From the Pole Creek Trail, you will see a trail that diverts and is labeled as Photographers Point. The Wind Rivers humbly hide 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, including Wyomings tallest mountain Gannett Peak. East Fork Valley could be a great side trip. 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. And the shores of Grave Lake (also pictured) have endless scenic camping spots. Outside of the Sierras, Wyoming's Wind River Range is home to the West's best golden trout fishing. The rest of the route is described in Nancy Palister's book, called the Goat-friendly High Route. I feel that this is all the description needed to arrive safely, without spoiling the adventure too much. Trail, USFS - Bridger Teton National Forest Office. Why you should go: Arguably the most popular day hike in the Wind River Range, Photographers Point never fails to impress with its stunningly picturesque scenery. Rain occurs quite frequently here, so youll want to bring your rain jacket even if the sky is cloudless when you leave the parking lot. Smith Lake is a 7 mile blue singletrack trail located near Popo Agie Wilderness Wyoming. My only experience is in the WRIR roadless area, though. For speedier backpackers, Big Sandy Lake is a popular camping spot just under 6 miles from the Big Sandy trailhead. . Grab your next favorite hiking backpack from Gregorys website today! Indeed, the time where one can write a guidebook without ever leaving home is upon us! 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. In fact, my most epic day hike in the Wind River Range was on my birthday one year. 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. 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. If conditions/weather is not safe, day hike into the Titcomb Lakes, and exit to the Green River Lakes via the Highline Trail. 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. The Hay Pass Trail is not maintained, so keep your GPS, map, and compass handy. Marms Lake (near Dads Lake), is on one of the more popular treks in,. Miller Lake Trail (#173) Pole Creek Trail (#119) DISTANCE: +/- 28.5 miles. 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. Also, they don't necessarily share the same parent. If traveling lightly and in peak physical condition, it could be possible to do this route in a little over a week. This we know. wildflowers, Big Sandy Lake, Wind River range, WY. (This turn is 5 miles south/east of where US-191 leaves US-189). In 1884, Emile Granier, a French mining engineer, established a hydraulic mining operation that allowed gold mining to continue. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . Make noise as youre hiking to avoid bear encounters, never hike alone, and bring bear spray or other protection. 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. Brother Benny overlooking Harrower Peak and Indian Basin on our second day in the Wind Rivers. 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. Visit, or enjoy even a single hike in Wind River Country and youll understand why its such a great gift to live here. All Tours Tour Sale. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. This picture is property of http://jessiestrails.blogspot.com, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Adventure Traverse (GREAT), Images I asked Jerry if for my birthday present he would do Wind River Peak in a day with me. When approaching from Temple Pass, avoid descending to Lake 10,839 by a messy traverse." Its recommended for the Cirque of the Towers loop that you bring a map and compass and that you know how to use them. The Sweetwater River flows past the east side of the pass, and Pacific Creek rises on the west side. 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. And even during my couple trips to those areas, it seemed absolutely deserted compared to my local trails in Colorado. This will avoid creating a new social trail that leads hikers astray. If youre planning a Wind River Range backpacking trip at altitude, consider how hard youre trying to push yourself, and make sure you know how to tell if youre dehydrated or suffering from mild altitude sickness. The Cirque of the Towers is one of the most popular destinations in Wyoming's Wind River Range. Upload a photo Fix/Improve This Page Every off-trail route, mountain pass, and glacier traverse along this route is detailed in the fine guidebooks I've had the pleasure of studying. Its a pretty mountain lake that we always seem to have to ourselves. Location. _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. From Hall's Lake, travel west under the shadow of Horseshoe Ridge and north of Medina Mountain to Lake 10,542 (EC Lake) in Europe Canyon. We were on a tight schedule we had to make it back to Lander by 7pm to watch our middle sons baseball championship game. After approximately 2 miles, branch off to the right and ascend for 1 mile to Baptiste Lake. 