I saw maybe five people on my way to the Cirque from the Big Sandy Lake (Big Sandy Trailhead to Big Sandy Lake is a different story). 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. 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 Explore the numerous lakes in the area. It would be 8.5 miles one-way to Bald Mountain Basin and Cook Lakes from Lake 10322 near Hay Pass, and to get back to the WRRT, you would travel over Timico Pass (north of Timico Lake) instead of backtracking to Hay Pass. Drainages are intricate and minor obstacles abound, but by paying attention and consulting a map you can get where you're going without difficulty." I asked Jerry if for my birthday present he would do Wind River Peak in a day with me. 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. And they weigh 600 to 1,300 pounds, so if they hit you, it'd be like . Just continue north to shallow and picturesque Hay Pass. Sprawled in the shadow of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is the type of city that boasts the best of all worlds. Hidden Lake can be reached by bushwacking 2 miles from Ross Lake. As a natural crossing point of the Rockies its pioneering was a significant but surprisingly difficult achievement in the westward expansion of the United States. 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). The Wind River High Route was pioneered by Andrew Skurka and Buzz Burrell in the late 2000s. Wagon ruts are still clearly visible at numerous sites within a few miles of the highway.[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. Clarkston, WA. Located in the southern section of the Wind River Range (or "Winds" for short), the cirque is a very popular destination for technical rock climbers. From Windy Lake Basin, make your way east to the top of the plateau, as described in Nancy Palister's book "Beyond Trails." These wild lands west of the divide and north of Gannet Peak (collectively known as Bear Basin) is easily the most magnificent trail-less section of the Wind Rivers. The range is also home to some of North America's largest glaciers. Do this route early morning to avoid afternoon storms. Free Trail Guides. Island Lake is beautiful! If you're looking for day-hikes out of GRL, try Slide or even Valaite . sunset, Big Sandy Lake, Wind River range, WY. Nothing against Iowa, but I consider this one of the greatest gifts my parents have given me. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell's. Continue north to the head of Tourist Creek, and ascend northeast above lake 10890 all the way to the divide near Point 12450. That's the question that this project tries to solve, and I think I've succeeded. Our three sons, from very young ages, have enjoyed this hike with us. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. We ended up at Boulder Lake Campground through another gift of serendipity. Continue west until you get to the drainage of the Knife Point Glacier, your next destination. Note that on AllTrails, you can hike this as an out-and-back trail by following the Lower Green River Lake Trail. This is rated as class 2-3 by Pallister. 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. You'll end up a mile down the road from the parking area for the Bears Ears Trail. View Wind River Range Traverse Image Gallery - 1 Images. From here, there is a maintained trail all the way to Big Sandy Lake. Island Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming, 1861. Ashley subsequently established the first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous in 1825. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . Cabin Rentals Areas. Shooters must supply their own target holders, which must meet the approval of the shooting range attendant. Why, you ask? My alternative to using pro would be to drive back out to cell service. The ancient mountain range boasts the most extensive glacial network in the lower 48 states, featuring 130 glaciers and 1,300 pristine alpine lakes filled with trout. This article is about my favorite day hikes, not my favorite epic day hikes. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. Pinedale, Wyoming 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. Use caution when going off trail to look for campsites, and, above all, leave nothing behind throughout your journey. The placer gold in the streams was exhausted quickly, however, and by 1870 the miners began leaving the region. As you make your way under the gigantic shadow of Warbonnet Peak, there are many ups and downs and rocky sections to shift your gaze to your feet. About 500 of them are named, and most of them are fishable. If you are flying in, we recommend the Riverton, Casper, Rock Springs, and Jackson airports. It was spectacular. 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. It is unfortunately missed by most traverses of the range. This section was inspired by Matt Lemke's trip report "Gone with the Winds." 18.4 mi / 2280 ft gain The Wind River Range is one of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the lower 48. The gold rush led to the establishment of booming mining communities, such as South Pass City and Atlantic City. Almost to the top of the tall mountain, Jerry remarked he wished I would have asked for expensive jewelry instead. Slide Lake Trail features beautiful views throughout. To Roaring Fork Pass: 4.5 miles/9 miles round-trip. Turn right on the road and walk back to your car. Bear Lakes, although a short detour, look absolutely gorgeous. Depending on where you decide to camp, there may or may not be trees large enough to create bear hangs, so bear canisters may be the most sensible option. We always see fish and big fish at that but were seldom able to trick them into biting our line. 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. No matter what you call it, this trail is undeniably beautiful. It goes west across the expansive plateau of Osborne Mountain, then follows Mill Creek to the Osborne Cabin, on old homestead of a famous trapper. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park 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. Why you should go: Explore one of the Winds most popular trails to reach Big Sandy Lake. The Jean Lakes are a long day hike from Titcomb Basin via the Highline Trail. The Wind River Range extends for more than 100 miles, the crest forming part of the Continental Divide. You can find directions easily from guidebooks. We released them all, but it was quite a day. With alpine lakes above the timberline surrounded by nothing but dramatic mountain peaks, I dont know of another day hike that even comes close to New Fork Trail. Outside of the Sierras, Wyoming's Wind River Range is home to the West's best golden trout fishing. You would be better off trying your hand at the shorter and more direct WRHR, pioneered by AdventureAlan (link at the bottom). _The Peak Lake Area. While hiking here, its imperative to follow Leave No Trace principles to create a minimal impact on this wild terrain. 