Given that we fished somewell, yeah, we still basically moseyed and puttered. Makes me happy! Follow the trail around the large base of Roaring Fork Mountain to arrive at Tayo Park. The stiff climb, ascending 2,000-ft. up beautiful Pine Creek canyon, traverses aspen groves, spruce-fir forests and pretty meadows on its way to Cathedral Lake, an alpine jewel cradled in a stunning cirque of jagged granite summits and rugged ridges, anchored by Cathedral Peak (13,943-ft.). We eventually got a reprieve and broke out into an area of dry shoreline, which was glorious to walk on. Related Read:Heres Why Leave No Trace Principles are So Damn Important. You'll touch the east shore of Lonesome Lake, and follow the trail east to Lizard Head Meadows. I'm guessing it's called that for a good reason. Bear Lakes, although a short detour, look absolutely gorgeous. --Lana Turner. Roaring Fork Trail is a true test of skill. RV Weight . The Cathedral Lake is located in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. Mileage: 12 miles RT 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. What a place to camp, huh? The lead rider stopped to talk with us, and as we were chatting, her rear mule lost its mind, snapping off from the train and pulling the rope off of itself. 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. _The Peak Lake Area. Distance: 11.5 miles (with plenty of walking around the lakes) Elevation Gain: 1,732 ft. Wed left Lander around 2PM (my house was very far away) and got to the trailhead at 4PM. It can also get tough after the mud hardens. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Attempts to repair my Trail Scout werent fruitful, but it still provided some extra loft, and it wasnt a really bad experience, as Ive had when an inflatable pad has had a catastrophic failure in other scenarios. Atlantic Peak is the southernmost 12er in the Wind Rivers (and really the southernmost mountain of any note): the perfect place to start a comprehensive south-north traverse of the range. We heard some people and saw a couple of folks fishing at the west side, far from us. To clarify, this is National Forest land. Of course, with such a bounteous landscape thats overflowing with scenic trails its tough to know where to start your backpacking adventure. We had a close-up view of the Cathedral Group on the Forks of Cascade Canyon Trail and also enjoyed the view from the turnout. Above treeline no trail has been worn, but you can follow cairns across the windswept plateau. After we were both bathed, we soaked up the campfire heat and I got pictures of the night sky. The bugs can be pretty bad in the heat of summer, though, so hiking here in September is highly recommended since the mosquitoes wont be as bad. The Wind River Range Traverse (WRRT) is the finest non-technical alpine backpacking route in the lower 48 states. Why you should go: Work your way up through thick forest to gain views of the entire Wind River Range. Something with a bit of a loop in it would be way nice. We took the same trail out that we took in, and spent only 7 hours from packing up to getting to the trailhead. Mom and I wanted to hike some of the reservation trails and didnt have too long to do it, so we picked Cathedral Lake. The ease of the trail makes this area a great way to simply spend time in the Wind River Range wilderness. I need to spend more time on the Eastern side of the Winds, but wont be able to for some time as my daughter is still too young for the mileage required in my limited time off, at least with the drive from my home. . It was ugly and filled with dead trees. Go south up the glacier to the top of Indian Pass. Day 3 totals: 7 miles, +817/-1427, 9294 min/9636 avg/9985 max. Just continue north to shallow and picturesque Hay Pass. Be the first to write a review. For speedier backpackers, Big Sandy Lake is a popular camping spot just under 6 miles from the Big Sandy trailhead. To create the usual loop, follow the Cirque of the Towers Trail until you reach the Cirque, then find the Fremont Trail by navigating through Texas Pass. After about 1.2 miles, among a few small tarns above the basin floor, cut north to Split Mountain Pass. We only saw one group of campers down by the lake. 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. Hooker towers above Grave Lake, and is the largest vertical rock wall in Wyoming. The lower elevation of Dads Lake comes with a longer hiking season. While the trip offers a number of different arrangements depending on how long you make it, the recommended path includes starting from the Elkhart Park Trailhead, which is located just a two-hour drive from Jackson. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Sadly, my Thermarest Trail Scout had developed a hole, so my sleep wasnt as luxurious as the previous night! 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. 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. The Hay Pass Trail is not maintained, so keep your GPS, map, and compass handy. Dickinson Park to Middle Lake. From Baptiste Lake, head due east for approximately 1.5 miles, then north to the upper Grave Creek Cirque. Continue north to the head of Tourist Creek, and ascend northeast above lake 10890 all the way to the divide near Point 12450. Hike along the eastern ramps and shore of this lake (it is reported that the going is toughest at the beginning southeast end). It is all off trail, and may have tricky route finding, but is never technical (vast majority is class 2 and below, with a few possible class 3 moves). 3. Planning your trip to the Titcomb Basin in September will get you away from the camp crowds and mosquitoes. Take in stunning panoramic views as you hike or ride right from your doorstep in the area considered the Shangri-La of the Similkameen. The majority of this land is maintained by the National Forest Service, so National Forest rules and regulations of backpacking and dispersed camping apply. 