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Backpacking Wyoming's Wind Rivers

Pinedale, Wyoming

Description

Added by Devin Earl

Amazing scenery with high alpine lakes as you backpack through some of Wyoming's tallest peaks and the furthest south glaciers left in the lower 48. Excellent fishing and camping. Accessible only by foot or a good horse makes it more isolated. Different trail or loop options for a single night trip up to a 7+ day trip.

Starting at the Elkhart Park Trail Head took the trail that leads to Photographer's Point about 5 miles in where vistas of seemingly endless granite peaks starts to unfold. We continued on to Little Seneca Lake to camp for the first night, where you really start to feel surrounded by the massive peaks. The next day from Little Seneca Lake we got an early start and followed the trail to Island Lake. From Island Lake we detoured into Titcomb Basin up to the Upper Titcomb Lake. From there we worked our way back out of Titcomb Basin and Connected with the trail again by Lower Jean Lake. From Lower Jean Lake we continued on to Upper Jean Lake then on to Shannon Pass which is around 11,175 ft. From Shannon Pass you drop down slightly towards peak lake then turn and climb towards Dale Lake. From dale Lake you go over Cube Rock Pass which is not maintained and definitely not recommended for livestock and depending on the time of the year can have a pretty good snowfield on both Shannon and Cube Rock pass. After going down Cube Rock Pass the trail leads to Vista Pass which then drops down to Trail Creek. After a long 2nd day we made camp at Trail Creek once we got below tree line as a thunderstorm set in. The next day was a very short day and we went from Trail Creek up to the top of Green River Pass where we made our Way to Summit Lake where we would camp for the 3rd night. From Summit Lake we took off with a small packs and Summited Glover Peak (12,068 ft). After Glover Peak we went back to Summit Lake and spent the evening fishing. From Summit Lake we continued on the Trail to Trapper Lake. A little while after passing Trapper Lake we made our way to this overlook to the Crows nest where from there you follow an un maintained trail down to the valley floor 3000 feet below just above Freemont Lake where you need to be on the trail to have a bridge to cross Fremont Creek which is impassible without the bridge. From there you climb back up 2700 feet to the Elkhart Park Trailhead.

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Features

Camping
Fishing
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Forest
Lake
River
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildflowers
Wildlife

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Climb Fremont Peak via Southeast Buttress

Photographers Point via Pole Creek Trail

Backpack to Titcomb Basin and Summit Gannett Peak

Elbow Lake in the Wind River Range

Seneca Lake Trail

Backpack and Fly Fish the Wind River Range

Let Adventure be your Destination in Wyoming

Wyoming’s wide-open spaces make it easy to get off the grid and on a trail, through a park, into a forest, up a mountain or down a river. During your journey through Wyoming’s Black to Yellow Region, discover geologic marvels, dense evergreen forests and sprawling prairielands.

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