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. About 500 of them are named, and most of them are fishable. Follow the top of the divide north for approximately 1.5 miles, then drop down west to the north shore of Baker Lake. The Wind River Range is home to thousands of lakes and ponds, with an appealing mix of golden, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. We've spent the last week exploring the Wind River Range around Pinedale, WY. This we know. . Labeled Pinedales most popular day hike, this hike is a guaranteed winner if you can handle the distance. The rest of the route is described in Nancy Palister's book, called the Goat-friendly High Route. This is one big lake but it seemed like a challenging place to find a campsite due to the steep, rocky shoreline. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails as long as they are on leash. Half Moon Lake - Low use 7. Wind Rivers. Its conveniently situated right in the middle of the range, providing ample opportunities to stock up on food, water, and supplies in this beautiful part of the country. 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. 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. 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. See more of his great photography at Best.ChuckSutherland.Com, Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Big Sandy - High use 11. South Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Beefcake!" Trip Type: Out-and-back Day 1: Sweetwater Gap Guardstation to Windy Lake, 7 miles, Day 5: Grave Lake, 12 miles (all on-trail), Day 6: Visit Babtiste Lake, camp at upper Grave cirque, 7 miles, Day 7: Sonnicant Lake via Roberts Mountain route, 6 miles, Day 10: Explore lakes south of Brown Cliffs, camp at one of them, 6 miles, Day 11: "Shangri-La" via the "Goat-Friendly High Route," 7 miles, Day 12: Day hike to "Glacier View" and down to the North Fork Bull Lake Creek, 6 miles, Day 13: From "Shangri-La" to Upper Titcomb Basin (over Indian Pass), 9 miles, Day 14: Scott Lake (CRUX OF ROUTE), 9 miles, Day 18: Out via Osbourne Mountain Route, 9 miles, + 2 days for weather-related "stay-put" days. Mileage: 17 miles RT Island Lake Backpack in the Wind River Range, Wyoming - This very popular backpack leads to Island Lake (10,346-ft.), a stunning destination with great day hiking, good fishing and scenic campsites. But what does that really mean? From the east end of Grave Lake, follow the trail that goes west along the north shore. "Follow your dreams, You can reach your goals, I'm living proof! 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. 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. Setting out from the Smith Lake Trailhead, the Dickson Park to Middle Lake Hike crosses a bridge over an . Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 27 min to complete. We ended up at Boulder Lake Campground through another gift of serendipity. 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. The region is considered to be one of the prime fishing destinations in the lower 48. For the last five years the mythical Wind Rivers have eluded my presence. Island Lake is beautiful! If conditions/weather is not safe, day hike into the Titcomb Lakes, and exit to the Green River Lakes via the Highline Trail. Make noise as youre hiking to avoid bear encounters, never hike alone, and bring bear spray or other protection. Stay straight on the Smith Lake Trail and contour around Dishpan Butte. Sprawled in the shadow of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is the type of city that boasts the best of all worlds. Ashley sold out to Smith, William Sublette, and David Jackson in 1826, becoming their supplier. By 1848, 18,487 Americans had crossed the pass, and over 300,000 by 1860. Matthew Dickerson July 18-25. #WindRiverCountry, Wind River Visitors Council The lake can produce some stunning reflections. To create a loop, youll just want to follow the Lakeside Trail back to the trailhead. With little elevation change compared to most hikes in the Wind River Range, the Dickson Park to Middle Lake Hike is a perfect intermediate adventure. In 3-pc 4wts, there are 7.5 and 8 footers. When hiking in a group, you should always stay on the trail to avoid creating erosion. Head out on this 24.9-mile out-and-back trail near Pinedale, Wyoming. Pick up all dog waste as well as any human trash. 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. And even during my couple trips to those areas, it seemed absolutely deserted compared to my local trails in Colorado. Odesa Ukraine I asked Jerry if for my birthday present he would do Wind River Peak in a day with me. East Fork Valley could be a great side trip. 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. The Lander Cutoff Route crosses the Continental Divide at the far northwest end of the broad South Pass region, about 25 miles (40km) to the northwest of the South Passes, at an elevation of 8,030 feet (2,450m). Grand River and Spring Valley . No matter what you call it, this trail is undeniably beautiful. My only experience is in the WRIR roadless area, though. I feel that this is all the description needed to arrive safely, without spoiling the adventure too much. Overall, pack more water than you think youll need, and take frequent breaks to prevent exhaustion and advanced altitude sickness. We started at the St Lawerence ranger station and made our way to Twin Lakes for the first night. 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. 