(Add 1 hour to scramble to Upper Cathedral or Mendarrin lakes). no photos have been added for Smith Lake yet. Pinedale's great outdoors are unequaled. $22. It has excellent small-stream fishing for brookies, rainbows, cutthroat, and brown trout. From here, the trail gently switchbacks up through coniferous forest. The Wind River Range(or "Winds" for short), is a mountain rangeof the Rocky Mountainsin western Wyomingin the United States. As soon as you see one or all of these, leave the trail and start climbing up the hillside. Be sure to take a break along this section. Once on top, the views are incredible. Gillman Peak will be directly opposite from you to the south and you'll see Smith Lake, Cloverleaf and Cook lakes, as well as Cathedral Peak and several snowcapped peaks whose foundations are silver, vertical cirques. Time Required: 1.5 hours to get to a super lookout point providing awesome views of Wind River Peak and other peaks; 3 hours to get to Smith Lake; a little over 3 hours to go to Middle, Cloverleaf or Cook lakes; and about 3.5 hours to go to Cathedral Lake. The Teton Wildernes is one of the most notable in Wyoming for a few reasons. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating. For any of you looking for just a small hike that provides big views, any of these lookout views is an ideal spot for a picnic and turnaround point. Bears Ears Mountain is situated 2 miles north of Smith Lake. Pete is an obsessed fly fisherman, but who wouldn't be a total trout nut if they lived up here? Visitors can enjoy a myriad of outdoor activities throughout the entire year. There, you'll see a tall "clump" of rocks that form a small, unnamed mountain that's just 10,322 feet tall. Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. From the parking area, you'll see the trailhead and backcountry registration sign. For those looking for more, keep on hiking. Close. It is our understanding the Eastern Shoshone and Araphoe Tribes own and maintain these access roads on the Wind River Reservation. 36 Bears Ears Trail-Dickinson Park to South Fork Little Wind River 220. The Wind River begins in the spectacular Absaroka mountains near Togwotee Pass and the northern edge of the Wind River Range, just northwest of Dubois. Trail Lake (Glacier Trail, Wind River High Route) Atlantic City/South Pass. All wind river range photographs ship within 48 hours and include a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s important to remember that while Yellowstone National Park is beautiful, it’s also dangerous. No description for Smith Lake trail has been added yet! Come experience the vast expanses of the towering Wind River Range, the beauty of the region's 1,300 lakes, forests, rivers, wilderness, and wildlife. In a few paces, you'll reach the woods, where there's a signed junction. For those continuing up the rocky hill, expect to reach the uppermost point in about 30-60 minutes, depending on your fitness level. Once you get through the forested area, it's basically scrambling on rocks and some slab-like climbing. The Wind River Range is the highest range in the Laramide region with a maximum elevation of 4207m at Gannett Peak (Figure 1). So, instead of tackling this clump head-on, you'll need to back-track down the trail just about 100 paces to where you'll see three huge building-size rocks jutting out of the forest to the north (at your left). See what the climate was like in Yellowstone Country 50 million years ago and view the fascinating petrified trees in Yellowstone's world-class fossil forests. Distance: To Smith Creek Meadow: 4.5 miles; To Smith Lake: 5.5 miles; to Cloverleaf Lake: 6 miles; to Cook Lake: 6.5 miles; to Middle Lake: 6.5 miles; to Cathedral Lake: 7.5 miles; to High Meadow Lake: 8.5 miles; to Cliff Lake: 8.5 miles. Smith Rock Montana Glacier Wyoming Grand Teton Wind River Range ... Kings Canyon Yosemite Utah Southwest Canada Canadian Rockies. Because of this road-less designation, many trails, such as this one, require a full day's hike to access. Keep your eyes open here for moose. Dickinson Park/Smith Lake TH/Diamond 4 Ranch. I noticed that most routes follow the lower highline trail, or skip the many magnificent areas including Stough Creek Lakes, Deep Lake Cirque, Grave Lake Cirque, North Fork Cirque (on the Wind River Indian Reservation), the Brown Cliffs, Scott Lake, and Bear Basin. This could be the single most important piece of information contained in this article. Summer flash floods and high water can prove perilous. As you stand at the signed junction at 4.5 miles, look directly north. - Www.panafoot.com. