Wind River Mountains

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A huge variety of walking in Wyoming's fabulous Wind River Mountains.

This is a huge, totally pristine wilderness, with a wide selection of Rockies wildlife (elk, moose, bear, deer, beaver, many birds) and superb granite scenery - the usual but not predictable peaks, cliffs, lakes, rivers and forests. Carved by - you guessed - glacial forces. The landscape varies from the roughest and wildest of rocky highlands surrounded by peaks and cliffs to gorgeous lakes reflecting dramatic formations looming above forest and flowery meadows, to deep forested valleys. Much of the area is above the treeline, although you will spend time in fine forest, too.

North-south fault-lines result in long ranges and ridges, with wide and high "benches" and valley systems running parallel to them, with a multitude of beauteous lakes (more than 1,500) amid crazily eroded rocky scenery. This makes for glorious walking close to the high ridges (which form the Continental Divide). The area is high, with 23 peaks over 13,000ft and quite a lot of time spent over 3,000m (10,000ft).

There is a hugely varied network (said to be over 1,100km) of good (if mostly unwaymarked) trails and campsites - although you can camp anywhere here. But, you need strong backcountry skills.

Great walks include:

• The Cirque of the Towers, a three-day walk into a remarkable semi-circle of sheer, dramatic peaks, cliffs and spires above the (sometimes) aptly named Lonesome Lake. (Off the first stretch of the Highline Trail.)
• The famous Highline Trail, around 10 days of spectacular walking in extravagantly beautiful, rough, wild, remote scenery. A classic route, traversing the range (usually walked from south to north) in 8 days upward, although do allow time for some of the many outstanding diversions that can be made, including the Cirque of the Towers and the Titcomb Basin. (i.e., allow 10 days.)
• Walking in to the extraordinary Titcomb Basin in the north, a huge glacial chasm littered with lakes, with huge sheer walls on both sides.
• The 3 day round trip from Big Sandy Trailhead to Deep Lake Cirque. A short walk in and out to a campsite by Big Sandy Lake, then a superb pack-free day walk to the vast rock walls and spires surrounding Deep Lake. Extraordinarily beautiful.

A key point to appreciate when planning a Wind River Mountains trek is that there is a wide variety of trails available, which can be used to create the perfect walk and, if crossing the range primarily on the Highline Trail, to take time-saving short cuts and to make some essential detours to places such as the Cirque of the Towers and the Titcomb basin, which should not be missed, having come all this way.

You can camp freely in the Winds, but keep at least 60m from water and trails.

See Walkopedia friend Ben Duncan's excellent pictures from his Wind River walk here.