There was a lush, green lawn leading up to the lake, but were law-abiders when possible, so we looked around the trees. This trail is typically tackled between three to four days. To connect with the Fremont Trail, you will have to maneuver through Texas Pass which has been traveled for years but is not a designated trail. Considering taking a trip with your trail pup? Also, though I dont get many visitors, I have been surprised by a few emails telling me that places I didnt like were pleasant to them. 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. Thats a river of deception and leads up toward Wind River Peak. 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. Prepare for your next adventure by downloading maps. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 45 min to complete. 104 South 4th Street. Thank you for your beautiful pictures. Wed left Lander around 2PM (my house was very far away) and got to the trailhead at 4PM. 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. Ok, so let me describe the trail! If you are not accustomed to being at higher elevation for extended periods of time, take it easy and learn to recognize signs of altitude sickness. You can find directions easily from guidebooks. Your jaw WILL drop (if it didn't already) when you reach the crest of Jackass Pass and overlook Lonesome Lake and the Cirque. East Fork Valley could be a great side trip. Why you should go: Work your way up through thick forest to gain views of the entire Wind River Range. From the east end of Grave Lake, follow the trail that goes west along the north shore. Related Read:Crown Jewels: 14 Majestic Hikes in Glacier National Park. No one was along this eastern area, and we couldnt see or hear anyone. 2.4 miles in we reached what would sadly be the lowest point of the hike (I hate having to do a bunch of uphill on the return of any hike, but even more when its ugly), but at least there was a little creek running at this time of year. --Lana Turner. After about 10 minutes, we made it across, but it was sketchy. After that, its all downhill. Cathedral Peak is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) southwest of Mount Chauvenet in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. We decided to leave our tent and only use my pack, and to head up for Mendarrin Lake to the west, not knowing what wed find. Since Glacier Trail is far north in the Wind River Range, its snow melt differs from the southern trails near Pinedale and Lander, giving this trail a surprisingly earlier (and longer) season. It avoids the creek whose drainage it shares in favor of sticking to the ugly pines. 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. The elevation gain doubles with this addition, so this is only suggested if you are looking for a more ambitious trail. Just continue north to shallow and picturesque Hay Pass. Camping at Faler Lake is typically done in the warmer months. The walk down did provide a ton of places you could campwell, not at the time of year we were there, because they were covered in about 4-5 feet of compacted snow. From the Pass, follow the Osborne Mountain Route as described by Pallister and Kelsey. 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. 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. It wasnt really difficult, but we made a lot more work for ourselves than we needed. The lake itself was quite deep and flat-out flooded with the biggest trout that Id seen in Wyomingreally too big for my line! From Hall's Lake, travel west under the shadow of Horseshoe Ridge and north of Medina Mountain to Lake 10,542 (EC Lake) in Europe Canyon. This was our hardest day, though also the shortest. The climb at the end was of course horrible and hot, and Im going to admit that we cut off some distance by going cross country for a bit. Photos (7) Directions. Distance: 11.5 miles (with plenty of walking around the lakes) Elevation Gain: 1,732 ft. Applying DEET and wearing layers will help protect you from these little buggers. I will try and see if I can do justice to your pics. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. From Lake 10,542, travel northwest through the rugged valley containing Long Lake (Lake 10,683). By following Leave No Trace ethics, you will do your part in continuing to keep the Wind River area pristine and as wild as possible. We'll have 4 days so that's a pretty laid back pace but we're looking to get into an area where we can setup camp and explore and relax. It was also the first big wall climb outside of Yosemite to be rated at Grade VI, a very serious, multi-day rock climb with a long and arduous approach. After walking through forests for a few minutes, we climbed to the intersection of trails about 160 feet above the lake. The trail is immensely ugly with only a couple of redeeming features, and those features are very large rocks. In short, plan to get wet. Compare 1,195 hotels close to Cathedral Lake Trailhead with room rates, reviews, and availability. Its recommended for the Cirque of the Towers loop that you bring a map and compass and that you know how to use them. 