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. Snow usually doesnt melt until mid-May and returns in October, so its a relatively short hiking season around here. Mileage: 12 miles RT Trip Type: Loop However, I don't think that style of travel is the best fit for this route. [5]:5157, In 1823 William Henry Ashley's Rocky Mountain Fur Company led to the rediscovery of the pass. It contains 40 peaks over 13,000 feet, the largest glacier in the American Rockies, and over 1300 named lakes. It is all off trail, and may have tricky route finding, but is never technical (vast majority is class 2 and below, with a few possible class 3 moves). Ashley sold out to Smith, William Sublette, and David Jackson in 1826, becoming their supplier. Go south up the glacier to the top of Indian Pass. When hiking in a group, you should always stay on the trail to avoid creating erosion. When I was just 3 years old, my parents moved us from Iowa to Lander, Wyoming. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. 1,771 Smith Mountain Lake Premium High Res Photos Browse 1,771 smith mountain lake stock photos and images available, or search for roanoke virginia or blue ridge mountains to find more great stock photos and pictures. Instead, the expedition followed a northerly route up the Missouri River, crossing the Rockies over difficult passes in the Bitterroot Range between present-day Montana and Idaho. 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. " 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? Setting out from the Smith Lake Trailhead, the Dickson Park to Middle Lake Hike crosses a bridge over an . This popular trailhead is located in the southern Wind River Range next to the Big Sandy River. The best route from Baker Lake to Bear Lake is described in Pallister's book, and also Matt Lemke's excellent trip report. South Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails as long as they are on leash. 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. Slide Lake Trail features beautiful views throughout. 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. Hidden Lake can be reached by bushwacking 2 miles from Ross Lake. Continue north past the west side of Lake 11085 and weave your way through the multitude of lakes north and east of Mount Solitude. UPPER SILAS LAKE: Its about 3 miles from the trailhead to Upper Silas Lake, 6 miles roundtrip. Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. Explore the World. According to the approximate route I traced on my phone, the total elevation gain is about 29,000 feet!! Mileage: 29-30 miles RT 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. This would add about. 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. Lander, WY 82520. What if you could link nearly every major cirque and basin in the Winds with one non-technical route? 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. SILAS CANYON (including Lower Silas Lake, Upper Silas Lake, Island Lake, and Thumb Lake), Trailhead: Christina Lake Trailhead, just past Fiddler Lake, when approaching from Lander, WY. I wouldn't bet on it, however. 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. The town of Pinedale is the gateway into many of the Wind River trailheads. From Hay Pass, drop south past the east of Dennis Lake, and past the west shores of Golden Lake, Lake Louise, and finally Upper Golden Lake. No permit is required to use the range and a range attendant will not be present. Weve spent Labor Day weekend here with the kids on a couple of occasions. 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. Continue straight onto the Green River Lakes Road for 18.5 miles. Thats another story. 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. 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 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 . Looks like a cool hike though! For rods, I prefer 3 piece bamboo when backpacking. _Bonneville Basin can be reached by two different ways. Denver's central location makes it easy to get the most out of the Rocky Mountain West. I will be completing the entire route this summer (August 20-September 9, 2016), and will update this post when complete. The Rainbow Lake Trail begins at Dream Lake, which is right along the Continental Divide Trail. The trail then follows a loop around the lake before returning back to the original junction. Jerry, my husband of almost 24 years, and I have goneon many hiking dates, and have done some Epic day hikes together in Wind River Country. It follows the crest of the Wind River Range in Wyoming, both off-trail and on-trail, for approximately 135 miles, giving special emphasis on staying close to the Continental Divide in the most scenic alpine areas. I highly recommend checking trail conditions before committing to a 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. Weve caught a lot of brook trout here, nothing big, but the catching is pretty good in our experience. The Wind River Range is one of America's most spectacular wilderness ranges. The terrain and elevation of the Wind River Range make backpacking here a challenge, albeit a worthwhile one. 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. You can find directions easily from guidebooks. 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. Books and maps can be purchased here. 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