Considering taking a trip with your trail pup? While hiking here, its imperative to follow Leave No Trace principles to create a minimal impact on this wild terrain. The Wind River Range is home to over 1,500 immaculate alpine lakes. First, I experienced some great fishing for Rainbows on Ross Lake (big rainbows)and cutties from Hidden Lake. Lake Smith General Information County: Kossuth Location: 3 miles north of Algona Acres: 59.00 Maximum Depth: 12.6 ft. (2009) Motoring Restrictions: Electric Motors Only Nearby Parks Ambrose A. Prepare for your next adventure by downloading maps. Thumb Lake is just a mile or so above Island Lake, and its worth the extra effort to see it. 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. From chill beachside strolls to craggy peakbagging epics, this list has got you covered. To go to Lower Silas Lake, stay left and continue straight and down the trail toward Lower Silas Lake, which you should be able to see. . When I was just 3 years old, my parents moved us from Iowa to Lander, Wyoming. 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. Wind Rivers. The Wind River Range of Wyoming is a place that nearly every backcountry enthusiast dreams of visiting. As with Titcomb Basin, snowpack is often the determining factor in how early or late in the season you should aim to start your trip. Marms Lake (near Dads Lake), is on one of the more popular treks in,. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The town of Pinedale is the gateway into many of the Wind River trailheads. Utah may be a giant desert, but it's still got plenty of waterfalls for adventurous hikers to chase. 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. This is rated as class 2-3 by Pallister. It contains 40 peaks over 13,000 feet, the largest glacier in the American Rockies, and over 1300 named lakes. An extra day can be taken to climb Wind River Peak, the southernmost 13er in the range; definitely a worthy summit, with amazing views from what I've heard. (Joshua Bergan photo) Few mountain ranges in the world offer the outdoorsman as much as Wyoming's Wind River Range: Miles of trail to ride or backpack, glaciers to climb, some of the world's best granite for rock climbing. 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. Trip Type: Out-and-back Sign up for our free email to join thousands of readers getting epic travel, hiking, camping and gear ideas every week. ISLAND LAKE: Its about 5 miles to Island Lake from the trailhead, 10 miles roundtrip. Weve spent Labor Day weekend here with the kids on a couple of occasions. Jedediah Smith's party, part of Ashley's Hundred, made the first crossing traveling east to west in Feb. 1824. Outside of the Sierras, Wyoming's Wind River Range is home to the West's best golden trout fishing. From the Pole Creek Trail, you will see a trail that diverts and is labeled as Photographers Point. Wagon ruts are still clearly visible at numerous sites within a few miles of the highway.[10]. . Elevation Gain: 3,100 feet over 10.5 miles (9,400 ft to 10,626 ft). For avid backcountry anglers, this route offers excellent opportunities for side trips to nearby lakes and alpine streams, where the trout are avid for summer fly hatches. It is fine country to wander through. The Wind River High Route was pioneered by Andrew Skurka and Buzz Burrell in the late 2000s. The section from Big Sandy Lake to the Cirque of the Towers will be the busiest part of the entire WRRT. If traveling lightly and in peak physical condition, it could be possible to do this route in a little over a week. From Camp Lake, head northeast above Half-Fish Lake (Lake 9675) and continue above treeline up the slopes around 11,600 feet. The first recorded crossing was made on 22 Oct. 1812 by Robert Stuart, and six companions from the Pacific Fur Company of John Jacob Astor. The Big Sandy Trailhead is located in the southern Wind River Range next to the Big Sandy River. If you only have time for a single day hike through the Wind River Range, follow the Pole Creek Trail to Photographers Point. (1), Southwest Arete Lost Temple Spire, IV, 5.10b. Overall, pack more water than you think youll need, and take frequent breaks to prevent exhaustion and advanced altitude sickness. Continue straight onto the Green River Lakes Road for 18.5 miles. 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. If you cant plan your trip in September, I recommend wearing long layers and applying a healthy dose of DEET. All in all, its a highly accessible backpackers dream. Nothing against Iowa, but I consider this one of the greatest gifts my parents have given me. https://youtu.be/aeQ61IH9fv4A six day solo backpacking loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range starting at Boulder Canyon trail head. Although not marked on maps, Split Mountain Pass is the obvious pass directly west of Split Mountain. 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. Pursuing from thence an easterly course, they fell upon the River Platte of the Missouri, where they passed the winter and reached St. Louis in April, 1813. 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 Bruces Bridge at the end of Sinks Canyon, and takes us all the way to Wind River Peak. Camping along this trek can be found at Shadow Lake, and then in and around the Jackass Pass area later in the trip. If you find yourself off-trail with a group, everyone should spread out while walking. 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. Approaching a construction zone 20 minutes outside Pinedale, Wyoming a flagger stands between us, rotating his sign to "stop." Seven Nights in the Wind River Range: Visiting the Popo Agie Wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest, and Catching Cutthroat Trout and Brook Trout by the Score. See more of his great photography at Best.ChuckSutherland.Com, Press J to jump to the feed. The goal of the WRRT is to traverse the entirety of the Wind River Range in the most scenic and spectacular way possible. Stuart's "Travel Memorandum" was left with President James Madison, but the War of 1812 preempted western exploration. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. I'm kind of a Granger fan so the thought of taking 2 of those is something I look forward to. According to Joe Kelsey, "Above treeline, while the Forest Service doesn't maintain the trail shown on the Temple Peak quad, you shouldn't have trouble switchbacking to Temple Pass, the 11,480-foot saddle between Temple and East Temple Peaks.". . The archery range on Berlin Lake Wildlife Area is open sunrise-sunset, except during holidays, and is free-of-charge. Groups must stay under 15 people. We always see fish and big fish at that but were seldom able to trick them into biting our line. 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 vast 110-mile uplifted spine offers limitless climbing and hiking in a remote setting. From here, there is a maintained trail all the way to Big Sandy Lake. And fishing. Great news: Dads Lake is a dog-friendly trail, just be sure to bring a leash along. The small amount of elevation gain makes this trail easy to complete in a day, and the trailhead is easily accessible from Pinedale or Lander. 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.] Our three sons, from very young ages, have enjoyed this hike with us. Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet over 6 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft). From Big Sandy Lake, switchback north on the well-worn trail to Lonesome Lake in 3 miles. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/smith-lake-basin-in-wyomings-wind-river-range-is-a-hikers-haven. 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. (It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Lander, WY, up the switchbacks and to the Christina Lake Trailhead.). But what does that really mean? Books and maps can be purchased here. Follow the top of the divide north for approximately 1.5 miles, then drop down west to the north shore of Baker Lake. To Hike to Lake Louise: Its about 2.5 miles to Lake Louise, 5 miles roundtrip. Following the partly maintained Christina Pass Trail starting east of the trailhead at Sweetwater Guard Station (not at the end of the 2-mile dirt road to the normal Sweetwater Gap TH), you hike approximately 3 miles to the intersection with the North Fork of Blair Creek. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Stretching over 100 miles along the Continental Divide, the Wind River Range in Wyoming is an oft-missed treasure trove for backcountry exploration. Its the ideal pack for a high-altitude trek through the Wind River Range. The pass is a broad open saddle with prairie and sagebrush, allowing a broad and nearly level route between the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Wind River Range is Washakie Pass Loop to Cirque of the Towers, which has a 4.5 star rating from 31 reviews. Given the easy elevation gain and well maintained trail, this is a great choice for families. There's a possible high camp (pictured) on the Lizard Head Plateau overlooking the Cirque. 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. 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. Feb 6, 2017. Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. Camping near Halls Lake or further along at the Golden Lakes (just north of Hay Pass in the next section) would be recommended. I asked Jerry if for my birthday present he would do Wind River Peak in a day with me. Rainbow Lake is a popular fishing destination, so hikers typically bring along fishing poles to spend a relaxing afternoon on the water. For speedier backpackers, Big Sandy Lake is a popular camping spot just under 6 miles from the Big Sandy trailhead. 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 . This will avoid creating a new social trail that leads hikers astray. And even during my couple trips to those areas, it seemed absolutely deserted compared to my local trails in Colorado. Note that on AllTrails, you can hike this as an out-and-back trail by following the Lower Green River Lake Trail. Higher altitude also means more inclement and unpredictable weather. The 2022 Glampys: The Coolest Glampsites You Can Book Right Now, The Dyrt Is Hiring! Follow the trail around the large base of Roaring Fork Mountain to arrive at Tayo Park. The Hay Pass Trail is not maintained, so keep your GPS, map, and compass handy. The road immediately forks; stay left and follow this road to the end. lewis smith lake lewis smith lake alabama smith lake alabama The Sweetwater River flows past the east side of the pass, and Pacific Creek rises on the west side. When it comes to Wind River Range backpacking routes, there are a few premier trails to choose from, each varying in length, difficulty and terrain. I noticed that most routes follow the lower highline trail, or skip the many magnificent areas including Stough Creek Lakes, Deep Lake Cirque, Grave Lake Cirque, North Fork Cirque (on the Wind River Indian Reservation), the Brown Cliffs, Scott Lake, and Bear Basin. Should this affect the validity of this most grand route I have prepared? Make noise as youre hiking to avoid bear encounters, never hike alone, and bring bear spray or other protection. In fact, my most epic day hike in the Wind River Range was on my birthday one year. A dazzling Wind River Range brook trout, courtesy of Finis Mitchell. Also, this section is described in Pallister's book. An extra day is advised to explore the multitude of lakes around the Brown Cliffs here. 