Top of the Rockies: Backpacking the Exhilarating Wind River Range, Wyoming

In an effort to get more young folks into the wilderness, we're offering adults 18-35 years old a full $300 off this trip. Visit our scholarships page for details on how to apply.

The Trip

Join us in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains, a backpacker’s paradise that inspires many to return to its trails time and again. Mountains of granite carved by the power of glacial sculpting form a backdrop for forests of spruce and fir. Numerous lakes dot this high country, which may appear barren and tundra-like, but gives way to beautiful meadows carpeted with wildflowers and soaring views. Glaciers and permanent snowfields feed cascading mountain streams that flow all summer. Deer, elk, and bighorn sheep make this their home. Black bears do inhabit the area but are not frequently encountered. Grizzly bears though still rare here have been seen as they expand their range outwards from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to include the Winds.

You will need to arrive in Pinedale, Wyoming on Friday, the day before the start of the trip. We will review trip plans and maps, discuss and refine backpacking techniques and answer any last minute questions. After an optional group we will retire for our early start the next day. Dinner and lodging the night before is not included in the trip price.

Day 1: We will meet early morning in Pinedale and caravan to the New Fork Lakes trailhead. We will tighten our boots and climb through meadows and trees as we follow the New Fork River into the narrow confines of New Fork Park. We will hike about seven miles today and camp along the river.

Day 2: Today we will hike about five miles from the New Fork Trail to our camp at the delightful Lozier Lakes, at around 10,600 feet. An option may be to hike on to Trail Creek Park.

Day 3: We will hike to our destination today located below the Continental Divide’s jagged peaks, passing scenic Clark Lake on our way down to Trail Creek Park. Our trail will take us next to Vista Pass and finally up Cube Rock Pass and the spectacular Peak Lake area for our campsite at 10,740 feet. We will have hiked 8 challenging miles today.

Day 4: This is a layover day giving us the opportunity to do an extraordinary day hike up to Knapsack Col for a peek at the famed Titcomb Basin. Alternatively, we can hike to Stroud Glacier the start of the Green River which is a major tributary of the Colorado River.

Day 5-7: After taking a few last parting pictures we will leave Peak Lake and hike over Shannon Pass. For those who want to take in the views from the top of Stroud Peak, we will do a short walk-up climb. On our hike back, we will proceed past Elbow Lake to Summit Lake, No Name Lakes, Cutthroat Lakes, Palmer Lake, and then across the Doubletop Mountain Trail to Rainbow Lake and back to our vehicles at the trailhead.

Our general plan is to have an early wake-up call, hike between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. with stops for rest, lunch, and photos. One layover day is planned, in which off trail opportunities and personal activities may be enjoyed.

This itinerary is tentative and is subject to change depending on trail conditions, weather, and the abilities of the group. To enjoy this adventure to the fullest, come with a flexible and positive attitude and a good sense of humor. 

Getting There

The closest major airport is in Salt Lake City. It is about a five-hour drive to Pinedale from Salt Lake. There are regional flights available to the airport in Jackson, Wyoming, which is a two-hour drive from Pinedale, but these can be expensive and are subject to local weather. Carpooling is strongly encouraged and the leader will provide a list of participants so carpools can be arranged.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

The first meal is lunch on Saturday, and the last meal will be breakfast on Friday. Participants should not book return flights until the day following the end of the trip.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

The leaders take pride in providing tasty and hearty meals that are simple, lightweight, and easy to prepare. Participants with any dietary restrictions or requests are encouraged to discuss this situation with the trip leader. We will not be able to assist participant with lengthy dietary concerns.  All participants assist with camp chores, including the preparation and clean-up of meals on a rotating basis. 

Trip Difficulty

The trip is rated 4 in difficulty. Our route travels up to 55 miles of well-maintained yet occasionally rugged trail, with an average of about six to 10 miles per day. The trail follows creek valleys, canyons, and high plateaus while meandering through a jigsaw of beautiful alpine tundra and rock-bound alpine lakes. The trailhead elevation is 7,800 feet, and we may hike as high as 11,500 feet. The leaders always take the weather, health, and welfare of the group and its members into account. Our route offers many possibilities for flexibility in scheduling and modification if needed. Those who apply for this outing should be mentally and physically prepared for such a journey. They should be confident in their abilities and be able to assure themselves and the leaders that they are capable. A regular exercise or fitness program is strongly recommended for all participant and the leaders are happy to advise participants on suggestions for fitness preparation. Those without any backpacking experience and/or experience at high elevation should discuss the situation with the trip leader. 

Equipment and Clothing

Sierra Club provides the cooking gear, food, water purification, and a first aid kit (which is used only for emergencies). Your personal backpack gear should weigh no more than 25 pounds since we will give you up to 15 pounds of commissary gear. We will work with everyone to keep packs light since the trip will be safer and easier for everyone if pack weights are kept low.

Pre-trip correspondence will provide a detailed equipment list for approved participants.

References

Wind River Range North, Beartooth Publishing. Topographic shaded relief map adds detail.

USGS 7.5-minute maps: Gannett Peak and Square Top Mountain. These topographic maps are for the map enthusiast. Leaders will carry two sets of these on the trip for all to peruse.

Books:

The following are just a few of the many books written about the Winds. Please understand that these books are not required to have an excellent experience on this trip.

• Woods, Rebecca, Walking the Winds.  Considered to be one of the basic guide books for the Winds.
• Hutto, Joe. The Light in High Places: A Naturalist Looks at Wyoming Wilderness. An excellent introduction to the Wind River Mountains and Wyoming.
• Kelsey, Joe, Climbing and Hiking the Wind River Mountains. Comprehensive guide to trails, routes and climbs in the Wind River Range.
• Kershaw, Linda, Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Detailed field guide to the flowers and trees of the Winds and all of the Rocky Mountains.
• Pallister, Nancy. Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. A great guide for anyone who wants undertake cross country travel in the Winds.

Conservation

Our trip will be in the Bridger Wilderness, an area "permanently" protected by Congress, administered by the U.S. Forest Service, and part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Most of the magnificent wild land in the West, however, is not protected and at great risk from logging, roadbuilding, and off-road-vehicles. The northern end of this range is at Yellowstone, and extractive industries continue to make overtures that could threaten both the Yellowstone and Wind River areas.

On at least one evening on our trip we will discuss the reasons for protecting beautiful wild land, as well as specific wilderness legislation now before Congress, including the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. We will also discuss steps we can take as individuals to urge our Congressional delegates to support land protection bills.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.