I am also delighted to hear that you are still going. I hear it can be pretty rough. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. I'm guessing it's called that for a good reason. Be sure to pick up all dog waste and keep them on leash so as to not disturb wildlife. My family tend to go in over July 4th about every 3 to 4 yrs. With 130 glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes, and 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, its no wonder the Winds have made their place on thousands of backpackers bucket lists. 104 South 4th Street. We packed up and headed out despite the geology attempting to put me into a drooling dazesee picture below, and Im typing this on a split Kinesis keyboard with no numpad, so I cant do em dashes at the moment. 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. Mom got up with the sun, and I got up slightly after. Try traveling this trail anytime between May and September, but remember: Its always a good idea to check the snowpack reports. The Hay Pass Trail is not maintained, so keep your GPS, map, and compass handy. She describes it as miserable. Navigating Cloverleafs outlet was very simple, and we crossed on rocks, ending up on a huge iceberg of snow, which we climbed up. 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. (1), Comments Follow the top of the divide north for approximately 1.5 miles, then drop down west to the north shore of Baker Lake. Located on the Arizona shoreline of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City is a destination for boaters, water sport enthusiasts, hikers, nature lovers, car enthusiasts and history buffs. _Bonneville Basin can be reached by two different ways. Explore the numerous lakes in the area. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet over 13 miles 9,100 ft to 11,500 ft). Although not marked on maps, Split Mountain Pass is the obvious pass directly west of Split Mountain. Started off MUCH worse got much better now is reverting to a seldom used trail. After guiding several trips through the Western Slope Desert, Daniell fell in love with climbing desert towers and overnight canoe trips down the Colorado River. The WRRT is the culmination of months of personal research of guidebooks, maps, and online reports of the Wind River Range. Over billions of years, natural forces including earthquakes, glaciers and erosion have shaped this magnificent landscape. This is high elevation camping at its finest, showcasing the areas iconic rock and snow. Reachable by Pinedale, Roaring Fork Trail offers thick forest scenery and shelter to backpackers. The lake itself was spectacular. If you have any questions, comments, or anything else, feel free to post below. Ben, thank you for visiting this page. Good campsite opportunities wont come until you reach Double Lake or Star Lake, with are 11.1 miles and 12.4 miles into the trail (respectively). Its imperative to come prepared with a map and compass or GPS communicator/navigation device when backpacking in the Wind River Range. Summit Lake is accessed from the Spring Creek Park Trailhead, which is best reached from Pinedale. Cathedral Lakes: Hike Details Starting Elevation: 8,548 ft. 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. Cathedral Lake is a lake located just 18.4 miles from Fort Washakie, in Fremont County, in the state of Wyoming, United States, near Temple Creek Summer Home Area, WY. You can buy yours online from them at this page so that you dont have to waste time when you get into townshow up and pick up. 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. Only the off-trail option is doable as a day hike (shown on a map in Pallister's book). I'm transcribing these hikes in my own order, but if you'd like to see one moved to the top of the review list, just let me know. We began descending and at mile 2 reached some switchbacks. Its hard to believe Heaven is going to be better than the beauty of that area. Dan, thank you. The far end of the lake had one heck of an amazing waterfallactually, it has 3 inlets! Travel here is high compared to other, harder to reach, trailheads of the Winds. The road is decent until the last mile or so, and even then it can be just fine as long as rain hasnt led to horrible bogging. Some of the easiest hiking trails in the Winds with some of the best scenery (even if theyre saying otherwise). 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. There was a lush, green lawn leading up to the lake, but were law-abiders when possible, so we looked around the trees. The Cathedral Group Turnout is located along Jenny Lake Road which you can access while driving the Grand Teton Scenic Loop Drive. Compare 1,195 hotels close to Cathedral Lake Trailhead with room rates, reviews, and availability. Due to the low use of this area, a permit is not required to wilderness camp here. Cathedral Lake is located in the Wind River Range. Given that we fished somewell, yeah, we still basically moseyed and puttered. Meridian lake was not named then ( just blank name on topo maps) so we named it glacier amongst ourselves. Our feet were really dang numbed by the experience, though. I suspect we would have if wed climbed higher somewhere, but the highest we got was in our poorly planned ingress to Mendarrin. They were bravely close to the water given the ranger vehicles at the trailhead! 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. From the peak, descend west to the saddle, and northeast down the valley (cirque) to a group of lakes, one of which is Windy Lake. _The Smith Creek Lakes and Cathedral Lake are accessed by either traveling directly east off-trail to Mendarrin Lake from the Lizard Head trail, or by wrapping east and north around the Lizard Head Plateau on trails from the Cirque of the Towers. All in all, its a highly accessible backpackers dream. From this lake, continue southwest past Lake Kagevah to 11,290 foot Kagevah Pass. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. Hooker towers above Grave Lake, and is the largest vertical rock wall in Wyoming. Why you should go: Wildflowers and shimmery lakes meet steep granite walls on this classic trip through the Wind River Range. At about 15.5 miles into the trail, the incline drastically increases as you work your way between Three Waters Mountain and Osborn Mountain. This initial climb will get your heart rate going. 