Trip Overview
- Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
- Activity: Backpacking
- Total distance: 35 miles (Big Sandy Loop)
- Elevation gain: ~6,500 ft cumulative
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Permit: No overnight permit required. Self-register at trailhead (free).
- Best months: July 15–September 15
- Nearest town: Pinedale, WY (74 miles from Big Sandy Trailhead)
Why the Wind Rivers
The Wind River Range in western Wyoming holds 40 active glaciers (most in the lower 48 south of Glacier NP), 7 of the 10 highest peaks in Wyoming, and an estimated 1,300+ lakes. Unlike every other major Wyoming wilderness, it requires no permit — just show up, sign in at the trailhead, and go. The Wind Rivers are what the Sierra Nevada was 40 years ago: genuinely wild, genuinely uncrowded by comparison, and genuinely remote.
The Big Sandy Loop covers the heart of the southern Winds: Big Sandy Lake, the Cirque of the Towers, Lonesome Lake, and the Stough Creek Basin. At 35 miles with two high passes, it's a serious route but not technical. Grizzly bears are present — bear canister required.
r/backpacking▲ 4.2k upvotes"The Cirque of the Towers makes you feel small in the best possible way. 12 spires in a perfect ring. I've been three times and it still doesn't feel real."
Getting to Big Sandy Trailhead
From Pinedale, drive east on US-191, then south on Big Sandy Road (Forest Road 850) — 35 miles of gravel road requiring a high-clearance vehicle. The last 10 miles are rough. The trailhead has a large parking area, vault toilets, and a self-register station. No water at trailhead — fill at the first stream (1 mile in).
Day 1 — Big Sandy Trailhead to Big Sandy Lake (6 miles, 700 ft gain)
The trail from Big Sandy Trailhead (9,100 ft) follows Big Sandy Creek through lodgepole forest and open meadows to Big Sandy Lake (10,252 ft, 1.3 miles long). This is a large, wind-exposed lake with good campsites on the northeast and south shores. The Cirque towers are visible as a dark wall above the head of the lake. Set up base camp and rest — acclimatize at elevation.
Day 2 — Big Sandy Lake to Cirque of the Towers / Lonesome Lake (8 miles, 2,100 ft gain)
The big day. The trail climbs from Big Sandy Lake up Big Sandy Creek, gaining 2,000 feet in 4 miles through increasingly dramatic granite terrain. The last mile before Jackass Pass (10,807 ft) is a boulder scramble — your first view of the Cirque comes at the pass. The Cirque of the Towers surrounds you: 12 granite spires including Pingora Peak (11,884 ft), Wolf's Head (11,967 ft), and the Shark's Nose — all rising 1,000–2,000 feet from the basin floor.
Lonesome Lake sits at the center of the Cirque at 10,470 feet. Camp on the west shore for the classic Cirque reflection shot at sunrise. Campsites fill by afternoon in July and August — arrive early.
Day 3 — Cirque Rest Day / Pingora Scramble Option
Take a rest day in the Cirque. The social trail to the base of Pingora Peak (class 3 scramble to the summit, technical register route is class 5) is a good objective for scramblers. Non-technical hikers can explore the Cirque basin and satellite lakes (Texas Lake, No Name Lake) above Lonesome Lake. Afternoon thunderstorms develop daily July–August — be in camp by 2pm.
Day 4 — Lonesome Lake to Stough Creek Basin via Texas Pass (10 miles, 1,800 ft gain)
Cross Texas Pass (11,597 ft) — the highest point on the loop and one of the most spectacular views in the Winds: the Cirque behind you, the Stough Creek drainage below. The descent to Stough Creek Basin (10,200 ft) is on loose talus — poles required. Camp at one of the unnamed lakes in the Stough Creek basin. Fewer people than the Cirque.
Days 5–6 — Stough Creek to Big Sandy Lake and Out (11 miles)
Follow the Stough Creek drainage north back to Big Sandy Lake and the trailhead. Day 5 camps at Big Sandy Lake (use a different site if possible); Day 6 is the exit hike out (6 miles).
Grizzly Bear Protocols
Grizzlies range throughout the Wind River Range. Bear canisters are required (not just recommended — check current BTNF regulations). Hang food as backup if canister capacity is exceeded. Cook 200 feet from tents. Carry bear spray on the hip belt at all times. Most encounters are with black bears; grizzly encounters are rare but documented annually.
Gear Notes
- Bear canister (required by Bridger-Teton NF regulation)
- Trekking poles (boulder terrain on passes)
- Microspikes (Jackass Pass and Texas Pass, early July)
- Warm layers (nights drop to 25–35°F even in August)
- Water filter (lakes and creeks, excellent quality)
