Boulder Lake to Green River Lakes
Guided Backpacking Trips
7 Days, 6 Nights 51MI / 82KM
Trip Highlights
This hike is an epic Wind River adventure and our longest and most demanding trip in Wyoming. It’s also a thru-hike, as we hike point to point across approximately half the length of the range. It encompasses all that the mountains of Wyoming have to offer: incredible views of the Continental Divide, pristine campsites along the shores of lakes and streams, alpine hiking, a possible peak ascent, opportunities to fish for those with gear, and an overall authentic wilderness experience.
Our journey begins in Jackson Hole, where we pick you up at your hotel for a shuttle to the trailhead, which is approximately two hours. We enter the wilderness at Boulder Lake, hiking quickly into the high country of the Winds. The rest of the trip takes us up and over high passes, down into valleys, across alpine plateaus, and along the edge of the massive peaks of the Continental Divide. We hike through the headwaters of the Green River (which after 730 miles joins the Colorado River in Utah), and down to Green River Lakes for the completion of our trek.
The Wildland Trekking Company operates under a permit issued by the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and is an equal opportunity service provider.
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Point to Point Adventure
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Tremendous Alpine Hiking
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50+ Miles of the Wind River Range
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Green River Headwaters
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Pristine Camps Near Rivers & Lakes
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Mountain Solitude
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Dramatic Night Skies
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
7 Days, 6 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 10 mi -
Group Size
2-12 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Trailhead: 2 hours
Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 3000 feet
Elevation Loss: 900 feet
The first day of our Wind River Range backpacking adventure begins with pickup at your hotel in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We’ll soak up the Wyoming landscapes on our drive to the trailhead, which takes us west through the Wind River and Hoback River valleys, then along the western edge of the Wind River Range. Once at the trailhead, our thru-hike begins!
We’ll head upstream along Boulder Creek, through open meadows and past a chain of lakes including Lake Ethel and Eds Lake. We gain a significant amount of elevation today (nearly 2000 feet) and by the end of the day we’re very near treeline. We’ll make camp on the shores of Lake Christina, a beautiful high mountain lake surrounded by meadows and open forests. We’ll settle around a campfire and enjoy a big dinner before turning in.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1900 feet
Elevation Loss: 800 feet
After a hearty breakfast we’ll hit the trail again, which today takes us up and over our first alpine pass. Initially we’ll continue through more meadows and open forests, and past several more mountain lakes, before we approach treeline. Then as the trees shrink and disappear, we’ll be hit with some of our first fantastic views. We’ll be hiking below North Fork Peak (13,175 feet), a towering monolith, as we approach Hat Pass (10,848 feet). From the top of the pass our views will stretch from the peaks of the Continental Divide to the Tetons far in the distance. We’ll relax at the pass – weather permitting – and enjoy a big lunch before descending into Fall Creek drainage, where we’ll camp for the night.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2200 feet
Elevation Loss: 2000 feet
We’ll rise to the prospects of another exciting day in the mountains, as Day 3 is going to take us through more breathtaking high country with tremendous views of the Continental Divide. With Angel Peak (12,402 feet) framing the view to our east, we’ll climb up over 11,000 feet and stay high much of the day. It’s a day full of mesmerizing views and incredible photo opportunities. We’ll eventually drop into the Pole Creek drainage and camp on the shores of Tommy Lake that evening, which sits well over 10,000 feet and will give us a phenomenal view of the sunset. Another tasty dinner around a campfire will top today off before we settle down for some much-deserved sleep.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 2+ miles
Elevation Gain: varies
Today is a layover day to enjoy where we are, allow our muscles and joints to recuperate, and possibley (for very strong, ambitious groups) attempt to summit a nearby peak for more incredible views. At the very least we’ll enjoy a short hike to explore an obscure pocket of the Wind River Range, eat like kings and queens, do some fishing (for those who brought gear), and get some much deserved rest.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2000 feet
Elevation Loss: 1600 feet
Today’s hike takes us below Mount Lester, and from there across alpine tundra and boulderfields. We’ll stay above treeline most of today, with views of massive peaks – FremontPeak (13,745 feet) and Jackson Peak (13,517 feet) – dominating our view to the east. We’ll also get our first glimpses of Squaretop Mountain in the distance, which is one of the most distinct mountains in the Wind River Range, and it marks our exit point near Green River Lakes.