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. Only Island Lake and Titcomb Basin come close in popularity. The Cirque of the Towers is one of the most popular destinations in Wyoming's Wind River Range. The 2022 Glampys: The Coolest Glampsites You Can Book Right Now, The Dyrt Is Hiring! You can learn more about our editorial policies, 10 of the Best Airbnbs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 11 Amazing Wyoming Cabin Rentals To Warm Your Soul, The 11 Best Airbnbs Near Grand Teton National Park, 12 Best Airbnbs in Wyoming for a Taste of the American West, 10 Free Things to Do in Colorado Springs, CO, The 15 Best Hikes Near Seattle, Washington, 7 Must-See Day Trips From Denver, Colorado, 9 Best Airbnbs & Vacation Rentals in Missoula, Montana, Black Tree Resort: Colorado Camping At Its Finest. (It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Lander, WY, up the switchbacks and to the Christina Lake Trailhead.). Cirque of the Towers Wind River Range #78372 Purchase. Weve caught a lot of brook trout here, nothing big, but the catching is pretty good in our experience. Clear Lake is a great spot to watch sunrise and sunset, particularly if the winds are calm. Though its neighbor, Colorado, takes up most of the outdoor attention in the central western United States, the Wind River Range offers a fair share of notable outdoor attractions in its own right. I'm kind of a Granger fan so the thought of taking 2 of those is something I look forward to. Temple Peak, the second-highest peak in the southern Wind River Range, is a class 3 scramble from the South Ridge route. From the northwest corner of Scott Lake, ascend northwest to "Smirnoff Pass" (unofficial name of the pass between Scott Lake and Lake 11085 to the north). Utah may be a giant desert, but it's still got plenty of waterfalls for adventurous hikers to chase. And fishing. 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. Judging from a recent picture, it may go, but only in late summer. _The Peak Lake Area. Interested in Wind River Range backpacking but not going the distance in the Titcomb Basin? The large amount of elevation gain is absolutely worth the trek. 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. " 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 They were trying to avoid Crow warriors further north, on their return to St. Louis, Missouri from Astoria, Oregon. Groups must stay under 15 people. The range is also home to some of North America's largest glaciers. In fact, 19 of Wyoming's 20 highest peaks are in the Wind River Range and there are more than 40-named peaks rising above 13,000 feet. The terrain and elevation of the Wind River Range make backpacking here a challenge, albeit a worthwhile one. In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell's. Denver's central location makes it easy to get the most out of the Rocky Mountain West. "[5]:112124, Stephen W. Kearny led the first military expedition to South Pass in 1845. 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. The Wind Rivers humbly hide 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, including Wyoming's tallest mountain Gannett Peak. I think most people pass right by this lake, enroute to Upper Silas Lake. 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. Best reached from Pinedale, this trail goes by a few names. You'll end up a mile down the road from the parking area for the Bears Ears Trail. Trailhead Start: Big Sandy Trailhead [2][9], Wyoming Highway 28 traverses the modern pass, roughly following the route of the Oregon Trail. Given its location and proximity to the Big Sandy Campground, day traffic here can be heavy; however, once you arrive at the lake, campsites abound in and around the lake area, and theres usually a place to find some solitude. Another mile or mile and a half up the trail, you see a cairn and hear Silas Creek to your right. There's a possible high camp (pictured) on the Lizard Head Plateau overlooking the Cirque. Trip Type: Out-and-back This will avoid creating a new social trail that leads hikers astray. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . 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. September is when temperatures begin to drop low enough to get rid of the little buggers. Turn right on the road and walk back to your car. When approaching from Temple Pass, avoid descending to Lake 10,839 by a messy traverse." sunset, Big Sandy Lake, Wind River range, WY. The area between the lakes is blessed with many fine . It is the best kind of trailless terrain, for you are above treelike, can locate topographic features, and get a sense of solitude in country you are probably visiting for solitude. After rounding Cathedral Peak, this trail joins the Bear's Ears Trail, just before the latter's descent [west 1.5 miles] to Valentine Lake." 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. Everest!! 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. One way to or from Lander Bruce's/Middle Fork $35 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. He wrote, "it may be assumed to be about half-way between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean, on the common traveling routethe emigrant road to Oregon. 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. However, for the most scenic, most direct and aesthetic route, walk on trail down Indian Basin and to Upper Titcomb Basin. They thrive in cold water and are typically only . For more information please visit The State of Wyoming's website. From Little Sandy Creek, You then continue to Temple Pass. 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. 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 The trail begins at the Big Sandy Campground and offers a wide, well-marked walking path up to the lake. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. Its worth sharing the trail with more hikers, though, as the dramatic peaks surrounding the Big Sandy Lake Trail will not disappoint! However, I don't think that style of travel is the best fit for this route. 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