Lakes, Cirques and Towers
Jackson, WY
5.0 (18 reviews)Trip Highlights
- 7-Day Adventure
- Remote Mountain Cirques & Lakes
- Pristine, Remote Campsites
- Abundant Wildlife Habitat
- Views of Cirque of the Towers
- Rejuvenating Solitude & Scenery
- Fantastically Vivid Night Skies
Description
Our Lakes, Cirques and Towers llama trek travels through one of the most stunning parts of the Wind River Range. The regions we hike through are characterized by one fantastically picturesque valley after another. Since the last ice age, the glacial activity left these cirques ringed by massive granite walls and towers.
We approach the Continental Divide from the west, passing serene mountain lakes and rivers, and many towering peaks, enroute. On Day 3 we hike to Texas Pass (11,450 feet on the Divide) for one of the best vantage points from which to really see the impressive nature of the Cirque of the Towers, one of the most famous spots in The Winds. We’ll be able to see all the major peaks and some of the glaciers, as well as the mountain lakes that occupy the bottom of the cirque.
We then continue on through more breathtaking country, paralleling the Continental Divide the whole way. On Day 5 we have the potential for an exciting summit attempt on Pyramid Peak (12,030 feet), the views from which are indescribeable.
The Wildland Trekking Company operates under a permit issued by the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and is an equal opportunity service provider.
$3455 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip has moderate hiking distances and elevation gains/losses. The “significant” exposure and ruggedness ratings come from our day hikes up to mountain passes, which are optional. Higher altitude and the general ruggedness of rocky wilderness trails are offset by lighter pack weights thanks to the llamas.
Hiking Distances:
4-8 mi
Backpack Weight:
15-25 pounds
Terrain:
Significantly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1500 ft
Heights Exposure:
Significant
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 15-25 pound backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain (significantly rugged on optional day hikes to mountain passes)
- Hiking with significant heights exposure on day hikes to mountain passes
- Crossing creeks and rivers on slippery rocks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Wind River Llama Trek a solitude 3. You can expect to have hours of solitude at a time, while seeing several other groups of hikers per day.
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
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ITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 3 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
This Wind River Range Llama Trek begins in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where we’ll pick you up at your hotel for transport to the trailhead. Our hike starts along one of the Wind River Range’s major rivers, the Big Sandy, for a couple miles before we break off into a chain of wildflower-laden meadows rimmed by aspen and fir forests. From the meadows we’ll get our first real glimpses of the high country peaks, our destination on this trip. Our camp is on the shores of Mirror Lake, a majestic mountain lake that offers good fishing. We’ll set up camp and settle in for a cozy campfire and hearty dinner.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
- Elevation Loss: 700 feet
With the massive peaks of the Continental Divide framing our view to the east, we hike past a series of mountain lakes including Dad’s Lake and Marms Lake, to a majestic, fast-flowing creek. More impressive peaks including Pylon Peak, Shark’s Nose, and Overhanging Tower (all over 12,000 feet) begin to take shape and dominate the eastern skyline. We’ll continue hiking to our camp at Shadow Lake, which lies beneath the Overhanging Tower and Bollinger Peak. At this point we are far into the wilderness and the solitude is inspiring. The afternoon is free for relaxation, fishing or light hiking around Shadow Lake.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5+ miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1100 feet
Today’s hike takes us onto the spine of the Continental Divide for one of the best views in the Rocky Mountains: a look at Cirque of the Towers from Texas Pass! We’ll get a relatively early start to make the most of our day, which is an unforgettable one. We’ll hike directly up the Divide to Texas Lake, a beautiful high mountain lake tucked beneath massive granite peaks. From the lake we’ll climb up to Texas Pass for an unparalleled view down the east side of the Divide and the Cirque of the Towers. Glaciers, soaring peaks, alpine lakes, and endless granite walls combine to make this one of the most picture-worthy views in America, so be sure and remember your camera!
