smith lake wind river range

The gold rush led to the establishment of booming mining communities, such as South Pass City and Atlantic City. Clear Lake is a great spot to watch sunrise and sunset, particularly if the winds are calm. 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. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. 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. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander . Directions from Pinedale: From the intersection of Pine Street (US 191) and . Earthwalk Press North Wind River Range. 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. Book a Tour. Climber Orrin Bonney gave the area its current name in 1941 after his survey of the cirque. 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. ), But I digress. Your jaw WILL drop (if it didn't already) when you reach the crest of Jackass Pass and overlook Lonesome Lake and the Cirque. In fact, my most epic day hike in the Wind River Range was on my birthday one year. We caught our first on a day hike last summer. Gold had been discovered in the gulches near the pass as early as 1842. An easy six mile hike to Big Sandy Lake provides spectacular views along the way. Camping along this trek can be found at Shadow Lake, and then in and around the Jackass Pass area later in the trip. Higher altitude also means more inclement and unpredictable weather. Take a left onto Fish Hatchery Road. 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. All are spread over three wilderness areas. First, up near Forks Lakes, where we did some backcountry hiking, and most recently near Boulder Lake, where we finally got some good fishing, and an unexpected wildfire. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails as long as they are on leash. After Diane and I visited the Wind Rivers for the Great American Eclipse in 2017 we decided that we should try to return every other summer to visit somewhere new in the range. 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. My only experience is in the WRIR roadless area, though. Then to Fire Hole Lakes, to. Both locations are mind-bogglingly beautiful with plenty of features to lure the outdoor enthusiast. Its easy to reach the Lower Green River Lakeside Circuit from Dubois, and youll enjoy stellar views from start to finish on this scenic trail. #2. Cirque of the Towers Wind River Range #78372 Purchase. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range : r/wyoming 2 yr. ago Posted by MeowingtonChaCha Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range Hello everyone, I'm sure someone over here is familiar with Wind River Range hikes and could point me in the right direction. Stay straight on the Smith Lake Trail and contour around Dishpan Butte. For a while we were losing so much eleveation I thought we might have taken a wrong turn. Toggle navigationHiking & Walking Home Destinations 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. Another mile or mile and a half up the trail, you see a cairn and hear Silas Creek to your right. All Tours Tour Sale. Slide Lake Trail features beautiful views throughout. Trip Type: Loop Mileage: 23-24 miles RT It lies in a broad high region, 35 miles (56km) wide, between the nearly 14,000ft (4,300m) Wind River Range to the north and the over 8,500ft (2,600m) Oregon Buttes[3] and arid, saline near-impassible Great Divide Basin to the south. Lander, WY 82520. It was designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961. To create a loop, youll just want to follow the Lakeside Trail back to the trailhead. 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). Jedediah Smith's party, part of Ashley's Hundred, made the first crossing traveling east to west in Feb. 1824. 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. The biggest trout - in the 25- to 27-inch range were in relatively deep water near the outlet, but those were the wiliest . 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. The Big Piney Ranger District hosts a wide variety of cultural and natural history, recreational opportunities, timber, range, mineral reserves, and wildlife. The rest of the route is described in Nancy Palister's book, called the Goat-friendly High Route. Miller Lake Trail (#173) Pole Creek Trail (#119) DISTANCE: +/- 28.5 miles. His favorite place he's ever visited is Alaska, and his favorite activity might be fishing or reading, depending on the day. The WRRT is the culmination of months of personal research of guidebooks, maps, and online reports of the Wind River Range. We released them all, but it was quite a day. Last year on our Jerrys and my anniversary, we took the boys on a hiking and fishing trip to Silas. From the east end of Grave Lake, follow the trail that goes west along the north shore. 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. In 1836, Fitzpatrick guided the "First White Women to Cross This Pass", Narcissa Whitman and Eliza Hart Spalding, along with and their husbands, plus Miles Goodyear and William Gray. After about 1.2 miles, among a few small tarns above the basin floor, cut north to Split Mountain Pass. Stretching over 100 miles along the Continental Divide, the Wind River Range in Wyoming is an oft-missed treasure trove for backcountry exploration. Following the partly maintained Christina Pass Trail starting east of the trailhead at Sweetwater Guard Station (not at the end of the 2-mile dirt road to the normal Sweetwater Gap TH), you hike approximately 3 miles to the intersection with the North Fork of Blair Creek. And, for now anyways, theyre all permit-free. Prepare for your next adventure by downloading maps. Temple Peak, the second-highest peak in the southern Wind River Range, is a class 3 scramble from the South Ridge route. Wind River Range " A great and fun trail with awesome views. Little Sandy - Low use 12. . Nothing against Iowa, but I consider this one of the greatest gifts my parents have given me. THUMB LAKE: Its about 6 miles to Thumb lake from the trailhead, 12 miles roundtrip. Its got more than 40 named granite peaks that soar 13,000 feet or higher, scores of giant glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes and hundreds of miles of incredible hiking trails. _The Peak Lake Area. Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. Free Trail Guides. An extra day is advised to explore the multitude of lakes around the Brown Cliffs here. I think most people pass right by this lake, enroute to Upper Silas Lake. Why is this hike so popular? The Bear's Ears Trail continues down the stream's west bank (headed north) and climbs west and descends to Grave Lake. (1), Comments Note that on AllTrails, you can hike this as an out-and-back trail by following the Lower Green River Lake Trail. 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). It is fine country to wander through. If you cant plan your trip in September, I recommend wearing long layers and applying a healthy dose of DEET. That was an epic day, and and unforgettable birthday gift that was hard-earned to say the least. As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of alpine lakes to go around this beautiful mountain range, creating world-renowned fly fishing. 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. Upload a photo Fix/Improve This Page If you're looking for day-hikes out of GRL, try Slide or even Valaite . (It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Lander, WY, up the switchbacks and to the Christina Lake Trailhead.). Related: 10 of the Best Airbnbs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The sight of the Continental Divide towering over the picturesque Dream Lake is fantastic, so plan to spend a few minutes here soaking in the views before you start your adventure. I looked on AllTrails but couldn't find anything. There is apparently a non-technical route that goes northwest from the pond that traverses the cliffs above Little Sandy Creek. You'll want to bring your friends and family to experience the sheer quantity (and quality) of scenic, unbeatable camping across Sublette County. Directions from Pinedale: From the intersection of Pine Street (US 191) and North Tyler Ave (the Pinedale Tourism office is located on the northeast corner) in Pinedale, WY, drive south on Highway 191 for 11.7 miles and then turn left (east) on WY . The small lake draws far fewer anglers than other hikes in the area, meaning hikers here will enjoy a quieter, more secluded trail. On Lizard Head Plateau. 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. Burnt Lake - Low use 8. South Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The area between the lakes is blessed with many fine . 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. 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. Sprawled in the shadow of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is the type of city that boasts the best of all worlds. Earthwalk Press publishes two Wind River Range overview maps (one for the northern part of the range, and another for the southern portion). 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