Cirque of the Towers Hike: The Complete Trail Guide

The Cirque of the Towers is the most photographed place in the Wind River Range, and for good reason. A horseshoe of jagged granite spires including Pingora, Wolfs Head, and Warbonnet Peak wraps around Lonesome Lake at roughly 10,200 feet, creating one of the great alpine amphitheaters in the Lower 48. Reaching it takes real effort, but the payoff is a landscape that rivals anything in the Tetons with a fraction of the crowds.

Where the Trail Starts: Big Sandy Trailhead

Nearly everyone reaches the Cirque from the Big Sandy Trailhead on the southeast side of the range. Getting there is part of the adventure: you drive a long series of gravel and washboard Forest Service roads off Highway 28, and the final stretch is slow going for low-clearance cars. Plan on the trailhead being remote, with no cell service and a self-pay parking area that fills early on summer weekends.

From Big Sandy, the standard route follows the trail past Big Sandy Lake, then climbs to North Lake and up to Jackass Pass at about 10,800 feet. The descent off the pass drops you straight into the Cirque at Lonesome Lake. Round trip to the Cirque and back is roughly 16 to 18 miles depending on your exact turnaround, with significant elevation gain over Jackass Pass in both directions.

Day Hike or Backpacking Trip?

Strong, acclimatized hikers do reach the Cirque as a long day hike, but most people backpack in to actually enjoy it. The classic plan is to camp one night near Big Sandy Lake, push over Jackass Pass to spend a full day in the Cirque, and hike out on day three. If you want the full multi-day experience with surrounding lakes and passes, see our Wind River Range hiking and backpacking itinerary for a day-by-day plan.

• Big Sandy Lake: a popular and legal camping zone with easy water access, a good base camp at lower elevation.
• Jackass Pass: the crux of the hike, with rocky scrambly sections and big exposure to weather.
• Lonesome Lake: the heart of the Cirque, but camping rules here are restricted to protect the fragile shoreline.

Camping Rules at Lonesome Lake

Because the Cirque sees heavy use, the Forest Service prohibits camping within a quarter mile of Lonesome Lake. Plan to camp on the benches above the lake, in the meadows toward Pingora, or back near Big Sandy Lake. Practice strict Leave No Trace: pack out all trash, camp on durable surfaces, and use a bear canister or proper food hang since this is grizzly and black bear country.

Permits and Regulations

The Cirque straddles the Bridger Wilderness and the Popo Agie Wilderness in the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests. No permit is currently required for backpacking, which is rare for a destination this iconic, but you should still fill out the free trailhead register. Group sizes are limited and campfires are discouraged or banned at high elevation, so carry a stove.

Best Season and Conditions

The realistic window for the Cirque is mid-July through mid-September. Jackass Pass can hold snow into July, and afternoon thunderstorms build almost daily in summer, so cross high passes early in the day. By late September nighttime temperatures drop well below freezing and the first storms of fall arrive. Mosquitoes peak in July near the lower lakes, easing as the season dries out in August.

What to Pack

This is a remote, high-elevation hike with no resupply, so come prepared. Bring layers for freezing nights, sturdy boots for the talus around Jackass Pass, a water filter, and a map and compass or GPS since the route over the pass is easy to lose in fog. A bear canister is strongly recommended. Start your acclimatization a day early in Lander or Pinedale if you live at sea level, because the altitude is no joke.

Climbers come to the Cirque for the legendary rock routes on Pingora and Wolfs Head, but you do not need to climb to be moved by this place. Even a single afternoon walking the shoreline below the towers is one of the finest things you can do on foot in Wyoming.