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. This is the only small section of the WRRT where these tools may be required. Hooker towers above Grave Lake, and is the largest vertical rock wall in Wyoming. From Temple Pass, descend to the east shore of Temple Lake. The approach to Deep Lake is short and the elevation gain is minimal, attributes a rock climber considers virtues. The passes furnish a natural crossing point of the Rockies. Trailhead Start: Big Sandy Trailhead Neither of the trailheads that I've used to get into the Winds have fishable lakes within a reasonable distance for a day hike, except maybe for someone in really good shape that would consider a poor trail and 5-8 miles each way a day hike. She has had the privilege of working for Colorados most experienced climbing guide service as an Office & Marketing Manager and an Outdoor Climbing Guide. From the east end of Grave Lake, follow the trail that goes west along the north shore. What if you could link nearly every major cirque and basin in the Winds with one non-technical route? Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. The Wind River Range is located in western Wyoming, just south of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. South Pass (elevation 7,412ft (2,259m) and 7,550ft (2,300m)) is the collective term for two mountain passes on the American Continental Divide, in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. Why you should go: Dive deep into the Winds to gain views of its well-known high peaks and crystal alpine lakes. [5]:114,128. 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. Book a Tour. 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. 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. I highly recommend checking trail conditions before committing to a trail. AREA MAPS: Beartooth Publishing North Wind River Range. And also from going south from New Fork Lake past Lee Lake. This would add about. Wind river range Sept 1 - 11 2016 Days 1- 5. After passage of the Pacific Telegraph Act of 1860, South Pass Station was established in 1861, at Last Crossing on the Sweetwater River. After approximately 2 miles, branch off to the right and ascend for 1 mile to Baptiste Lake. Related: 10 of the Best Airbnbs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Be sure to check area regulations prior to setting out, as campfires and campsites are restricted throughout the basin to help protect the wilderness area. All the information is there; there are no gray areas. The Highline Trail begins at the campground and follows most of the length of the Wind River Range, 80 miles to the south. 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 . The trail to the lake, if done in one day, is long and tiring with lots of ups and downs. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. Hidden Lake can be reached by bushwacking 2 miles from Ross Lake. Snow usually doesnt melt until mid-May and returns in October, so its a relatively short hiking season around here. Desolation Lake (Lake 11478 on maps) at the head of the basin is said to be spectacular. From the Pass, follow the Osborne Mountain Route as described by Pallister and Kelsey. It contains 449,000 acres of snow-capped mountain peaks, lush vegetation and clear mountain lakes and streams. You can find her on Instagram at @aka_dmoney. Visit, or enjoy even a single hike in Wind River Country and youll understand why its such a great gift to live here. . Check Out Our Perks and Open Positions, Lets Get Spooky! I will be completing the entire route this summer (August 20-September 9, 2016), and will update this post when complete. The lake can produce some stunning reflections. Why you should go: Discover a hidden treasure while enjoying sweeping views along the Slide Lake Trail. When hiking in a group, you should always stay on the trail to avoid creating erosion. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The Wind River Range extends for more than 100 miles, the crest forming part of the Continental Divide. The Wind River Range is home to thousands of lakes and ponds, with an appealing mix of golden, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Lake, continue around the shore of Upper Silas Lake on a nice trail that winds up and through the forest for another 1.5 miles or so before reaching Island Lake. The Big Sandy Trailhead is the gateway to several popular backpacking trails, so you will pass more hikers here than in other areas. That said, its also extremely important to be aware of your surroundings and to follow bear bag or canister protocols at all backcountry camping destinations. Welcome to /r/wyoming! While the trip offers a number of different arrangements depending on how long you make it, the recommended path includes starting from the Elkhart Park Trailhead, which is located just a two-hour drive from Jackson. 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. Gold mining was revived in nearby Rock Creek in the 1930s. Use caution when going off trail to look for campsites, and, above all, leave nothing behind throughout your journey. Explore the numerous lakes in the area. 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. Robert "Doc" Newell's first child was born at South Pass in June 1835. 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. Your GPS, map, and will update this post when complete plenty of waterfalls for adventurous hikers to.. Located in the 1930s my local trails in Colorado peak in a group, you should go: Dive into. Limitless climbing and hiking in a group, you will Pass more hikers here than in other areas glacier Scott. Fishing destination, so keep your GPS, map, and its worth the extra to! Maintained trail all the information is there ; there are No gray areas Mountain! 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