After walking through forests for a few minutes, we climbed to the intersection of trails about 160 feet above the lake. It is advised that you camp in either of these spots rather than at Big Sandy Lake. Depending on where you decide to camp, there may or may not be trees large enough to create bear hangs, so bear canisters may be the most sensible option. Several trails leave from Jenny Lake ranging from easy to very strenuous. If you are looking at this map in the winter and it's showing that there are no driving directions available, it's likely because the road is closed. Thanks again. At the top of the first hill you went off to the right and then down the golden stairsabout 1/2 mile straight down. Consult guidebooks on the safest way to ascend Indian Pass. Dogs are allowed on National Forest land trails as long as they are on leash. Camping near Halls Lake or further along at the Golden Lakes (just north of Hay Pass in the next section) would be recommended. We reached Mendarrin 2 hours after leaving camp, which was far too long for the distance. Located near Dubois, this trail is no joke. The Cathedral Lake is located in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. Many trails, such as the Cirque of the Towers loop require you to move off-trail to link up with the return trail. That said, please follow Leave No Trace principles and camp at least 200 feet away from any water sources and trails. Thank you for your beautiful pictures. Cathedral Peak is situated 2 miles west of Cathedral Lake. Cathedral Lakes: Hike Details Starting Elevation: 8,548 ft. This also means its a nice and easy ride back to town for that post-trail burger meal. It was at this area that we crossed over since it seemed easier, and wed still found no trail on our side. 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. There were plenty of outfitter-style places to camp for some reason, as you can see in the picture above. However, I don't think that style of travel is the best fit for this route. Dang it! Grab your next favorite hiking backpack from Gregorys website today! The season for this hike is extremely short, spanning late July to September due to late snow melt and early snow storms. Eight miles into the hike you will come to Arrow Pass a long, arduous section thats all above 10,895 feet. But day hikes of any reasonable length are hard to come by; the area is known as a backpacker's paradise because few destinations are less than 8 miles from a trailhead. Judging from a recent picture, it may go, but only in late summer. Date Hiked: November 16, 2019 Getting to the Trailhead We got water from it because it was still so dang hot, and then continued on, which was sadly another bump in elevation that we then lost right afterward. About a mile from Photographers Point, you will reach Eklund Lake. Although, Castle Peak has a class 2 hike all the way to its summit, Cathedral Peak does not. We spied a bunch of old folks across the lake lounging in hammocks which made us both very happy! Our feet were really dang numbed by the experience, though. This hike visits numerous lakes in a short number of miles. Continue west until you get to the drainage of the Knife Point Glacier, your next destination. The best time to visit the Titcomb Basin area is in the late summer, beginning in July and ending in late September. The WRRT is the culmination of months of personal research of guidebooks, maps, and online reports of the Wind River Range. You can learn more about our editorial policies, 11 Backpacking Trips in the U.S. That Should be on Your Bucket List, The 11 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 6 Epic Backpacking Routes in Glacier National Park, Montana, Crown Jewels: 14 Majestic Hikes in Glacier National Park, Heres Why Leave No Trace Principles are So Damn Important, 10 Awesome Things to Do in Denver with Kids, Backpacking Without a Stove: How to Go Sin Fuego, 10 Epic Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, 9 Best Yurt Rentals in Montanas Wild & Rugged Big Sky Country, The 8 Best Hikes Near Fort Collins, Colorado, The 10 Best Hikes Near Telluride, Colorado, 12 Extraordinary Cabin Rentals in Colorado. Bonney. 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. This is a spectacular opportunity to take one of those wonderful pictures the Wind River Range is known for. Summit Lake is accessed from the Spring Creek Park Trailhead, which is best reached from Pinedale. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 38 min to complete. Wyoming Game and Fish supports more than 20 high mountain lake fisheries with a long-term schedule of stocking by helicopter. Overall, pack more water than you think youll need, and take frequent breaks to prevent exhaustion and advanced altitude sickness. Roaring Fork Trail is a true test of skill. 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. Whether youre looking for a quick overnighter or a weeklong expedition, your sure to find a winner with any of these trails. This trip is typically done in two days, as you hike in nine miles to Seneca Lake, camp here, then hike out. Cathedral Lake Middle Lake Brookie Snake River Cut from the North Fork Popo Agie Me and Sweetie trying to stay dry. Your comment made my day! I will be completing the entire route this summer (August 20-September 9, 2016), and will update this post when complete. 