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. Located near Dubois, this trail is no joke. (I saw it during my trip up Wind River Peak, in fact, and had a chuckle.) Did you have cell phone reception on the trail and around the lakes? According to the approximate route I traced on my phone, the total elevation gain is about 29,000 feet!! This area was created in order to allow you to talk about topics other than fishing reports for Cathedral Lake. Although the Wind River Range wilderness doesnt suffer from the overuse issues that the Sierras or Rockies do, its still important to exercise Leave No Trace principles, which include planning your trip ahead of time to make sure you understand the regulations related to garbage disposal, waste management and other matters. In fact, 19 of Wyoming's 20 highest peaks are in the Wind River Range and there are more than 40-named peaks rising above 13,000 feet. The route I'm presenting here is meant to be savored, and my recommended time for it is 20 days, including 2 days for weather-related issues. If you are looking for the perfect weekend getaway, this ones for you! I also did some fishing, but released the critters as mom said she didnt feel like cleaning and cooking them. If you are hiking here in the warmth of July, you can come across some trouble finding a camp spot within Forest Service parameters. (3034mt.) If you have the time to add in a day, do it! Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet over 6 miles (9,100 ft to 11,300 ft). Glen Aulin: This easy, 11-mile round-trip trail features numerous waterfalls and breathtaking vistas as it follows the Tuolumne River. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park A wide, well-maintained trail offers great views and the ease of simply being outside. Your jaw WILL drop (if it didn't already) when you reach the crest of Jackass Pass and overlook Lonesome Lake and the Cirque. Continue west until you get to the drainage of the Knife Point Glacier, your next destination. All of which means that Wind River Range backpacking is a must-do for anyone serious about getting outside. Camping near Halls Lake or further along at the Golden Lakes (just north of Hay Pass in the next section) would be recommended. Outfitters on their horses were headed up, so we stepped to the side. Trailhead Start: Big Sandy Trailhead It made me hungry! Cathedral Lake, when we finally arrived, was enough to floor anyone. The section from Big Sandy Lake to the Cirque of the Towers will be the busiest part of the entire WRRT. Why you should go: Get lost deep in the Wind River Range as you find yourself among jagged peaks, rushing streams, and crystal-clear lakes filled with trout. There is apparently a non-technical route that goes northwest from the pond that traverses the cliffs above Little Sandy Creek. It traverses northwest while staying high on the mountaintops. From the east end of Grave Lake, follow the trail that goes west along the north shore. Ive done this same hike on several occasions but its been over 20 years now. Why Hike Cathedral Lake. Its the most traveled trail to the summit of Wyomings highest peak, and one of the longest trails in the area (aside from the CDT). This is the only small section of the WRRT where these tools may be required. Thankfully there was an awesome bridge over the marsh. 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. Wed left Lander around 2PM (my house was very far away) and got to the trailhead at 4PM. The Inn at Aspen 11 mi from Cathedral Lake Trailhead $153 per night Apr 12 - Apr 13 8.2/10 Very Good! Take in stunning panoramic views as you hike or ride right from your doorstep in the area considered the Shangri-La of the Similkameen. It was slowly melting, which meant that the floor of the tent would be wet and thus colder, though the inside would be fine. This requires using Dickinson Park out of Lander, which itself requires crossing reservation land. Over time it got fished out but now is slowly getting some fish back in itI guess from no name lake just before it. Among the best ways to explore the Wind River Range is to travel one of the spectacular trails through the region. They liked my Red Devil spoon the best, but sadly one grabbed it, snapped the line, and spat out the lure! I hate pure out and backs. Its quite beautiful and has some huge fish! If youre planning a Wind River Range backpacking trip at altitude, consider how hard youre trying to push yourself, and make sure you know how to tell if youre dehydrated or suffering from mild altitude sickness. This was our hardest day, though also the shortest. The Glacier Trail is the classic route to the Gannett Peak summit. Jenny Lake is a popular area for hiking. To access trails, drive down the Teton Park Road and turn at South Jenny Lake. There are several camping options on the Cirque trail. It is apparent on topo maps, and there is a stream that follows it and drops to the creek. It also contains the largest system of glaciers in the American portion of the Rockies. We spied a bunch of old folks across the lake lounging in hammocks which made us both very happy! From Baptiste Lake, head due east for approximately 1.5 miles, then north to the upper Grave Creek Cirque. Nestled on the foothills of the Front Range of the Rockies, Fort Collins offers plenty of great hiking opportunities close to town. She has had the privilege of working for Colorados most experienced climbing guide service as an Office & Marketing Manager and an Outdoor Climbing Guide. Far north in the Wind Rivers, Gannett Peak is also viewable from this ridge line. 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! Here you can go straight and around the north side of Middle Lake (SmithMiddleCathedralsomeone wasnt creative), or take the branch trail toward Cook Lake. After my excitement wore down, we had to find a place to camp. From Coon Lake, you go around the south shore, and walk to a small pond just west of the lake, perched above cliffs. Thanks. Cathedral Lake Type: Lake Category: body of water Location: Wyoming, Rocky Mountains, United States, North America View on OpenStreetMap Latitude 42.8207 or 42 49' 15" north Longitude The crossing between lakes was filled with trout and was best accomplished closer to Cathedral Lake, which I gladly did. Less than 35 miles. A steady incline lies ahead of you until you reach Faler Lake. The views here are straight out of a National Geographic magazine. (My phone was pretty bad at the time!) East Temple Peak is a class 2 stroll directly northeast from Temple Pass. 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. You wont! Why you should go: Work your way up through thick forest to gain views of the entire Wind River Range. Backpackers should also check snowpack levels in order to determine the best time to hit the trail without encountering too much snow. Water feature? At mile 4-ish we reached the trail intersection to Sanford Park, though we couldnt really discern it. On the other side I found my favorite flower! Yay, a day where everything was pretty much uneventful, meaning that I dont have too much to type. 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. 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