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. Make your way north past a myriad of small lakes to Crescent Lake. His favorite place he's ever visited is Alaska, and his favorite activity might be fishing or reading, depending on the day. There are 15 creek crossings along this trail! Although the Cathedral above the lake isnt actually Cathedral Peak (which is farther back and almost 1000-feet higher), it was a stunning bit of geology. Lembert Dome Trail: This 2.8-mile round-trip trail features stunning panoramic views of Tuolumne Meadows. After the first 4.5 miles on Pole Creek Trail, you will pass a marker called Photographers Point. A map and compass are necessary while on this trail since route-finding can be difficult over rocks and snow. Highway 1; Highway 101; Highway 270; Highway 70; . It is advised that you camp in either of these spots rather than at Big Sandy Lake. Cathedral Lake sits right outside of Aspen, Colorado, and can only be reached by a strenuous, but breathtakingly beautiful, hike up to its shores. I have hope, however, that the Mammoth has receded enough that there is a possible non-glacier route following the southern edge of the glacier. Only the off-trail option is doable as a day hike (shown on a map in Pallister's book). Length 9.1 miElevation gain 1,102 ftRoute type Out & back. (I saw it during my trip up Wind River Peak, in fact, and had a chuckle.) Truly beautiful, steep peaks create the backdrop of Photographers Point. From here, there is a maintained trail all the way to Big Sandy Lake. In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell's. Cathedral Peak is one of the Colorado Centennial 13ers meaning it's one of the highest 100 ranked peaks in Colorado. A couple of hundred feet beyond we came to some cascades, and decided to cross back again, since there was an easy area of rocks to hop. This is high elevation camping at its finest, showcasing the areas iconic rock and snow. Thanks. I know that while backpacking its typically not advised to bring so many extra clothes, but since you will be camping at high altitude and in the cold, dry layers are necessary to prevent hypothermia. We started off in a bald section and went uphill into a very arid, dusty forest; the uphill climb lasted for a mile and only went up 372 feet, but the day was hot, so we both felt it. It had 2# to 5# brooks in it. The Cathedral Group Turnout is located along Jenny Lake Road which you can access while driving the Grand Teton Scenic Loop Drive. Some icons at default view contain 5+ hikes when zoomed in. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 38 min to complete. The Teton Range towers over the valley of Jackson Hole, providing dramatic alpine scenery and drawing millions of visitors to Grand Teton National Park each year. It is apparent on topo maps, and there is a stream that follows it and drops to the creek. View Wind River Range Traverse Image Gallery - 1 Images. Another classic of the Wind River Range, Titcomb Basin offers everything youd ever want to see on a multi-day trip. Just beyond the crossing we found a very old sign announcing our location, as well as the trail proper. For backpackers who wish to visit Cook Lake, you can create a loop that covers just over 29 miles in total. Judging from a recent picture, it may go, but only in late summer. The range is also home to some of North America's largest glaciers. It has an elevation gain of 800 feet and takes six to eight hours to hike. Because the nearest station and this geographic feature . The Jean Lakes are a long day hike from Titcomb Basin via the Highline Trail. We made our way back down the outlet looking for a use trail, but there was just far too much snow on the ground, so we did a bunch of slipping and sliding. Related Read:11 Backpacking Trips in the U.S. That Should be on Your Bucket List. We followed the trail past Cook Lake, but it wasnt pretty and I didnt get pictures of the lake itself. Generally speaking, backpacking here is best done in the late summer or early fall, when temperatures are warmer and the better portion of the snow has melted from the high altitude terrain. If you are looking for the perfect weekend getaway, this ones for you! At the western tip of Middle Lake, near the inlet, we stopped to fish. You will need a permit to camp at the lakes. You can find directions easily from guidebooks. Great news: Dads Lake is a dog-friendly trail, just be sure to bring a leash along. There was a lush, green lawn leading up to the lake, but were law-abiders when possible, so we looked around the trees. Three different trailheads form an approximately 9 mile long loop, running by beautiful lakes and scenic alpine vistas- all of which are within a day hike of the Beartooth Highway. The trail itself continues by the lakeside for about 1000 feet and is also a bit steep, though you can find plenty of spots to put up a camp. Getting over all that was a total blast. The best time to visit the Titcomb Basin area is in the late summer, beginning in July and ending in late September. If you have any questions, comments, or anything else, feel free to post below. This trail starts from the Pole Creek Trail, then connects with the Seneca Lake and Indian Pass trails. This is the only small section of the WRRT where these tools may be required. The crossing between lakes was filled with trout and was best accomplished closer to Cathedral Lake, which I gladly did. Wildlife is prominent in this mountain range. The trail is a bit rocky near the turnaround point, so trekking poles are suggested. "The ridge is most easily gained 0.5 miles from the summit; two couloirs nearer the summit are corniced early in summer and later filled with ice and loose rock. According to Joe Kelsey, "Above treeline, while the Forest Service doesn't maintain the trail shown on the Temple Peak quad, you shouldn't have trouble switchbacking to Temple Pass, the 11,480-foot saddle between Temple and East Temple Peaks.". Fishing Cathedral Lake, WY on 4/10/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from . It lies 1.7 miles north of its more famous neighbor, Castle Peak (14,275 feet). The rest of the route is described in Nancy Palister's book, called the Goat-friendly High Route. 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. This trail is well traveled by CDT thru-hikers, and well maintained. Moose, elk, grizzly bears, wolverines, bald eagles, and more call this range home. Cathedral Group is a group of the tallest peaks in the Teton Range, including Grand Teton, Mount Owen and Teewinot. Applying DEET and wearing layers will help protect you from these little buggers. According to the approximate route I traced on my phone, the total elevation gain is about 29,000 feet!! I cant describe how much I loved it. 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. This was our hardest day, though also the shortest. Mileage: 29-30 miles RT Its recommended for the Cirque of the Towers loop that you bring a map and compass and that you know how to use them. In AdventureAlan's trip report of his long-distance Wind River Trip (linked below), he advises not to camp at the upper part of the basin containing Long Lake (the particular lake is Lake 10,555) due to poor campsites and unpleasant-tasting water. This is a spectacular opportunity to take one of those wonderful pictures the Wind River Range is known for. 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