Help with Wind River Routes

Nick

Couple of thoughts. You will find that some of the trailheads to the north (Elkhart) are actually less travel time from Denver/SLC than some of the southern trailheads (Big Sandy). Longer time on dirt roads. Your first loop looks very ambitious for a 4-5 day trip and you will need an Indian “fishing” permit to enter the reservation.  As of last year, the permit is not available online, have to go to Pinedale or farther to purchase.   There is considerable off trail on that route with much slower going.  The second loop could be expanded by going over Hailey pass and looping around Grave Lake and Moss lake to Lizard. That was my first trip to the WRR and even though it was all on trail, it was quite nice.

Art

I am doing a loop similar to your larger loop this August other than I am not going in to the Indian Reservation and am trying to stay off trail as much as possible.

I have done two other WRR trips one in 2012 from Green River Lakes and one in 2014 from Big Sandy.  It is a beautiful area, you will have a blast.

The first loop is very ambitious for 4-5 days even in great weather and with no illness issues.  The second loop seems about perfect and it you are making good time and want to extend things a bit, you could expand the loop around grave lake and then out over hailey pass and back.

just noticed that someone else also recommended that route….

Excellent. Thanks for the feedback! Second loop it is. Sounds like it’ll be a good intro.

@art-r thanks for the tip re: driving times to trailheads–hadn’t considered that.

Looking at August conditions, and @mocs123 I found your old thread for your trip haha. Lots of good info on BPL.