3-4 day hike in Rockies

Many loops in the Weminuche wilderness near Durango with Vallecito, Highland Mary THs, … or take the train to Chicago Basin or Elk Ck. Just above it is the umcomprehage ("Big Blue" on old maps). Can be crowded, but the "Maroon Bells" is a classic.

So that I don’t have to get permits and use bear canisters, I hike loops through the Tetons and camp right outside the boundaries. A favorite loop is start at the Alaska Basin trailhead (on the Idaho side). Day 1 Hike up to Alaska Basin. Day 2 hike into TNP past Static Peak and through Death Canyon Trail to Fox Creek Pass. Day 3. Hike along Death Canyon Shelf and take Devil’s Staircase (fun one) back to car. Each day is about 10 miles. After Aug 1st is safe so most of the snow melt will be gone. There is water all the way.

I can email you a map if interested.

-Barry
-The Tetons were made for Tevas.

My vote is for Wind River Range. It requires no permits (unless you go in the indian reservation), few crowds, and world class scenery. I did a loop this past year that was 4 days and took us by Cirque of the Towers. In 2012 I did a loop that took us through Titcomb Basin. The downside is that a lot of the loops need a little off trail travel.

If you go:

Flights into Salt Lake City are generally inexpensive.

Buy the Nancy Pallister Guide Book "Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming" with the CD that includes her marked up USGS maps.

For maps, I like the Beartooth Publishing maps, though Earthwalk Press makes one too.

Bear Canisters are not required, though I did take one in 2014 (I didn't in 2012)

Titcomb Basin in 2012

Island Lake in 2012

Jeff, my family did 4 days backpacking trip last summer in Glacier NP. It was one way hike but you can use the shuttles. (We did not have any car).
You can check out our video in Post Trip report section under 2014 family trip (it's relatively new post). We REALLY had a lot of fun with gorgeous views in every step. Challenge would be getting the permit, but possible with some effort. It was sort of last minute trip so we went for walk in permit.

Thanks for all of the insight, I have a few more questions. I've heard mosquitos are bad at Wind river. Any truth to that? Also, what are the best resources for trail maps (of any locations really)?

The Winds would be on my list. Bradford's pics are really nice.

I would also consider the Weminuche Wilderness out of Durango with family and kids that age. The old steam train is pretty cool and ride is scenic. There is a lot of beautiful hiking when you get off the train in the Wilderness. There are some very accessible 14ers to climb in the Chicago Basin area there if your kids are interested in that. There are lots of mountain goats in the area to provide entertainment. There's plenty of great options of many lengths for walking and camping.

I've been there a couple of times with my sons when they were 16 year olds and it really worked out perfectly. I would say the only down side is that there is not a close by airport with good flights in. We drove in from Denver.

Both of my trips were later in the year (in 2012 it was August 25-September 1 and from August 28-September 2 in 2014) and I didn't see a single mosquito. That is one of the reasons I go that time of year. My 2011 JMT trip and 2013 Sierra trips were also in September and mosquito free. I did do a trip the first week of August to Rocky Mtn NP and ran into some Mosquitos at Lawn Lake.

Depending on the snowmelt I am sure the Mosquitos could be bad in the winds.

Jeff, I Use 10 yrs old National Geographic Topo map software and not sure if it's still available. On my phone I have Backcountry Navigator app (free) with Accuterra subscription (annual), which I use as a primary map and gps. You can download a region into your phone and you're ready to go. Of course printed map as a backup.

The Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells is pretty hard to beat. 14ers, endless views, unbelievable wildflowers, and even some fishing. Snowmass L will be crowded on weekends, but the back side of the loop is low-use. It's a hump (well, 4 humps) you'll want to be in shape.

The Winds are a good choice too, but when I was last there (1985), many trails were ankle-deep in horse shit, with stench and flies to match. Kind of detracted from the scenery.

The Pine River country in the Weminuche is also amazingly beautiful, but spruce budworm has hit the forest hard in recent years. The Cuttbow fishery in some of the lakes is outstanding, you should be able to get into some 16 inchers no problem.

My wife and I did Elk park to Needleton last July. It is in the Weminuche wilderness, CO mentioned prevoiusly. The main route is around 36 miles taking you over three passes. A wonderful trip.