Located in west central Wyoming, the Wind River Range is roughly 100 miles long. It includes many peaks, with several over 13,000 feet in elevation. The Winds include the highest Rocky Mountain peaks outside Colorado.
Many classic alpine rock routes can be found in the Wind Rivers. Many routes are relatively remote.
See Summitpost.org for additional information on the Wind River Range.
Getting There
US Highway 191 runs along the western side of the Wind River Range.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Wind River Range:
Black Elk was the "hardest route in the Cirque" for over 20 years. While technically not in the Cirque (see location below), it is one of the best routes in this area of the Winds.P1 Scramble up ledges from the left side of the northeast face. Stay low when you have the option. Rope up just before an orange colored section of rock and climb this to a large ledge (5.8 and not well protected). Next go left up a slabby right facing corner/ramp....[more]Browse More Classics in WY
A great town to hang out in when visiting the Bridger Wilderness and/or The Winds: Pinedale, Wyoming
An awesome food joint, and a cheap way to satisfy your extreme hunger related to playing in The Winds: Sugar Shack (307) 367-6404 310 E Pine St Pinedale (I believe they close up for the "wintry" months)
I did a trip into Cirque of the Towers for 4th of July a couple years back and the mosquitos were like something from a monster movie - make sure you have long pants, long sleeves, and a mosquito net for your head.
I had a similar experience around mid July last year, I couldn't hike fast enough to get away from the swarms down near big sandy lake and bug dope was useless, but up in the Cirque it wasn't too bad. I was back again to deep lake around mid August and I don't remember seeing any. Come prepared for the monster movie and you will be in good shape.
I just got back from the Winds, the mosquitoes were not quite up to Alaskan standards but definitely a force to reckon with. I treated my clothes with http://www.rei.com/product/751264 , used copious quantities of 100% DEET and kept the bites to a minimum. The mosquito population drops off dramatically after you get past 10,000' or so and get deeper into the range.
Trails End Campground (outside Pinedale, for folks heading up to Titcomb Basin) has running water and charges $12/night, Big Sandy Campground has no running water and charges $9/night.
I spent a night at Rivera Lodge on the main drag through Pinedale, an older and kind of funky place but the new owner is going all out and doing great things with it. She makes an excellent pancake breakfast, too. The whole town seems to shut down for the winter and the location seems to drive up the cost of running any kind of business, so none of the hotels or motels were what I would call cheap.
Wind River Pizza is a good place for pizza, pasta and beer.
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