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden. Provided you don't fish the lakes or take any extended breaks, this can be done in long day. If you get to the trailhead and realize you didn't bring any, turn the car around and go get some. Done. Togwotte Pass CDT. Northern Utah Bear Lake Valley lies on the border of Utah and Idaho, and is home to the "Caribbean of the Rockies", or Bear Lake. Chevo will be to the left of the panoramic view. Fishing Wind River Country Wind River Country sports some of the best fishing in 43,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs and nearly 2,000 miles of streams fed by mountain snow melt. Sometimes, even in mid-July, the water in the North Fork of the Popo Agie is running so high that this waterfall's roar can be heard. ... Hobbs Lake, Wind River Range, Mt Photo. These sheer rock walls were carved thousands of years ago by receding glaciers and many of the rugged bowls are hung with permanent snow fields. The Wind River Range is one of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the lower 48. Find your perfect day hike with our personalized guide. Riverton. . Soon after, you'll drop into an opening that features awesome views of Wind River Peak (13,192'), which is surrounded by other snow-capped peaks and many granite vertical walls. $45. An extra bonus is that much of the trail is shaded. But for an effort that takes less than an hour, you'll be fairly rewarded with fantastic views from the top. This is perhaps the easiest hike there is in the southern Wind River Range. Smith Lake is a 7 mile blue singletrack trail located near Lander Wyoming. So now that you have that mosquito repellant. In the center of the view you're looking at is a waterfall. Use trail reports to comment on trail conditions. and the Teton Wilderness is where you'll find the most remote location (farthest from any road) of any place in the contiguous 48 states of the US- near Bridger Lake. Posted by 16 days ago. 38 Lake Louise Trail-Trail Lake Trailhead to Lake Louise 237. Another variation will take you to Cloverleaf or Cook lakes. Upper Cathedral Lake is a good extended hike and involves scrambling below the steep southeast buttress of Cathedral Peak and up a rocky draw for another mile or two. Notice the big rocks that lie scattered about you as if they had fallen from the sky. Sleeping with your food in the Wind River Range. However, note that typically, until late in the summer, water in Smith Lake Creek runs high. The Skinny:To get to the trailhead: From Lander, head 14 miles north on Highway 287 to Fort Washakie and hang a left on Trout Creek Road (directly past Hines General Store.) You'll also scramble over some deadfall timber. Reading Time: 7 minutes Green River Lakes Campground is over an hour from Pinedale, Wyoming, on a dirt road, and features semi-improved camping locations both for reservation and for first-come, first serve. Smith Lake is a 11 km blue singletrack trail located near Lander Wyoming. If you do plan on camping, remember you're in the Popo Agie Wilderness, so stay at least 200 feet from the trail and any lakes, rivers or streams. There have also been black bear problems in the Big Sandy Lake area, Cirque of the Towers, Dickenson Park/Smith Lakes and the Golden Lakes area. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. These mountains are intensely scenic, characterized by waterfalls, alpine lakes, massive granite spires, high mountain cirques, glaciers, and vast meadow systems. 7. 37 Glacier Trail-Trail Lake Trailhead to Dinwoody Glacier 229. At a little over 20 miles above Fort Washakie, be on the lookout for a sign right before you get to the Dickinson Creek Campground that says something like " North Fork Trailhead." If you plan to camp, there are good campsites near Smith and Middle lakes, but not at Cathedral Lake, where the terrain is mostly rocky. HELP: Wind River Range, Baker Lake to Green River Lakes: Trip Planning: 6: Jun 6, 2020: Two kids and the Red River Gorge: Backpacking: 7: Apr 26, 2020: T: Grizzly bears in Wind River Mountains: Noobs: Introduce yourself! $125. Try a day trip fishing or go for the elusive golden trout on an epic backcountry trip. Directly after Smith Lake, take a left on a trail that will take you to these destinations. You're all set! $135. Dickinson Park/Smith Lake TH/ Diamond 4 Ranch. Backpacking & Hiking All Over The Planet. Fishing Licenses Non-Resident Annual- $102 Non-Resident Daily […] See an incredible waterfall and two geysers along this hike starting near the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring off the Grand Loop Road. Among the Winds unrelenting height, contain seven of the ten largest glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, as well as more than 2.25 million acres of public land. Got a chance to visit the western fringes of the range in 1980 which was great but it only served to whet my appetite. $27. There are several lakes that make up this basin; Hiking to any one of them is relatively easy. Otherwise, hikers in average shape could easily visit Smith and/or Middle lakes in a single day, provided you get an early start. Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range. Only a fraction of that is actually maintained because of a shrinking budget from the top of the ladder. Pinedale. The Winds have a north to south orientation and are roughly 100 miles in length and in some areas over 30 miles wide. And, we saw the biggest cow moose we've ever seen in this same area. See evidence of Yellowstone's 1988 fires on a hike that starts and ends just south of Rustic Falls near Mammoth. Note: Remember to pack mosquito repellant. Mt. $86. A map showing Yellowstone's geyser basins including the Upper Geyser Basin with Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool, and nearby Grand Prismatic. Although tempting, this is one place you may choose not to lean on a rock, though, as many of them are on a decline or near the edge of the vertical south face of this small, unnamed mountain. The only hike I recommend out of Green River, however, is Slide Lake. Next, the trail begins to gradually climb through a narrow, rocky draw. $55. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Enjoy wildflowers such as stonecrop and bitterrroot here. As the only undammed river in the lower 48 states, the Yellowstone River flows 692 miles through Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. Three summers ago, in mid-July, the water was waist-deep near this junction, which made getting to High Meadow Lake a little more challenging. The following is a great day hike, especially during early and mid-summer, when water still may be running high and snow still covers much of the high country near Yellowstone National Park. It has incredible views of Squaretop Mountain, and many people use the Green River trailhead to hike the Wind River Range. Bears Ears Mountain is a mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Introduction-I’d dreamed of hiking and fishing in the Wind Rivers ever since reading a couple articles about the range in the late 70’s. For hikers who are in great physical condition, a good long day hike would involve hiking to all eight lakes in the Smith Lake Basin before returning. Also, try to use established campsites and follow the Leave No Trace principles - pack it in, pack it out. At just under three miles, you'll hike around the rocky base of Dishpan Butte, which rises about 1,000 feet above to the northwest. Wind River Gallery. It's just a short climb up some rocks the size of sport utility vehicles. Trail Lake Trailhead 227. The Wind River Range (the "Winds") is contained within a 100 mile by 30 mile wilderness (road-less) area. Worthen/Roaring Fork Trailhead/Brewer’s & Sheep Bridge. The Loop Hike will take a solid 4 days for most people to accomplish, and enjoy the full experience. The trail then temporarily leaves the forest and you arrive at a meadow and signed junction. After taking in the great views, return to the Smith Lake trail, where you may continue 1.5 miles to Smith Lake, 2.5 miles to Middle Lake or 3.5 miles to Cathedral Lake. 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. It is a very strenuous hike, and exposed, with several river crossings that wil… The range runs roughly NW–SE for approximately 100 mi (160 km). Christina/Louis Lake Hike to several lakes in Yellowstone Country going through coniferous forests, wild flower meadows and roaring waterfalls. This is not difficult rock climbing, but you should be extra careful. ... Scott T. Smith. The Wind River Range is a remote hundred plus mile range, stretching through Wyoming along the crest of the Continental Divide. Very few places pack such a punch in one day. Hello everyone, I'm sure someone over here is familiar with Wind River Range hikes and could point me in the right direction. Moccasin Lake. Snowcapped mountains will begin "peeking" through the forest ahead of you. Dubois. Note: These are all good day hikes, some of them obviously longer than others. Only experienced rock climbers can get to the top by climbing its south face. But first, regardless of your plans, there's an excellent side trip that can be taken from this area. Stretching over 100 miles along the Continental Divide, the Wind River Range in Wyoming is an oft-missed treasure trove for backcountry exploration. You'll thank me later. Hiking Smith Lake Basin in the Wind River Range. . Wind River High Route (Trail Lake - Bruce’s) $35. At the "Parting of the Waters", one can step foot in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean at the same time (via headwaters along the Continential Divide!) The top of this unnamed rocky hill is flat on the top, leaving you plenty of room to sit and have a picnic while taking in the gorgeous views. The small town of Dubois sits on the northern fringe leaving Pinedale to the west and the larger town of Lander to the east. 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. 35 Smith Lake Trail-Dickinson Park to Smith Lake 215. If you're not comfortable with this type of scrambling and you can't find another way to get to the top turn around and catch other great views from the trail. Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail. It's really a sight. Smith Lake Basin in Wyoming's Wind River Range is a Hiker's Haven Hike to several lakes in Yellowstone Country going through coniferous forests, wild flower meadows and roaring waterfalls. © 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! We've seen a lot of moose here. Fishing Wind River Canyon Near Thermopolis, Wyoming. There's uphill, but it's hardly noticeable. The timing of exhumation of the Wind River Range … South Pass CDT . In fact, the biggest bull moose we've ever seen was in this meadow. High Meadow Lake is about four miles down the trail to the left. St. Lawrence Basin. Do you want to see lakes, waterfalls, thermal features, or peaks? Keep an eye to the upper left so that you only traverse as far to the right as necessary.