Hike To Granite Lake In Wind River Range

Island lake backpack in the wind river range wyoming this very popular backpack leads to island lake 10 346 ft a stunning destination with great day hiking good fishing and scenic campsites.

Hike to granite lake in wind river range. Gannett peak at 13 804 feet. Hiking wind river country. With ten easily accessible trailheads it s a cinch to get to the slopes of the wind river mountain range. The core of the wind river range a backpacker s paradise runs for 80 miles along the crest of the continental divide in west central wyoming from green river lakes in the northwest to the big sandy opening in the southeast.

With dense forests granite slabs high alpine meadows and lakes cradled beneath craggy granite peaks the wind river range or the winds as they re called by fans are jammed with bucket list day hikes and backpacking trips that reward you with epic views and unbelievable beauty. The wind river s gannett peak at 13 804 feet takes the title. Forty peaks soar above 13 000 ft. Start at 10 000 feet and explore rainbow lake on this easy going trail.

The wind river range in wyoming is a place you truly have to see to believe. Where immense glacier carved granite spires tower over crystal clear lakes rolling meadows and fields choked with high alpine wildflowers. Granite spires dramatic peaks and the highest peak in wyoming. And even though the hike is 11 5 miles rt the trail is so flat climbing only 600ft it feels like much less.

It s an outdoor adventurer s dream come true. With 100 miles of incredible hikes to explore popular during july and august you ll have plenty of options. The wind river range offers world renowned fly fishing and the area s 1 300 alpine lakes means any trail should offer multiple opportunities to cast your line. The range is home to many of the state s highest mountains including fremont peak at 13 745 and wind river peak at 13 192 feet.

The region the hikes the base camps. The rainbow lake trail begins at dream lake which is right along the continental divide trail. This is probably one of the most popular areas of the wind river range due to its vicinity to many other more popular destinations but big sandy lake is also a great destination unto itself. The wind river and absaroka mountains are some of the most impressive in the country.

And over 100 summits top 12 000 ft. The trail to the lake if done in one day is long and tiring with lots of ups and downs. Ask anyone who s been here and they will tell you they are every bit as stunning as the grand tetons. Enjoy short easy day hikes or more intense backpacking trips depending on what wets your whistle.

Here s our take on the best day hikes in the wind river range. 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.