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
Elevation Loss: 3500 feet
Today is a truly special day as we’ll be hiking through the headwaters of the Green River, which exits the Wind River Range and flows 730 miles southwest where it combines with the might Colorado River in Utah. The Green River is the most significant tributary to the Colorado, both of whose waters flow through the Grand Canyon and into Southern California.
We’ll get an early start due to our long mileage (10 miles). Our day begins with more alpine hiking as we ascend to Shannon Pass (11,200 feet), which sits below Stroud Peak (12,720 feet) and Mount Oeneis (12,232 feet). We’ll drop down from Shannon Pass, then go over another pass – Vista Pass – which offers our first views into the Green River Valley. We’ll drop into the Green River and follow it downstream, past many side creeks, to our camp at a large open meadow along the Green River.
Day 7
Hiking Mileage: 12 miles
Elevation Gain: 1500 feet
Elevation Loss: 1800 feet
Shuttle to Jackson Hole: 2 hours
On our last day we’ll continue downstream along the Green River, with Squaretop Mountain framing our view to the west. We’ll come to the picturesque Green River Lakes, and follow their shores to our trailhead. Then it’s a 2-hour shuttle back to Jackson Hole and the conclusion of this amazing trip.
Trip Dates
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson Hole, WY; Victor, ID or Driggs, ID
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Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
BACKCOUNTRY CUISINE
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
AMAZING CAMPSITES
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
At 5:00 PM the evening before Day 1, your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact, approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Driggs, Idaho; or Victor, Idaho.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel Details
This trip begins and ends in Jackson, WY, with pick-up also available in Driggs and Victor, ID.
You can fly into:
- Jackson Hole – some hotels and several transportation companies provide airport shuttles.
- Idaho Falls – small, more affordable airport; Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) offers 2 daily shuttles between Idaho Falls and Jackson.
- Salt Lake City – Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) and Alltrans (800-652-9510) offer daily shuttles (4.5 hours). Advance reservations required.
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Jackson, Wyoming as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
You can expect the first day’s pick-up time to be between 5 and 7 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day no later than 7 PM.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
- specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Nick K
1 year agoThe Wind River Range is Breathtaking
Boulder Lake to Green River Lakes is an absolutely beautiful and challenging trek. My guides, Noah and Ericka were incredibly skilled and fun operators. They literally carried the whole experience on their backs. From the confident routing, time management, and attention to safety, to the humor, amazing meals, and backcountry experience they brought the the trek, I can't imagine a better pair of guides. The Wind River Range itself is breathtaking due to the high mountain passes, visible glaciers, and alpine lakes. As it is at high elevation and there are tremendous trails to conquer, I am glad I took my pre-hike training seriously that I could enjoy the scenery, food, and company on this awesome trek.
James R
1 year agoThis is a beautiful route through the Winds.
This is a beautiful route through the winds. Our guides were great, and the trip was well planned. Only two caveats you should know, both of which are spelled out in the trip description, but worth emphasizing. First, a part of the trail is the continental divide trail, and so you will see a fair number of other hikers on the path. Second, even after training for a few months, I found the trip very challenging for my cardio-vascular system and legs: the altitude is no joke! Combined with the elevation gain and weight of the pack, I was pretty exhausted every night. On the other hand, I just turned 60, live at sea-level, am only somewhat fit, and had never been on a backpacking trip before. So the fact that I could complete the trip at all means that maybe you can too! Guides were very supportive.
Gail M
2 years agoGreat Trip!
Great trip! Difficult- Yes! Worth it - YES! Our guide, Andrew, was amazing- great food, great rapport, helpful and knowledgeable
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