Wind River Range Backpacking: Titcomb Basin to the Cirque in 7 Days
One range, granite spires, glaciers & alpine lakes, deep in Wyoming.
Seven days of serious alpine backpacking through the Winds: Titcomb Basin under Gannett Peak, Indian Basin, Island Lake, high passes, and the Cirque of the Towers, with the Wind River High Route as the ultimate version.
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19 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Wind River Range: every stop pinned in order.
Titcomb Basin, Island Lake & the Cirque of the Towers · Wyoming
Wind River Range in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 7 days in Wind River Range, one step at a time
How 7 days in Wind River Range split up
Plan 7 days for Wind River Range. Total distance: ~50-70 mi. Difficulty: Strenuous. Permit: Free self-reg. The Wind River Range is the wildest, highest stretch of the Rockies in Wyoming, a 100-mile granite spine that holds the state's tallest summit, Gannett Peak at 13,810 feet, plus the largest glaciers in the American Rockies and hundreds of alpine lakes. There are no roads through it and no resupply, which is exactly why a week here feels like crossing into a different country.
Day 1: Elkhart Park to Hobbs & Seneca Lakes
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Island Lake & up into Titcomb Basin
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Layover day · Indian Basin, a summit or a glacier
3 stops · Day three
Day 4: South over the high country toward Pole Creek
2 stops · Day four
Day 5: Toward Big Sandy & Jackass Pass
2 stops · Day five
Day 6: Over Jackass Pass into the Cirque of the Towers
3 stops · Day six
Day 7: Out via Big Sandy & the road to Lander
3 stops · Day seven
Elkhart Park to Hobbs & Seneca Lakes
Drive up to the Elkhart Park trailhead above Pinedale, the classic Pinedale-side gateway into the Winds at about 9,300 feet. Sign in at the free wilderness self-registration board, note the group-size limits, and shoulder a full seven days of food before you start, because there is no resupply anywhere on this route.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~9,300 ft trailhead · self-register · DriveDrive up to the Elkhart Park trailhead above Pinedale, the classic Pinedale-side gateway into the Winds at about 9,300 feet. Sign in at the free wilderness self-registration board, note the group-size limits, and shoulder a full seven days of food, because there is no resupply anywhere on this route.
- Pole Creek & Seneca Lake trails
~8-9 mi · forest, lakes & granite · HikeHike the Pole Creek and Seneca Lake trails through forest and granite benches, past Hobbs Lake and Seneca Lake, roughly 8 to 9 miles. Take it easy on day one to start acclimatizing and to settle into moving in grizzly country with bear spray on your hip.
Camp near Seneca LakeFirst night · canister or hang · customMake your first camp near Seneca or Little Seneca Lake. Camp lower the first night to help your body adjust, hang or canister your food well away from your tent, and keep bear spray within reach in grizzly country.
Island Lake & up into Titcomb Basin
Climb past Seneca Lake to the Lester Pass junction and drop to Island Lake, one of the most photographed spots in the range, a long blue lake studded with rocky islets and ringed by jagged peaks. This is the gateway camp for Titcomb, and many parties base here for a night to set up day trips deeper in.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Fredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0Island LakeIconic blue lake · gateway to Titcomb · ViewpointClimb past Seneca Lake and drop to Island Lake, one of the most photographed spots in the range, a long blue lake studded with rocky islets and ringed by jagged peaks. This is the gateway camp for Titcomb Basin.
- Up into Titcomb Basin
~10,500 ft · under Fremont & Gannett · HikePush on up into Titcomb Basin, a soaring glacial valley walled by Fremont Peak, Mount Helen, and the spires of the Divide, with Gannett Peak, the highest in Wyoming at 13,810 feet, rising beyond. Make camp among the Titcomb Lakes at roughly 10,500 feet on durable ground, well back from the water.
Fredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0Camp in Titcomb BasinHigh alpine · watch the afternoon sky · customCamp among the Titcomb Lakes. Pick a tent site on durable ground, keep well back from the water, and watch the afternoon clouds, because thunderstorms build fast at this elevation. Expect cold nights even in midsummer.
Layover day · Indian Basin, a summit or a glacier
Keep your Titcomb camp and take a day pack to explore. Wander the head of Titcomb Basin to the upper lakes, or cross over to Indian Basin, a wide bench of granite slabs and turquoise tarns directly under the Continental Divide, one of the finest high camps and day-hikes in the entire range.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Indian Basin
Granite slabs & tarns under the Divide · HikeKeep your Titcomb camp and day-pack over to Indian Basin, a wide bench of granite slabs and turquoise tarns directly under the Continental Divide, one of the finest high day-hikes in the entire range.
Optional Fremont Peak or glacierNon-technical summit · experienced only · ViewpointIf your party is experienced, scramble a non-technical summit such as Fremont Peak, the third-highest in Wyoming, by its standard talus route, or walk up to a glacier viewpoint to see the largest glaciers in the American Rockies. Keep any summit early and turn around well before the afternoon storms.