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. The Hay Pass Trail is not maintained, so keep your GPS, map, and compass handy. They were accompanied by the naturalist John Kirk Townsend, who documented this first use of the Oregon-California Trail, avoiding the Lander Cutoff used by the fur traders. #WindRiverCountry, Wind River Visitors Council The Wind River Range is located in western Wyoming, just south of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. If you find yourself off-trail with a group, everyone should spread out while walking. What if you could link nearly every major cirque and basin in the Winds with one non-technical route? The impact to your legs make this feel like 6 miles instead of 3, but the views more than make up for the effort. Trip Type: Out-and-back Among the best ways to explore the Wind River Range is to travel one of the spectacular trails through the region. Big Sandy - High use 11. Upper Silas Lake is set beautifully amidst pine forest and a granite mountain. Shelli Johnson, owner of Epic Life, is an entrepreneur, life and leadership coach, leadership development facilitator, keynote presenter, writer, adventurer and guide. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or After nearly 6 miles, turn right onto WY-352 for 25.3 miles. Prior to this, few if any visitors had ventured into the cirque due to the remote location. The district maintains 300 miles of system trails, 25 . Once on the trail, consider spending the first night at Hobbs Lake or Seneca Lake and progressing on to Island Lake for the second. One way to or from Lander Bruce's/Middle Fork $35 According to Pallister, the safest way down is on the Glacier, instead of traversing the surrounding cliffs. From Camp Lake, head northeast above Half-Fish Lake (Lake 9675) and continue above treeline up the slopes around 11,600 feet. Smith Lake Lake Popular Destinations in Wyoming Cheyenne Casper Laramie Gillette The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. September is when temperatures begin to drop low enough to get rid of the little buggers. It lies in a broad high region, 35 miles (56 km) wide, between the nearly 14,000 ft (4,300 m) Wind River Range to the north and the over 8,500 ft (2,600 m) Oregon Buttes [3] and arid, saline near-impassible Great Divide Basin to the south. 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. If you only have time for a single day hike through the Wind River Range, follow the Pole Creek Trail to Photographers Point. Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. [5]:244248,261 The terrain and elevation of the Wind River Range make backpacking here a challenge, albeit a worthwhile one. The first mile is a nice forested trail with some small ups and downs before reaching a trail junction, where you can head left toward Christina Lake, or head right toward Upper Silas, Island and Thumb lakes. In AdventureAlan's trip report of his long-distance Wind River Trip (linked below), he advises not to camp at the upper part of the basin containing Long Lake (the particular lake is Lake 10,555) due to poor campsites and unpleasant-tasting water. The Wind River Range is home to over 1,500 immaculate alpine lakes. 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. Related: 10 of the Best Airbnbs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A river, that appears to drop into an unseen . From Grave Lake by taking the Hailey Pass trail west to Pyramid Lake, then off-trail north up the East Fork Valley. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The Wind River Roadless Area also lies within the Wind River Range. Call State Park Amenities Amenities at Lake Smith include: Boat Access Fishing Jetty Accessible Pier Picnic Area Beach Trails Accessible Facilities This will avoid creating a new social trail that leads hikers astray. 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. However, I don't think that style of travel is the best fit for this route. 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. 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. 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. However, it was not until 1867, when an ore sample was transported to Salt Lake City, that an influx of miners descended into the region. Mosquitoes are treacherous here in the Winds during the warmer months. Great news: Dads Lake is a dog-friendly trail, just be sure to bring a leash along. From Upper Silas. Snow sticks around here pretty late, and the lake can be icy until then, too, so be sure to check trail conditions before heading out to avoid a snowy surprise. Matthew Dickerson July 18-25. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Few places in North America are as staggeringly beautiful as Titcomb Basin and Island Lake. Two years ago we came back and hiked to the Cirque of the Towers, so this year I thought it . UPPER SILAS LAKE: Its about 3 miles from the trailhead to Upper Silas Lake, 6 miles roundtrip. Why is this hike so popular? While the Wind River Range receives barely half the traffic that its more popular counterparts do (think the Sierra Nevadas or the Rockies), the Cirque of the Towers loop remains one of the most popular trails in the region, both for short backpacking trips and dedicated climbers who set up base camps below the towering Cirque spires. 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. says Kelsey. One of these lakes goes by the alias "Flying Monkey Lake" (not on maps), and is the home of the largest Golden Trout in the world. Trail, USFS - Bridger Teton National Forest Office. (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. The region is considered to be one of the prime fishing destinations in the lower 48. Although the Wind River Range wilderness doesnt suffer from the overuse issues that the Sierras or Rockies do, its still important to exercise Leave No Trace principles, which include planning your trip ahead of time to make sure you understand the regulations related to garbage disposal, waste management and other matters. 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. All of which means that Wind River Range backpacking is a must-do for anyone serious about getting outside. Its the ideal pack for a high-altitude trek through the Wind River Range. From the Pass, follow the Osborne Mountain Route as described by Pallister and Kelsey. For the last five years the mythical Wind Rivers have eluded my presence. Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. Cirque of the Towers, Green River Lakes . Gold had been discovered in the gulches near the pass as early as 1842. The pass south of Lee Lake is said to be difficult talus. I wouldn't advise camping in the Cirque (according to guidebooks). 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. From Cheyenne to Jackson, Evanston to Casper to Gillette and everywhere in between. Generally speaking, backpacking here is best done in the late summer or early fall, when temperatures are warmer and the better portion of the snow has melted from the high altitude terrain. Books and maps can be purchased here. Prepare for your next adventure by downloading maps. Follow the plateau northwest all the way to Lake 10528 in Stough Creek Basin. 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