someone over here is familiar with Wind River Range hikes and could point me in the right direction. The best route from Baker Lake to Bear Lake is described in Pallister's book, and also Matt Lemke's excellent trip report. It is a beautiful lake! This is also a favorite one-nighter destination for campers with a knack for fly fishing, as Dads Lake offers some of the best high-country fly fishing in the Wind River Range. The Highline Trail begins at the campground and follows most of the length of the Wind River Range, 80 miles to the south. After approximately 2 miles, branch off to the right and ascend for 1 mile to Baptiste Lake. If you're not comfortable traversing the Mammoth Glacier described in Pallister's book, an alternate route is to go over Knapsack Col and down to Peak Lake, over Cube Rock Pass, and join the Highline Trail near Trail Creek Park. Utah may be a giant desert, but it's still got plenty of waterfalls for adventurous hikers to chase. Trail, USFS - Bridger Teton National Forest Office. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Among the best ways to explore the Wind River Range is to travel one of the spectacular trails through the region. Why you should go: Dive deep into the Winds to gain views of its well-known high peaks and crystal alpine lakes. The foreground streaks in from the right front of the canvas, a rocky outcropping with trees, some fallen, and verdant grasses invite the viewer into the painting to take a moment before looking out over the edge of the cliff into the vast wilderness. Continue north to the head of Tourist Creek, and ascend northeast above lake 10890 all the way to the divide near Point 12450. Dont let the length of the Big Sandy Lake Trail deter you! Best reached from Pinedale, this trail goes by a few names. From Cheyenne to Jackson, Evanston to Casper to Gillette and everywhere in between. Scab Creek - Medium use 10. Atlantic Peak is the southernmost 12er in the Wind Rivers (and really the southernmost mountain of any note): the perfect place to start a comprehensive south-north traverse of the range. On day 2 we started out from Twin lakes and bushwacked our . The Dyrt PRO lets you download maps and campgrounds without cell service. Headwaters of the Green River | Tuesday - Saturday, August 17-21, 2021. " Blaine Myers OpenMapTiles OSM 14.1 Miles Point to Point 10,338' High 8,234' Low 2,896' Up 793' Down 5% Avg Grade (3) 28% Max Grade (15) Toolbox Plan in onX Backcountry Driving directions Take a virtual tour Download GPX File Know This Trail? UPPER SILAS LAKE: Its about 3 miles from the trailhead to Upper Silas Lake, 6 miles roundtrip. [5]:7982, In 1834, Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth led the first Methodist missionaries Jason Lee, Daniel Lee, and Cyrus Shepard across the pass. Follow the trail around the large base of Roaring Fork Mountain to arrive at Tayo Park. The quick-and-easy trail slowly gains elevation until you reach Rainbow Lake. The passes furnish a natural crossing point of the Rockies. Stretching over 100 miles along the Continental Divide, the Wind River Range in Wyoming is an oft-missed treasure trove for backcountry exploration. The historic pass became the route for emigrants on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails to the West during the 19th century. Little Sandy - Low use 12. . Fishing and backpacking are popular here, so bring your pack, tent, and fishing pole to make this a fun overnighter. The pass is a broad open saddle with prairie and sagebrush, allowing a broad and nearly level route between the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds. The only major areas I had to bypass are (from South to North) the Deep Creek Lakes and Ice Lakes, Smith Creek Lakes and Cathedral Lake, Bonneville Basin, Bald Mountain Basin and Cook Lakes, the Peak Lake Area (as described by Kelsey), and the Eastern drainages north of Gannet Peak, which are pretty much impassable due to rough terrain and massive glaciers. You must round Valentine Lake's north shore and descend to 10,000 feet and the Little Wind River's South Fork which may require a wade. Drainages are intricate and minor obstacles abound, but by paying attention and consulting a map you can get where you're going without difficulty." ISLAND LAKE: Its about 5 miles to Island Lake from the trailhead, 10 miles roundtrip. Both areas, located just west of the Continental Divide, are rich in outstanding scenery and recreation opportunities. Desolation Lake (Lake 11478 on maps) at the head of the basin is said to be spectacular. From Big Sandy Lake, switchback north on the well-worn trail to Lonesome Lake in 3 miles. Snow usually doesnt melt until mid-May and returns in October, so its a relatively short hiking season around here. Ready to lace up your boots and hit the trail? There is apparently a non-technical route that goes northwest from the pond that traverses the cliffs above Little Sandy Creek. The route follows closely to the Continental Divide through the Wind River Range and is largely off-trail; of the approximate 100 miles, 65+ miles are off-trail, depending on your measuring device. An extra day is advised to explore the multitude of lakes around the Brown Cliffs here. https://youtu.be/aeQ61IH9fv4A six day solo backpacking loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range starting at Boulder Canyon trail head. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56km) SSW of Lander. If you cant plan your trip in September, I recommend wearing long layers and applying a healthy dose of DEET. Thats another story. View Wind River Range Traverse Image Gallery - 1 Images. wildflowers, Big Sandy Lake, Wind River range, WY. The archery range on Berlin Lake Wildlife Area is open sunrise-sunset, except during holidays, and is free-of-charge. Should this affect the validity of this most grand route I have prepared? The large amount of elevation gain is absolutely worth the trek. Earthwalk Press North Wind River Range. Another mile or mile and a half up the trail, you see a cairn and hear Silas Creek to your right. Mileage: 29-30 miles RT [5]:110,113[4]:158, In 1842, John C. Fremont led a United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers expedition to survey South Pass. From chill beachside strolls to craggy peakbagging epics, this list has got you covered. Traditionally Indigenous Territory Apsaalook (Crow) Eastern Shoshone Cheyenne More Stats for Smith Lake hike trail trail Altitude change 607 ft Altitude min 9,292 ft Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Weve caught a lot of brook trout here, nothing big, but the catching is pretty good in our experience. Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet over 13 miles 9,100 ft to 11,500 ft). I'm kind of a Granger fan so the thought of taking 2 of those is something I look forward to. 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. Beefcake!" We started at the St Lawerence ranger station and made our way to Twin Lakes for the first night. Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. From the Upper Basin, about 1.5 miles past the north-most lake, ascend west to Knapsack Col. From the Col, travel west while staying above (north) of the Peak Lake drainage. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Cirque of the Towers Wind River Range #78372 Purchase. Between the five of us we caught about 18 trout in an hour. Go south up the glacier to the top of Indian Pass. The connecting trail that completes the loop on the backside, near Texas Pass, is unmarked as an official trail, despite being well-trod for years, so navigating can occasionally become a bit tricky. . Smith Lake is a 7 mile blue singletrack trail located near Popo Agie Wilderness Wyoming. 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. 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. Many short hikes here will lead up to a lake, giving you the chance to bring the fishing pole along and enjoy a few hours of fishing before heading back to the trailhead. Given the easy elevation gain and well maintained trail, this is a great choice for families. I'm sure someone over here is familiar with Wind River Range hikes and could point me in the right direction. The range spans over 100 miles running roughly from Jackson, WY at its northwest edge, to Atlantic City, WY at its south eastern terminus. You would be better off trying your hand at the shorter and more direct WRHR, pioneered by AdventureAlan (link at the bottom). It was also the first big wall climb outside of Yosemite to be rated at Grade VI, a very serious, multi-day rock climb with a long and arduous approach. This is rated as class 2-3 by Pallister. From Upper Silas. It is fine country to wander through. Just continue north to shallow and picturesque Hay Pass. Setting out from the Smith Lake Trailhead, the Dickson Park to Middle Lake Hike crosses a bridge over an . Use caution when going off trail to look for campsites, and, above all, leave nothing behind throughout your journey. Rainbow Lake is a popular fishing destination, so hikers typically bring along fishing poles to spend a relaxing afternoon on the water. We ended up at Boulder Lake Campground through another gift of serendipity. According to Pallister, the safest way down is on the Glacier, instead of traversing the surrounding cliffs. It traverses northwest while staying high on the mountaintops. 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. Hosting 100+ miles of the Continental Divide Trail and astounding mountain scenery, Wyomings Wind River Range offers more to explore beyond the Tetons, Medicine Bows, and Yellowstone National Park. Island Lake is beautiful! After Diane and I visited the Wind Rivers for the Great American Eclipse in 2017 we decided that we should try to return every other summer to visit somewhere new in the range. From the Elkhart trailhead parking lot, take the Pole Creek Trail directly adjacent to . Also in 1835, Thomas Fitzpatrick led Protestant missionaries Samuel Parker and Dr. Marcus Whitman across the pass. 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 . Twelve lakes were within the Tayo, Deep, and Ice creek drainages in the Wind River Peak area, and one along the mainstem Middle Fork Popo Agie River. No matter what you plan to do while in Missoula, these Airbnbs can complete the puzzle for a perfect escape. 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. Includes correspondence, Harvey's writing drafts and notes for an unpublished book on the CUP, federal documents, project litigation materials, subject files, news clippings, newsletters, programs . [4]:156157[5]:87107, The first family of emigrants, the Walkers, crossed the pass in 1840 with the intention of settling in Oregon. All Rights Reserved. The Rainbow Lake Trail begins at Dream Lake, which is right along the Continental Divide Trail. Pinedale, Wyoming Slide Lake Trail is a wonderful, well-maintained trail thats the perfect addition to any adventure itinerary. Shooters must supply their own target holders, which must meet the approval of the shooting range attendant. This will avoid creating a new social trail that leads hikers astray. A dazzling Wind River Range brook trout, courtesy of Finis Mitchell. Granite peaks -- 40 of them over 13,000 feet high -- dominate the landscape. 