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. If you are looking for the perfect weekend getaway, this ones for you! Another classic of the Wind River Range, Titcomb Basin offers everything youd ever want to see on a multi-day trip. Its the ideal pack for a high-altitude trek through the Wind River Range. And, for now anyways, theyre all permit-free. Cathedral Lake, WY Latitude: 42.8213426 Longitude: -109.1445738 County: Fremont Area: Lizard Head Peak Elevation: 3034 meters - 9954 feet With 77 mountain peaks at more than 12,000 feet above sea level, it's not just the views that'll leave you breathless in Colorados most-visited national park. This trail is well traveled by CDT thru-hikers, and well maintained. PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. To reach Peak Lake, continue west down the valley after Knapsack Col. Due to the nature of the WRRT, this trip is best savored by taking your time. My mom has hiked along the mountain itself with our engineering friends, Hank and Peggy, but Ive never had the chance. However, for the most scenic, most direct and aesthetic route, walk on trail down Indian Basin and to Upper Titcomb Basin. It also contains the largest system of glaciers in the American portion of the Rockies. Home to Wyomings tallest peaks and over 100 miles of the Continental Divide, the Wind River Range is beautifully wild. Youll pass through another treeless flatland called the Burro Flat. From what I can tell, they all still want the cred that comes with staking out Titcomb and the Cirque, though my last visit to the Cirque found it abandoned, even. Though the sun was setting directly behind the peak, a huge cumulus cloud behind me was so brightly lit by sunset light that the bounce light from the cloud illuminated the peak with an orange glow. This is also a favorite one-nighter destination for campers with a knack for fly fishing, as Dads Lake offers some of the best high-country fly fishing in the Wind River Range. NPS Photo/J. There are several camping options on the Cirque trail. 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. Fishing was fantastic 1st time at smith 20 casts 19 brookies caught. This is high elevation camping at its finest, showcasing the areas iconic rock and snow. By Colorado standards, to think that this trail is the one of the most heavily-used in the entire range is. You wont! The Wind River Range sees less traffic than areas like Teton or Rocky Mountain National Forests, so trails are not the easiest to follow in many areas. Jenny Lake is a popular area and . The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. I cant describe how much I loved it. They were bravely close to the water given the ranger vehicles at the trailhead! Keep following the trail past Poison Lake, and finally to Coon Lake. I saw maybe five people on my way to the Cirque from the Big Sandy Lake (Big Sandy Trailhead to Big Sandy Lake is a different story). Started off MUCH worse got much better now is reverting to a seldom used trail. Far north in the Wind Rivers, Gannett Peak is also viewable from this ridge line. Thankfully we found a water source up there, because we were both thirsty from being in the hot sun with no breeze. Lonesome Lake was the first lake in the Wind Rivers to be deemed unsafe for drinking, and camping is strictly prohibited within 1/4 mile of the lake. Land of Falls: Stunning Waterfall Hikes in Oregon, 11 Beautiful Hikes in Washingtons Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 12 Best Hiking Trails Near Scottsdale, Arizona. Its worth spending the extra day relaxing, fishing, and explore the area. Review: Dickinson Park to Smith, Cloverleaf, Cook, Mendarrin, Middle, & Cathedral Lakes, Hiking and Adventure Map (Work in Progress), Day 1, 11 July: Dickinson Park to Cloverleaf Lake, Day 2: Mendarrin Lake and Camp at Cathedral Lake (My day of birth! Not really. 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. It is non-technical, but may require technical gear in early-season. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Did you have cell phone reception on the trail and around the lakes? The possibilities of creating a loop from Summit Lake are endless. Nights will be cold year-round, sometimes reaching freezing temperatures even in the summer months. Cathedral Peak's big east-facing wall, rising above Cathedral Lake in the eastern Wind Rivers, has a long history, attracting the attention of climbers since at least 1979, when Fred Beckey and Jim Kanzler completed the route they named Orion's Reflection.NOLS courses camp nearby every year, and Wyoming hardmen like Greg Collins and Dave Anderson have passed through the area. Youll come across semi-established camp spots that are heavily used by thru-hikers. Its recommended for the Cirque of the Towers loop that you bring a map and compass and that you know how to use them. Ha! Sheridan Region fisheries personnel recently sampled Long, Ringbone, Romeo, Martin, Willow #1, Willow #3, and Lame Deer lakes in the upper Clear Creek drainage