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. Continue west until you get to the drainage of the Knife Point Glacier, your next destination. Cathedral Lake, when we finally arrived, was enough to floor anyone. Fremont County, Wyoming, U.S. Parent range. About 1/4mile before the Smith lake/high meadows trail intersection the trail disappeared into another swamp. I thought that the drainage proper would be hideous riparian zone, or akin to Clear Lake out of Green River Lakes, so I told mom that we should stay on our contour line. Continue northwest up the basin towards Lake 10,756, which is directly south of Hay Pass. 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. Fly fishing is a very popular activity for overnighters of Dads Lake. Ive done this same hike on several occasions but its been over 20 years now. The Wind River Range Traverse (WRRT) is the finest non-technical alpine backpacking route in the lower 48 states. She has had the privilege of working for Colorados most experienced climbing guide service as an Office & Marketing Manager and an Outdoor Climbing Guide. Less than 35 miles. Among the best ways to explore the Wind River Range is to travel one of the spectacular trails through the region. Head out on this 9.1-mile out-and-back trail near Moose, Wyoming. Cathedral Lake Fremont County, Wyoming. The trail along the edge of the lake was a bit vague, with people trying different paths around large boulders and other obstacles, but we had no extreme difficulty. Should this affect the validity of this most grand route I have prepared? Backpacking without a stove is the easiest, leanest, and safest way to wander the wilderness. Drainages are intricate and minor obstacles abound, but by paying attention and consulting a map you can get where you're going without difficulty." Tyler Wildeck is a writer with a passion for all things outdoors. I couldnt believe it! Follow the top of the divide north for approximately 1.5 miles, then drop down west to the north shore of Baker Lake. Far north in the Wind Rivers, Gannett Peak is also viewable from this ridge line. Trip Type: Out-and-back Near the Green River Lakes area, Roaring Fork is just one of many trails near here. 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. 4. I wouldn't bet on it, however. After my excitement wore down, we had to find a place to camp. I might one day orienteer it over it Dutch Over Lake, if Im so blessed. Youll pass through another treeless flatland called the Burro Flat. You end up where Palister calls "Shangri-La." My family tend to go in over July 4th about every 3 to 4 yrs. Above treeline no trail has been worn, but you can follow cairns across the windswept plateau. Everest!! From Middle Fork Lake, it is approximately 2 trailless miles to Hall's Lake. If you didnt want to deal with the logistics of getting picked up and shuttled, you could hike this sucker as an out-and-back trail and double the mileage. True happiness in the Cirque of the Towers. Dads Lake also has the benefit of being at a slightly lower elevation than some of the classic Wind River Range backpacking trails, so seasonality can be a bit easier to handle. Day 2 totals: 4.2 miles, +969/-979, 9933 min/10161 avg/10613 max. It was growing into the evening and we still had quite a ways left to go! 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). Just beyond the crossing we found a very old sign announcing our location, as well as the trail proper. Whether youre looking for a quick overnighter or a weeklong expedition, your sure to find a winner with any of these trails. I suspect we would have if wed climbed higher somewhere, but the highest we got was in our poorly planned ingress to Mendarrin. says Kelsey. A map and compass are necessary while on this trail since route-finding can be difficult over rocks and snow. Continue north to the head of Tourist Creek, and ascend northeast above lake 10890 all the way to the divide near Point 12450. As we descended, we smelled cooking food, too, so I think that these folks had been resupplied by the outfitters. Travel here is high compared to other, harder to reach, trailheads of the Winds. 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. From Windy Lake Basin, make your way east to the top of the plateau, as described in Nancy Palister's book "Beyond Trails." PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. Among the abundant wildlife of the Wind River Range are mosquitoes, and theyre everywhere. Shore of Baker Lake min/10161 avg/10613 max creek whose drainage it shares in favor of to! 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