- Second night in Titcomb
Same base · day-pack the highlights · customSpend a second night in Titcomb Basin so you can explore with a light pack and acclimatize before the bigger passes ahead. Keeping the same base means no packing up between two big alpine days.
South over the high country toward Pole Creek
Pack up and turn south, beginning the long traverse toward the Cirque of the Towers. Drop back out of Titcomb past Island Lake and pick up the trails that thread the lake-dotted high country around Pole Creek and the upper Fremont drainage, climbing over a first high saddle into new basins.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Traverse south via Pole Creek
~9-11 mi · first big saddle · HikePack up and turn south, dropping back past Island Lake and picking up the trails that thread the lake-dotted high country around Pole Creek and the upper Fremont drainage, climbing over a first high saddle into new basins. Expect roughly 9 to 11 miles with real elevation change.
- Camp at a sheltered alpine lake
Remote terrain · refill water · customMake camp at a sheltered alpine lake and refill on water before the next climb. This is big, remote terrain with several miles between water-friendly camps, lingering snow on shaded north slopes early in the season, and almost no other people.
Toward Big Sandy & Jackass Pass
Continue south through the heart of the range toward the Big Sandy side, the southern gateway nearest Lander. The trail rolls through a string of classic Winds lakes and granite shelves, drawing closer to the spires that guard the Cirque, with the unmistakable profile of the towers beginning to fill the skyline ahead.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- South toward Big Sandy
Lakes & shelves · towers come into view · HikeContinue south through the heart of the range toward the Big Sandy side, the southern gateway nearest Lander. The trail rolls through classic Winds lakes and granite shelves, drawing closer to the spires that guard the Cirque, with the towers beginning to fill the skyline.
Doug Letterman / CC BY 2.0Camp below Jackass PassCross the pass fresh & early · customSet up at one of the alpine lakes below Jackass Pass, the rugged notch that is the key to the Cirque of the Towers. Camp short of the pass so you can cross it fresh and early, before the afternoon weather. Keep a clean camp and store food properly in grizzly country.
Over Jackass Pass into the Cirque of the Towers
Cross Jackass Pass early and drop into the Cirque of the Towers, the most famous amphitheater in the range, a horseshoe of soaring granite spires, Pingora, Wolf's Head, and the rest, wrapped around Lonesome Lake. For many backpackers this is the emotional high point of the entire Wind River Range, and a place rock climbers travel across the world to reach.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Over Jackass Pass
Cross early into the Cirque · HikeCross Jackass Pass early while the rock is dry and the weather is settled, then drop into the Cirque of the Towers. This rugged notch is the key to one of the most famous amphitheaters in the entire range.
- Cirque of the Towers & Lonesome Lake
Granite amphitheater · Pingora · ViewpointDrop into the Cirque of the Towers, a horseshoe of soaring granite spires, Pingora, Wolf's Head and the rest, wrapped around Lonesome Lake. For many backpackers this is the emotional high point of the whole traverse, and a place rock climbers travel the world to reach.
Camp back from Lonesome LakeRequired setback · last alpine night · customCamp at the required distance back from Lonesome Lake to protect the fragile shoreline, keep your food secured, and savor a last night deep in the alpine before you walk out tomorrow. Use established sites and practice strict Leave No Trace.
Out via Big Sandy & the road to Lander
On the final day, climb back over the pass or take the alternate trail out and hike down to the Big Sandy trailhead through forest and meadow, roughly 9 to 10 miles, signing out at the wilderness register as you finish. After a week with no resupply and no cell service, the first cold drink in the trailhead lot tastes unreal.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Hike out to Big Sandy trailhead
~9-10 mi · sign out at the register · HikeClimb back over the pass or take the alternate trail out and hike down to the Big Sandy trailhead through forest and meadow, roughly 9 to 10 miles, signing out at the wilderness register as you finish. After a week with no resupply or cell service, the trailhead lot feels like another world.
Burgers in Lander, WYAbout 2 hr 40 from Big Sandy · a bed if you fly tomorrow · ViewpointBig Sandy is the southern gateway nearest Lander, a great basecamp town for a celebratory burger and a real bed. Reserve a room for your finish night, since this is the natural place to recover on the south end of the traverse.
Airport: Riverton or JacksonRIW ~2 hr · JAC ~2.5-3 hr · DriveFrom Lander it is a long but scenic drive to your airport, roughly 2 hours to Riverton (RIW) or about 2.5 to 3 hours over to Jackson (JAC) and Pinedale if you shuttled a car. Arrange your shuttle or pickup before the trip, because there is no cell service at the trailhead.
