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. We spied a bunch of old folks across the lake lounging in hammocks which made us both very happy! I waited until after dark to get naked and bathe, since theyd have eaten my bare butt alive prior to nightfall. 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. My family tend to go in over July 4th about every 3 to 4 yrs. Remember to Leave No Trace, come prepared, and have fun! The Deep Lake Cirque from Deep Lake, Wind River Range. Anyway, it was a pretty nice night. We followed the trail past Cook Lake, but it wasnt pretty and I didnt get pictures of the lake itself. After approximately 2 miles, branch off to the right and ascend for 1 mile to Baptiste Lake. 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. Why you should go: Work your way up through thick forest to gain views of the entire Wind River Range. Now lets get wild. Speaking of miserable, how about that creek crossing? Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. says Kelsey. Trip Type: Out-and-back The lead rider stopped to talk with us, and as we were chatting, her rear mule lost its mind, snapping off from the train and pulling the rope off of itself. Follow the trail around the large base of Roaring Fork Mountain to arrive at Tayo Park. Titcomb Basin, along with the Cirque of the Towers area, may be the only sections where you will see more than a small handful of people. 4. The incline is gradual the whole way, and the way back to the trailhead is a smooth descent as well. This time of year they were impressive, and we considered camping towards the waterfalls, but there seemed to be nothing but steep hillsides there. 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. Its a short drive from Pinedale to the Big Sandy Trailhead, so you can spend more time on the trail and less in the car. Trip Type: Out-and-back Very few people fished the cookno namemeridian arm. We got water from it because it was still so dang hot, and then continued on, which was sadly another bump in elevation that we then lost right afterward. Due to the low use of this area, a permit is not required to wilderness camp here. The drive up to Dickinson Park is long but very pretty, with bald, scalloped hills giving way to high forests. Being in the wild is dope, and so is keeping it clean for future generations. From Temple Pass, descend to the east shore of Temple Lake. Sheridan Region fisheries personnel recently sampled Long, Ringbone, Romeo, Martin, Willow #1, Willow #3, and Lame Deer lakes in the upper Clear Creek drainage of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. 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. Unless any of you are crazy enough to try it with me! Anyway, dont let the beautiful valley ahead trick you. Go instead a couple of miles farther to Lizard Head Meadows or a short ways up the Bear's Ears Trail (described in the next section). After the first 4.5 miles on Pole Creek Trail, you will pass a marker called Photographers Point. We soon found that we were indeed on the trailwhich had been hidden by snow. The trail continues to Cook Lake, but we werent on it and didnt try to find it, instead heading toward a small granite knob that we could see. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. This requires using Dickinson Park out of Lander, which itself requires crossing reservation land. We crossed it and got our first view of Smith Lake at 5.4 miles. Glen Aulin: This easy, 11-mile round-trip trail features numerous waterfalls and breathtaking vistas as it follows the Tuolumne River. Date of Visit: 11-13 July Notable Features: Dickinson Park, Dishpan Butte, Smith Lake, Cloverleaf Lake, Mendarrin Lake, Cook Lake, Middle Lake, Cathedral Lake, Cathedral Peak, Smith Lake Creek, Twin Parks Creek Total Miles: ~18 miles Elevation Gain/Loss: +/-3175 Elevation Min, Avg, Max: 9294, 9747, 10,613 General Route: ON TRAIL: Dickinson Park Trailhead/Smith Lake Trailhead Smith Lake . Drainages are intricate and minor obstacles abound, but by paying attention and consulting a map you can get where you're going without difficulty." The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is LANDER AP which is approximately 21 miles away and has an elevation of 5,557 feet (4,397 feet lower than Cathedral Lake). You would be better off trying your hand at the shorter and more direct WRHR, pioneered by AdventureAlan (link at the bottom). 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. Travel here is high compared to other, harder to reach, trailheads of the Winds. 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. With 77 mountain peaks at more than 12,000 feet above sea level, it's not just the views that'll leave you breathless in Colorados most-visited national park. Theres no better way to experience the natural beauty of the state than to stay in one of Montanas yurts. Dang it! As we set up camp and got firewood, the sunset was awesome, though I didnt manage to get many very nice photos. NPS Photo/J. I need to spend more time on the Eastern side of the Winds, but wont be able to for some time as my daughter is still too young for the mileage required in my limited time off, at least with the drive from my home. Mileage: 12 miles RT Related objects are relevant to each other in some way, but they don't form a parent/child relationship. Wyomings Section 13 of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a dream walk through the Wind River Range. Why you should go: Take the trail less traveled through the Roaring Fork Basin to reach some of the most isolated alpine lakes in the Wind River Range. That lasted for about 400 feet, and we were then forced back into the woods nearing the area between the lakes. 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. We then went along a mostly-flat section that meanders through boulders and trees and was, in my words, so ugly I could stab my eyes out. The view from the top is off, as youll see Sanford Park, and it looks like you should be going there. Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet over 8.5 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft). The Wind River Range offers world renowned fly fishing, and the areas 1,300 alpine lakes means any trail should offer multiple opportunities to cast your line. The lower elevation of Dads Lake comes with a longer hiking season. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. How is the road into Dickinson Park. With 130 glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes, and 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, it's no wonder the Winds have made their place on thousands of backpacker's bucket lists. True happiness in the Cirque of the Towers. Take in stunning panoramic views as you hike or ride right from your doorstep in the area considered the Shangri-La of the Similkameen. About a mile from Photographers Point, you will reach Eklund Lake. In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell's. This was our hardest day, though also the shortest. You can buy yours online from them at this page so that you dont have to waste time when you get into townshow up and pick up. ), Rockhounding Locations in WY, MT; UT. (1), Comments I still havent had this one proofread (slowly getting around to them all). Ive got to return, because the size of the trout was just flooring. Trip Type: Out-and-back Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet over 6 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft) Located on the way up to the Cirque of the Towers, Dad's Lake is a pristine alpine setting that offers even the least experienced backpackers the chance to test their trail legs. Ive done this same hike on several occasions but its been over 20 years now. 104 South 4th Street. The trailhead itself has only very primitive parking (picture at end) and no other features. Although the Cathedral above the lake isnt actually Cathedral Peak (which is farther back and almost 1000-feet higher), it was a stunning bit of geology. Thanks Luke. The bridge across the swamp was not thereyou had to hike all the way around the north side. 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. Print/PDF map. The Big Sandy to North Fork Lake section hike is typically done point-to-point with help from others to shuttle or by thru-hikers of the CDT. Head out on this 9.1-mile out-and-back trail near Moose, Wyoming. Thanks again. It was ugly and filled with dead trees. 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." Dan, thank you. USGS Lizard Head Peak. Day 3 totals: 7 miles, +817/-1427, 9294 min/9636 avg/9985 max. This is the only small section of the WRRT where these tools may be required. Cathedral Group Turnout is a viewpoint on Jenny Lake Road. Only one section of road was sketchy, and even that wasnt too badjust some severe ruts from mud. Wed left Lander around 2PM (my house was very far away) and got to the trailhead at 4PM. And the shores of Grave Lake (also pictured) have endless scenic camping spots. Even on this popular trail, finding solitude among the peaks is easy. The trees were the sort that have annoying branches that stab and rib at you, and post-holing crotch deep did little to improve either of our moods. Updated July 26, 2022. An extra day is advised to explore the multitude of lakes around the Brown Cliffs here. Your comment made my day! Dogs are allowed on National Forest land trails as long as they are on leash. By Colorado standards, to think that this trail is the one of the most heavily-used in the entire range is. I have crafted this route to be the boldest and most challenging trek ever proposed in the Wind Rivers. Elevation Gain: 3,100 feet over 10.5 miles (9,400 ft to 10,626 ft). Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. They tended to Stay on the middlecathedral arm. Makes me happy! In fact, really, all of the lakes here were decent, with Cook and Middle being the least pretty, Id say. From Tarns Camp to the peak of Gannett, you will be climbing for three miles. (3034mt.) Something with a bit of a loop in it would be way nice. This entire section of the CDT does not drop below 9,115 feet above sea level, so youll enjoy epic views from start to finish. I would love to return to this lake at a later time, because its truly quite gorgeous, though Cloverleaf was nothing to sneeze at, either! Only the off-trail option is doable as a day hike (shown on a map in Pallister's book). _The Smith Creek Lakes and Cathedral Lake are accessed by either traveling directly east off-trail to Mendarrin Lake from the Lizard Head trail, or by wrapping east and north around the Lizard Head Plateau on trails from the Cirque of the Towers. 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. The Teton Range towers over the valley of Jackson Hole, providing dramatic alpine scenery and drawing millions of visitors to Grand Teton National Park each year. Grab your next favorite hiking backpack from Gregorys website today! Located on the Arizona shoreline of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City is a destination for boaters, water sport enthusiasts, hikers, nature lovers, car enthusiasts and history buffs. 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. It traverses northwest while staying high on the mountaintops. As you hike out from Faler Lake, theres a steep section to get back down to the Roaring Fork Basin, but then its all downhill from there! The land was donated by Maud Noble, owner of nearby Menor's Ferry, predating the establishment of Grand Teton National Park in 1929 and its expansion into the Moose area in 1950. A steady incline lies ahead of you until you reach Faler Lake. This hike visits numerous lakes in a short number of miles. Grizzlies are active throughout the range. Just continue north to shallow and picturesque Hay Pass. A map and compass are necessary while on this trail since route-finding can be difficult over rocks and snow. Some of them are minor, leaving the majority of you fairly dry, but a couple of them are not. From Baptiste Lake, head due east for approximately 1.5 miles, then north to the upper Grave Creek Cirque. A spree to Shoshone National Forest when you're here at Cathedral Lake is a wonderful idea, and close by you discover the Bears Ears Trail which is a perfect hiking trail. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. Reachable by Pinedale, Roaring Fork Trail offers thick forest scenery and shelter to backpackers. Your next campsite will be just under Dinwoody Glacier, at Tarns Camp. Highway 1; Highway 101; Highway 270; Highway 70; . We started off in a bald section and went uphill into a very arid, dusty forest; the uphill climb lasted for a mile and only went up 372 feet, but the day was hot, so we both felt it. Also, they don't necessarily share the same parent. Ive always wished that I were good at art, but alas, Ive never had the talent, nor have I been able to pick it up when Ive tried. My mom has hiked along the mountain itself with our engineering friends, Hank and Peggy, but Ive never had the chance. While beautiful, this continues for quite a while and often makes hikers feel like theyre moving backwards. A scenic drive is a great way to cover some ground and see the jaw-dropping scenery of Colorful Colorado. 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