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
As amazing as Day 3 is, this trip is in some ways just getting started! Day 4 takes us past more mountain lakes and past more impressive Rocky Mountain peaks to our camp at Mae’s Lake. Some of today’s highlights include lunch at Skull Lake, views of Bernard Peak and Mount Washakie, and a myriad of majestic creeks and meadows that provide fantastic opportunities to relish in the wonder of wilderness. Once at camp, we’ll relax in preparation for tomorrow’s big climb up Pyramid Peak.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1600 feet
Today is another major gem of this trip! We’ll have a quick breakfast and get an early start to beat potential afternoon thunderstorms, as we’re heading high onto the exposed slopes of Pyramid Peak (12,030 feet). We first hike to Pyramid Lake, an alpine lake hemmed in between Midsummer Dome and Pyramid Peak, two impressive summits. We’ll continue west below Midsummer Dome and work our way up the scree slopes of Pyramid Peak to its summit. The views from up here extend across the entire mountain range. We’re also able to see Gannett Peak, which is the tallest peak in Wyoming.
After we summit we’ll return to camp and have a relaxing evening, hearty dinner and roaring campfire in celebration of our amazing day!
Day 6
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 500 feet
- Elevation Loss: 900 feet
Today begins our loop hike back to our starting point. We’ll hike down the East Fork Valley, which is a broad valley characterized by big meadows and beautiful aspen forests. We’ll cut over to Marm’s Lake, where we’ll camp for the evening. Marm’s Lake provides another great opportunity for any guests interested in fishing.
Day 7
- Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1400 feet
- Shuttle to Jackson Hole: 3 hours
Our final day takes us back to the Big Sandy River and our starting point. We’ll keep our eyes out for moose, as the meadows and wetlands of this area are great moose habitat! A final shuttle ride back to Jackson Hole provides a wonderful opportunity to relax, take in the scenery on this amazing drive, and contemplate the life-changing adventure you’ve just completed.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Pack llamas to transport the majority of gear and food
- 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.
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson Hole, WY; Victor, ID or Driggs, ID
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs or Mountain Hardware tents
- Sierra Designs, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Mountain Safety Research cooking stoves
- Mountain Safety Research cookware
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
Trip Logistics
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Hiking with Llamas
Ideally you desire to be on a trip with llamas, by this we mean that a trip with stock animals is different than a backpacking trip in many ways. One big difference is that it takes time for your guide to get all the animals loaded and ready to go in the morning and to unload gear and care for them once we arrive in camp. Also the pace of a llama trip can be a bit slower than you would walk without a pack and you’ll be expected to hike with the group.
On a llama trip the animals tend to take on a focus of the trip. These trips are most rewarding when the clients want to interact with and help out with caring for the llamas. The tradeoff for not having to carry a large backpack is that llamas do require extra work from their guide/handlers. If you are choosing a llama trip solely on the basis of not having to carry a backpack and do not wish to interact with a llama, you need to speak honestly with your Adventure Consultant about this and potentially add another Wildland Guide to your trip to cover the extra workload of caring for the llamas.
Weather Around Yellowstone
Being a Northern mountain environment, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Wyoming’s mountains. On trips in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer you’re likely to get rained on at least once during your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures around Yellowstone:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| June | 70° | 42° |
| July | 80° | 47° |
| August | 78° | 45° |
| September | 68° | 37° |
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
Tent Camping
Sleeping on this trip 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 Reviews
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Neil G
Worth every step!
Our guides, Casey and Ethan, were outstanding doing so much to make our trip so memorable. The “back country” cooking was more like restaurant level cooking but in the Wilderness. The equipment provided was as described and very good, the llamas were beautiful and well behaved and the scenery is breathtaking. The hiking is gentle but at 10,000 you are aware that you have hiked for a day, however the campsites and experience is worth every step! Thoroughly recommend.
Greg R
Truly unforgettable and life-changing experience.
Casey, Rosey, and Robert were excellent guides who kept us safe and well-fed. Their planning, expertise, and focus helped me to move beyond my comfort zone to make for a truly unforgettable and life-changing experience. I was especially appreciative of their efforts to accommodate my personal and dietary needs.
Diana C
Amazing Journey
Our lama assisted Wind River Range seven day trek did not disappoint! What an amazing adventure we had with Casey, Rosey and Robert leading the way! Rosey is an amazing cook and I appreciated the fresh and delicious food we ate at each meal. I completely fell in love with the lamas and especially my boy Robbie! What a sweet and affectionate lama he is. We had a wonderful group of people who bonded, sang and laughed together during our amazing journey! Thank you Casey, Rosey and Robert! I hope to see you on a future adventure!
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