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. You still must be in good shape and an experienced backpacker, be able to hike up to 12-mile days with thousands of feet in elevation gain, and be able to handle up to class 3 rock scrambling. This article was brought to you by Gregory. It lies in a broad high region, 35 miles (56km) wide, between the nearly 14,000ft (4,300m) Wind River Range to the north and the over 8,500ft (2,600m) Oregon Buttes[3] and arid, saline near-impassible Great Divide Basin to the south. Smith Creek Lakes and Cathedral Lake, Bonneville Basin, Bald Mountain Basin and Cook Lakes, the Peak Lake Area (as described by Kelsey), and the Eastern drainages north of Gannet Peak, which are pretty much impassable due to . " Joan Pendleton OpenMapTiles OSM 36.2 Miles Point to Point 11,075' High 7,641' Low 5,946' Up 5,973' Down 6% Avg Grade (4) 52% Max Grade (28) Toolbox Plan in onX Backcountry Its worth sharing the trail with more hikers, though, as the dramatic peaks surrounding the Big Sandy Lake Trail will not disappoint! Marms Lake (near Dads Lake), is on one of the more popular treks in,. Continue northwest up the basin towards Lake 10,756, which is directly south of Hay Pass. In 2013, Alan Dixon and Don Wilson envisioned the " Wind River High Route ," a cross-country trek traversing the range and connecting all three of those areas, as well as less-famous, equally striking scenery in between. However, I don't think that style of travel is the best fit for this route. Joel Pickens Walker, and his wife Mary Young Walker, made the journey with their four children. Continue climbing northeast, and ascend the south slopes of Atlantic Peak (class 2). There's a possible high camp (pictured) on the Lizard Head Plateau overlooking the Cirque. From Upper Golden, head north up to Lake 10787, the east down the slopes, and then north to Camp Lake. After looking at my map, the drive is through the wind river Indian reservation (the hike is entirely on national forrest land) and you may need a permit for moccasin lake road. 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. South Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. In 3-pc 4wts, there are 7.5 and 8 footers. 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. Additional Read: The 11 Best Airbnbs Near Grand Teton National Park. 2022 Best Places to Camp: Top 10 in the U.S. Why you should go: Explore one of the Winds most popular trails to reach Big Sandy Lake. A widely-used trail, this route offers the chance to take in the Wind River Range wilderness in a way thats palatable to beginner through intermediate backpackers with a taste for adventure. In the mid-1990s, Lander nurse and outdoorsman Bruce Cartwright introduced my family to the fine high-lake fishing on the Wind River Indian Reservation, which accounts for about a quarter of the land in the Winds. For the last five years the mythical Wind Rivers have eluded my presence. I looked on AllTrails but couldn't find anything. Big Sandy - High use 11. If traveling lightly and in peak physical condition, it could be possible to do this route in a little over a week. Hidden Lake can be reached by bushwacking 2 miles from Ross Lake. The terrain and elevation of the Wind River Range make backpacking here a challenge, albeit a worthwhile one. Trailhead Start: Big Sandy Trailhead From Middle Fork Lake, it is approximately 2 trailless miles to Hall's Lake. Earthwalk Press publishes two Wind River Range overview maps (one for the northern part of the range, and another for the southern portion). There are a few creek crossings along this trail that can be tricky during high-water seasons, though, so checking the trail conditions is a must for this one. If conditions/weather is not safe, day hike into the Titcomb Lakes, and exit to the Green River Lakes via the Highline Trail. 18.4 mi / 2280 ft gain The Wind River Range is one of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the lower 48. Explore the numerous lakes in the area. She is married to Jerry, and is the mother of three sons, Wolf, Hayden, and Fin. In addition to the 43,000-acres of lakes and reservoirs, and 2,000 miles of streams and rivers, including the 185-mile Wind River, there is an abundance of fish and a lack of people. We always see fish and big fish at that but were seldom able to trick them into biting our line. Miller Lake Trail (#173) Pole Creek Trail (#119) DISTANCE: +/- 28.5 miles. . Two years ago we came back and hiked to the Cirque of the Towers, so this year I thought it . The route traverses glaciers, boulderfields, alpine . Books and maps can be purchased here. This is a great destination because you can sit on granite slabs that slide into the lake in many places, and there are granite mountains all around you. They were trying to avoid Crow warriors further north, on their return to St. Louis, Missouri from Astoria, Oregon. Approaching a construction zone 20 minutes outside Pinedale, Wyoming a flagger stands between us, rotating his sign to "stop." A Shoshone had told Stuart of "a shorter trace to the South than that by which Mr. Hunt had traversed the R. Mountains"[4][5] In 1856 Ramsay Crooks, one of the party, wrote a letter describing their journey: In 1811, the overland party of Mr. Astor's expedition, under the command of Mr. Wilson P. Hunt, of Trenton, New Jersey, although numbering sixty well armed men, found the Indians so very troublesome in the country of the Yellowstone River, that the party of seven persons who left Astoria toward the end of June, 1812, considering it dangerous to pass again by the route of 1811, turned toward the southeast as soon as they had crossed the main chain of the Rocky Mountains, and, after several days' journey, came through the celebrated 'South Pass' in the month of November, 1812. This article is about my favorite day hikes, not my favorite epic day hikes. Its recommended for the Cirque of the Towers loop that you bring a map and compass and that you know how to use them. A river, that appears to drop into an unseen . Our three sons, from very young ages, have enjoyed this hike with us. Is apparently a non-technical route that goes northwest from the trailhead to Silas. Start: Elkhart Park Cirque of the more popular treks in, Range backpacking. 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