Island Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming, 1861. _The Peak Lake Area. _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. 97. Use caution when going off trail to look for campsites, and, above all, leave nothing behind throughout your journey. The Wind River Range is one of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the lower 48. 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. " 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? Wildlife is abundant here, and that includes grizzly bears. South Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. My name is Shelli Johnson, and I love to hike. by Daniell LaFleur From here the trail ascends 400 feet and then drops down into Dickenson Park. To create a loop, youll just want to follow the Lakeside Trail back to the trailhead. Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. 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 rounding Cathedral Peak, this trail joins the Bear's Ears Trail, just before the latter's descent [west 1.5 miles] to Valentine Lake." Abiqua Falls is a hidden treasure within the forested trenches of the western Cascades. Scab Creek - Medium use 10. 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. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. 13 Halloween Camping Activities, The Checklist Every First Time RVer Needs, Everything You Need To Know About Wifi For Your RV, 14 Wilderness Survival Tools You Should Have in The Backcountry, How Marfa Became the Art and Glamping Capital of Texas, 30+ Tips on Camping with Kids, From Parents Who Have Been There. Because the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 was searching for a water route across the Continental Divide it did not learn of South Pass from local peoples. Hike through forest and up the rolling trail for about another mile before arriving at Upper Silas Lake. Drop down from the pass and round the south shore of Bewmark Lake, and descend the west slopes from the lake, while staying well above the north shore of Middle Fork Lake. 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. Continue west until you get to the drainage of the Knife Point Glacier, your next destination. (1), Southwest Arete Lost Temple Spire, IV, 5.10b. The trail leads around the north side of the lake and continues up to Deep Lake about 1.5 miles up the trail. _Bonneville Basin can be reached by two different ways. Slide Lake Trail is a wonderful, well-maintained trail thats the perfect addition to any adventure itinerary. But what does that really mean? The gold rush led to the establishment of booming mining communities, such as South Pass City and Atlantic City. In 1841, Fitzpatrick led the Bartleson-Bidwell Party across the pass, the first wagon train. The Wind River Range of Wyoming is a place that nearly every backcountry enthusiast dreams of visiting. Gold had been discovered in the gulches near the pass as early as 1842. Brother Benny overlooking Harrower Peak and Indian Basin on our second day in the Wind Rivers. When I was just 3 years old, my parents moved us from Iowa to Lander, Wyoming. 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. I'm sure someone over here is familiar with Wind River Range hikes and could point me in the right direction. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or 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. Clear Lake is a great spot to watch sunrise and sunset, particularly if the winds are calm. While hiking here, its imperative to follow Leave No Trace principles to create a minimal impact on this wild terrain. From the Elkhart trailhead parking lot, take the Pole Creek Trail directly adjacent to . As a family, we spend most weekends in the summer and fall hiking the local trails. And also from going south from New Fork Lake past Lee Lake. 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. Above treeline no trail has been worn, but you can follow cairns across the windswept plateau. From here, there is a maintained trail all the way to Big Sandy Lake. Dont let the length of the Big Sandy Lake Trail deter you! 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. [5]:7982, In 1834, Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth led the first Methodist missionaries Jason Lee, Daniel Lee, and Cyrus Shepard across the pass. 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. [2][9], Wyoming Highway 28 traverses the modern pass, roughly following the route of the Oregon Trail. Considering taking on of the Wind River classics? Heres what to know before you get out on the trail: 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. This section was inspired by Matt Lemke's trip report "Gone with the Winds." Both areas, located just west of the Continental Divide, are rich in outstanding scenery and recreation opportunities. Only the off-trail option is doable as a day hike (shown on a map in Pallister's book). The trail begins at the Big Sandy Campground and offers a wide, well-marked walking path up to the lake. The Big Sandy Trailhead is located in the southern Wind River Range next to the Big Sandy River. UPPER SILAS LAKE: Its about 3 miles from the trailhead to Upper Silas Lake, 6 miles roundtrip. For speedier backpackers, Big Sandy Lake is a popular camping spot just under 6 miles from the Big Sandy trailhead. Follow the top of the divide north for approximately 1.5 miles, then drop down west to the north shore of Baker Lake. The 2022 Glampys: The Coolest Glampsites You Can Book Right Now, The Dyrt Is Hiring! 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. Why you should go: Explore one of the Winds most popular trails to reach Big Sandy Lake. We always see fish and big fish at that but were seldom able to trick them into biting our line. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Stay right at the junction and continue. Desolation Lake (Lake 11478 on maps) at the head of the basin is said to be spectacular. 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. 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. Why is this hike so popular? Joe Kelsey describes the first 5.5 miles of this trail as the Lizard Head Trail as follows: "Lizard Head Meadows are an opening along the North Popo Agie 2 miles below Lonesome Lake. From Middle Fork Lake, it is approximately 2 trailless miles to Hall's Lake. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Continue northwest up the basin towards Lake 10,756, which is directly south of Hay Pass. The best route from Baker Lake to Bear Lake is described in Pallister's book, and also Matt Lemke's excellent trip report. 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. Trip Type: Out-and-back From Temple Pass, descend to the east shore of Temple Lake. All are spread over three wilderness areas. I wouldn't advise camping in the Cirque (according to guidebooks). . We've spent the last week exploring the Wind River Range around Pinedale, WY. Our three sons, from very young ages, have enjoyed this hike with us. 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. The archery range on Berlin Lake Wildlife Area is open sunrise-sunset, except during holidays, and is free-of-charge. Call 307.438.970 or Email windrivershuttle@gmail.com to Book For point-to-point trips, we recommend we meet you at your take-out point and we shuttle you to your start location. 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. From the cabin, simply follow trails for less than a mile, crossing west over the Green River bridge, to the Green River Lakes TH. His favorite place he's ever visited is Alaska, and his favorite activity might be fishing or reading, depending on the day. Climber Orrin Bonney gave the area its current name in 1941 after his survey of the cirque. "The ridge is most easily gained 0.5 miles from the summit; two couloirs nearer the summit are corniced early in summer and later filled with ice and loose rock. From Lake 10,542, travel northwest through the rugged valley containing Long Lake (Lake 10,683). After nearly 6 miles, turn right onto WY-352 for 25.3 miles. Between the five of us we caught about 18 trout in an hour. 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. . . 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. 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). Stay straight on the Smith Lake Trail and contour around Dishpan Butte. The Wind River Range Traverse (WRRT) is the finest non-technical alpine backpacking route in the lower 48 states. 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. 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). 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 Bruce's Bridge at the end of Sinks Canyon, and takes us all the way to Wind River Peak. Slide Lake Trail features beautiful views throughout. And even during my couple trips to those areas, it seemed absolutely deserted compared to my local trails in Colorado. 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. If conditions/weather is not safe, day hike into the Titcomb Lakes, and exit to the Green River Lakes via the Highline Trail. 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