Sort where you sleep each night
Most nights on this trip are in a tent. Reserve any campsite the route needs, and the room either side of it if you want one.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling: the rooms either side, and the guided days in between. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Wind River Range
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
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Because you are sleeping out 6 nights
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Specific to Wind River Range
What we actually learned in the Winds.
Self-register at the wilderness trailhead
Overnight permits in the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone wilderness are free and self-issued at the trailhead register. There is no fee and no quota system like the high Sierra, but you must follow the posted group-size limits and sign in and out at Elkhart Park and Big Sandy.
This is grizzly country, so carry bear spray
The Winds hold grizzlies as well as black bears. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, store all food and scented items in a bear canister or a proper hang well away from your tent, and cook away from where you sleep. Make noise on blind corners and never leave food unattended.
Carry seven days of food, there is no resupply
There is no town, store, or resupply anywhere on this route. You carry every meal from the trailhead, so plan your menu carefully, count on burning a lot of calories at altitude, and treat or filter all water from the abundant lakes and streams as you go.
Plan around afternoon thunderstorms
Storms build almost every afternoon in summer. Cross high passes and tag summits in the morning, watch the western sky, and have a plan to get off ridges and exposed ground if lightning approaches. Camp low and sheltered, not on a pass or an exposed knoll.
Expect snow, bugs, and no cell service
Snow can linger on the high passes into July, the mosquitoes are ferocious in early summer, and there is no cell service in the range. Bring a head net and repellent early in the season, possibly an ice axe for early-season snow, and download offline maps plus a paper map and compass.
Best window is late July to mid September
The reliable backpacking season runs from late July, once most snow has melted off the passes, through mid September before the first hard storms. Early summer is buggy and snowy on the passes; September brings cold nights, fewer bugs, and the first golden larch and tundra color.
Wind River Range: questions before you go
Wind River Range backpacking: the questions people ask most.
A classic week-long Wind River Range backpacking trip starts at Elkhart Park near Pinedale and traverses up through Titcomb Basin under Fremont Peak and Gannett, over to Indian Basin and Island Lake, then south across high passes to the Cirque of the Towers, finishing out at Big Sandy near Lander. It links the most famous alpine scenery in the range over roughly 50 to 70 trail miles with a layover day for summits or glaciers.
The Wind River High Route is an advanced, mostly off-trail traverse of the range, roughly 80 to 100 miles depending on the variation, that stays high the entire way and links basin after basin over endless talus and unnamed passes. It involves serious route-finding, scrambling, and exposure with little established trail, so it is a major step beyond an on-trail week and is best for experienced, fit parties comfortable with cross-country navigation.
You do not need a paid or quota permit. Overnight trips in the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone wilderness require only a free, self-issued registration at the trailhead, such as Elkhart Park or Big Sandy. There is no fee, but you must sign in and out and follow the posted group-size limits for the wilderness area.
Yes. The Wind River Range is grizzly country as well as home to black bears, so carry bear spray where you can reach it and store all food and scented items in a bear canister or a proper hang well away from your tent. Cook away from where you sleep, keep a clean camp, and make noise on blind sections of trail.
Late July through mid September is the prime window. By late July most snow has melted off the high passes, the trails are open, and the wildflowers peak. Early summer is buggy with ferocious mosquitoes and lingering snow on the passes, while September brings cold nights, fewer bugs, and beautiful tundra color before the first hard storms.
It is strenuous, remote alpine backpacking. You carry a full week of food with no resupply, camp between roughly 10,000 and 11,000 feet, cross high passes that may hold snow, and deal with daily afternoon thunderstorms in true grizzly country with no cell service. It rewards fit, self-sufficient backpackers with solid navigation and backcountry skills.
The Pinedale-side trips start at the Elkhart Park trailhead above Pinedale, Wyoming, while the southern Cirque of the Towers access is at the Big Sandy trailhead nearer Lander. The closest airports are Jackson (JAC) and Riverton (RIW). Pinedale and Lander are the main basecamp towns for lodging, food, and last-minute gear before and after your trip.
A bear canister is strongly recommended and is the simplest, most reliable way to protect your food in grizzly country, especially in heavily used basins where trees suitable for a proper hang can be scarce above treeline. If you hang instead, do it correctly and well away from your tent. Either way, store all food and scented items every night.
Yes. Titcomb Basin, the Cirque of the Towers, and the passes between them are fully off the grid, with no cell signal anywhere on the traverse, so a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is the only reliable way to call for help in an emergency. Pair it with an IGBC-approved bear canister or a secure hang for your food, and pack warm layers even for an early-August trip, since nights up high stay cold and the weather turns quickly.
Tell us your dates and we ask a local guide who works this area what they can do on your days and what it costs. If nobody is free, we tell you. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 7-day route. Same 17 stops.
- 6 nights, sites along the route
- Free
- Rental car, 7 days
- $770
- Gas, about 163 miles
- $30
- A private local guide, campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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