Visit Pinedale WY Summer Paddling Green River Lakes 2020 07 07 222810

Green Riv­er Lakes

Overview

The snow­mo­bile ride into Green Riv­er Lakes proves that some­times both the jour­ney and the des­ti­na­tion are equal­ly worth­while. The groomed trail allows for wildlife and scenery view­ing oppor­tu­ni­ties to inspire you for years to come.

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Green River Lakes Pinedale WY

Green Riv­er Lakes is one of Wyoming’s most scenic and pop­u­lar sum­mer and fall scenic dri­ves acces­si­ble by car. Locat­ed in the Bridger Wilder­ness of the Bridger-Teton Nation­al For­est, the lakes are 52 miles north of Pinedale in the north­ern Wind Riv­er Range. The lakes are con­sid­ered the source of the Green Riv­er, a major trib­u­tary of the great Col­orado Riv­er sys­tem. Like many of the more mam­moth lakes on this side of the Winds, Green Riv­er Lakes were scoured out by glacial action, then sealed off by an end-moraine dam.

The Upper Green Riv­er Val­ley pro­vid­ed sus­te­nance and mar­ketable goods to the ear­li­est trap­pers and set­tlers and con­tin­ues to sup­port Pinedale fam­i­lies today. The road to Green Riv­er Lakes, which rough­ly par­al­lels the riv­er, is a trip back in time. Trav­el­ers pass home­stead­ers’ cab­ins, and his­tor­i­cal mark­ers tell the sto­ry of the tie hacks and their camps. The remains of the ear­li­est Dude Ranch in Sub­lette Coun­ty, the first in a long line of thriv­ing local busi­ness­es, stand in this val­ley. For sev­er­al weeks each Octo­ber, the Green Riv­er Drift, one of the longest (and longest-run­ning) cat­tle dri­ves in the nation, takes place when cow­boys on horse­back push live­stock back from their sum­mer range in this val­leys back home to their work­ing ranch­es, a dis­tance of about 70 miles. Vis­i­tors may catch a glimpse of the HWY 352 from the Green Riv­er Lakes to observe this present-day his­tor­i­cal phe­nom­e­non from the highway.

Not only is the jour­ney to Green Riv­er Lakes scenic and rich in his­to­ry, but the end­point rewards the trav­el­er with the stun­ning, much-pho­tographed view of Square­top Moun­tain loom­ing over the blue-green lakes, with stands of aspen and pine blan­ket­ing the hill­sides. Depend­ing on which time of day finds you there, expect to dis­cov­er a fall col­or show and glimpses of wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bear, hawks, and eagles — plan for plen­ty of time to enjoy your sur­round­ings simply.

Path of the Pronghorn
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Visit Pinedale WY Summer Paddling Green River Lakes
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Visit Pinedale WY Summer Paddling Green River Lakes 2020 07 07 222810
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GREEN RIV­ER LAKES TRAILHEAD

From the Green Riv­er Lakes park­ing lot, the trail­head will take you on a half-day, easy to mod­er­ate hike to the end of Green Riv­er Lakes, offer­ing adven­tur­ers and pho­tog­ra­phers soli­tude in a majes­tic setting.

LOCA­TION

Locat­ed in the north­ern Wind Riv­er Range 52 miles north of Pinedale, Wyoming at an ele­va­tion of 8,040 Feet.

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Visit Pinedale WY Summer Paddling Green River Lakes

BEFORE YOU GO

TRAIL­HEAD PRECAUTIONS

Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, and Gray Wolf sightings are often reported out of this area. Use precautions while hiking and fishing as well as camping to avoid dangerous situations with wildlife.

BRIDGER-TETON NATION­AL FOR­EST REMINDERS

  • Practice good campfire safety and make sure the fire is completely out before leaving your camping site.
  • Be familiar with food storage requirements when camping.
  • Organized groups and recreational livestock users are required to have a Bridger Wilderness Permit.
  • Come prepared with mosquito face nets, repellent, bear spray, and first aid kit.