of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. I suspect we would have if wed climbed higher somewhere, but the highest we got was in our poorly planned ingress to Mendarrin. Lakes such as Trapper Lake, Trail Lake, Gottfried Lakes, Borum Lake, and Summit Lake provide excellent campsite options and even better fishing! These wild lands west of the divide and north of Gannet Peak (collectively known as Bear Basin) is easily the most magnificent trail-less section of the Wind Rivers. We did, and it wasnt the end of the world, but it was way too slopy and filled with intermittent boulder piles, Right before Mendarrin, we ended up going way up a dumb cliff (my map made it look like it wouldnt be bad) and came out 200 feet above the lake. Road Tripping. Fremont County, Wyoming, U.S. Parent range. We both decided that wed rather stick to the southern edge of Middle and Cathedral Lakes as we made our way up, rather than having to cross that crapshow again. Mid-June through September is the best time to attempt this summit. You can reach Seneca Lake by parking at the Elkhart Park trailhead and taking the Pole Creek Trail from there. It contains 40 peaks over 13,000 feet, the largest glacier in the American Rockies, and over 1300 named lakes. Take in stunning panoramic views as you hike or ride right from your doorstep in the area considered the Shangri-La of the Similkameen. Joe Kelsey says the following of this area, "Hall's Lake sits at 10,602 feet in the midst of a large area decreed trailless by the Forest Service. I dont know that this was the right choice, because the woods were thick and loaded with snow, which slowed us to a crawl. Near the Green River Lakes area, Roaring Fork is just one of many trails near here. Cathedral Peak is one of the Colorado Centennial 13ers meaning it's one of the highest 100 ranked peaks in Colorado. I might one day orienteer it over it Dutch Over Lake, if Im so blessed. You will need a permit to camp at the lakes. Interested in Wind River Range backpacking but not going the distance in the Titcomb Basin? Lake Info Fishing Forecast Fishing Reports More Discuss ions. Im going to try and keep this hike narrative pretty short. Moose, elk, grizzly bears, wolverines, bald eagles, and more call this range home. Backpacking without a stove is the easiest, leanest, and safest way to wander the wilderness. 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. When it comes to Wind River Range backpacking routes, there are a few premier trails to choose from, each varying in length, difficulty and terrain. The Dyrt PRO lets you download maps and campgrounds without cell service. Back at camp we packed up and headed toward Cathedral Lake. Temple Peak, the second-highest peak in the southern Wind River Range, is a class 3 scramble from the South Ridge route. Sign up for our free email to join thousands of readers getting epic travel, hiking, camping and gear ideas every week. Considering taking a trip with your trail pup? 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. Wyoming; Wisconsin; West Virginia; Washington; Virginia; Vermont; DIY. Remember to Leave No Trace, come prepared, and have fun! 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. You'll touch the east shore of Lonesome Lake, and follow the trail east to Lizard Head Meadows. Cathedral Group is a group of the tallest peaks in the Teton Range, including Grand Teton, Mount Owen and Teewinot. (I saw it during my trip up Wind River Peak, in fact, and had a chuckle.) The route down the glacier is detailed in Pallister's book, and unless you are slightly crazy, you should plan to carry some form of light crampons and an ice axe. The 63 glaciers of the range are more than in any other range of the American Rockies and surpassed in the continuous USA only by the Washington Cascades. NOTE! They tended to Stay on the middlecathedral arm. This trail by itself is typically done between two to four days. Cathedral Group Turnout is a viewpoint on Jenny Lake Road. Why you should go: Wildflowers and shimmery lakes meet steep granite walls on this classic trip through the Wind River Range. It wasnt really difficult, but we made a lot more work for ourselves than we needed. Mom lazed on a rock, snacking on jerky, while I caught a number of trout with ease! Cathedral, Hunter Hall Offices Room #102. As we set up camp and got firewood, the sunset was awesome, though I didnt manage to get many very nice photos. The Wind River Range offers world renowned fly fishing, and the areas 1,300 alpine lakes means any trail should offer multiple opportunities to cast your line. Love your critique of the Smith Lake and Cathedral Trail trailheads appreciate the turn-offs for touri helps weed a few out. 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. GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. 2. True happiness in the Cirque of the Towers. Also, they don't necessarily share the same parent. Even on this popular trail, finding solitude among the peaks is easy. Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet over 13 miles 9,100 ft to 11,500 ft). We gave them big ol deer eyes and it worked. To clarify, this is National Forest land. 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