Wild Iris Mountain Sports the climbing store for information on climbing & back packing the Wind River Range, Wyoming

Wild Iris, Sinks Canyon, Cirque of Towers, Wind River, Gannett Peak Specialists.

Regional Beta

Trip Planning

The staff at Wild Iris is happy to help you plan your next outdoor adventure in the Lander area. Whether you are up for backpacking, biking, fishing, climbing or sightseeing please feel free to give us a call (888-284-5968) or send an email (wildiris@wildirisclimbing.com). We will happily assist you. Also, take a minute to look at what is available below or the links to the right for more detailed information. Happy Adventuring!

Wild Iris is celebrating its 20th year in business in 2010. Please join us on the 20th of each month starting in Feb. through Nov. for our 20th Anniversary Promo Days! Every month we will feature specials on select product as a thank you for the continued support of our loyal customers.

Access Info

Sinks Canyon

Sinks' south facing walls are heating up. Folks have been climbing in the evening and sending. Watch out for rattlesnakes and poison ivy!

Loop Road

The Loop Road is open from both sides. Drive safely and be courteous! Enjoy the views.

The Forest Service asks that people take care with vehicles in wet areas of the road and off road as well to minimize ruts and rough roads.

Wind River Range

All Wind River trail heads are open and the mosquitos are out in force. Use caution during river crossings as water levels are still relatively high. As usual the weather is very changeable, so be prepared for EVERYTHING!!! Be bear aware, especially at Green River Lakes campground, as there has been recent Grizzly activity. Please call the Bridger Teton Ranger Station at 307-367-4326 for more information.

Kyle in the Winds late July 2010

Wild Iris Climbing Area

Climbers have been pocket pulling up at the Iris. Be particularly cautious of thunder storms and lightening. You are the tallest thing out there hiking to the cliff!

Baldwin Creek/ Shoshone Lake Road

The road is open, but you will need a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to both Baldwin Creek and Suicide Point climbing areas.

Cirque of the Towers/Haystack

Big Sandy Opening is open and the trail is clear into the Cirque and beyond.

A beautiful area! Please respect this fragile area and practice Leave No Trace Ethics. Human waste and garbage is a noticeable problem. Pack out waste and garbage. Re Stop bags for human waste are available at the Wild Iris Mountain Sports. If we are not careful we will love this area to death and may not be allowed free use. Don't forget to check out other areas in the Wind River Range!

Check out this great photo of the Cirque of the Towers from one of our happy customers.
Photo Credit Peter Mott

Dickinson Park & Bears Ears Trailheads

Dickinson Park is open. The road up is reported to be muddy, wet and require a 4WD vehicle to negotiate. Drive smart!
Seasonal access is permitted with a mandatory Reservation Fishing Permit for each person in your party to travel across the Wind River Indian Reservation to the trailhead. Tribal Fishing Permits are now available at Wild Iris Mountain Sports. Annual Resident Reservation Permit is $80. Annual Non-resident Reservation Permit is $120. Daily permits are also available ($20 for residents and $25 nonresidents with a $5 recreation stamp); travelers are required to purchase a daily permit for the day entered and the day they will exit. For the most up to date information call the Shoshone Forest Service in Lander at (307) 332-5460

Gannet Peak

Snow bridges are starting to melt out, although there is still a lot of snow with some post holing to be done. Proceed cautiously on this challenging peak.

Check out these links for details of an early spring ski ascent/ descent of Gannet

Updated: 02/02/10

http://splitboard.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=5129

http://tetonat.com

If you have more updated info...

We try to update our conditions regularly but should you have more updated info from your recent trip please feel free to email us at wildiris@wildirisclimbing.com or call 307-332-4541. Happy Trails!

For more detailed information you also check: twitter.com/ShoshoneNF. Road Closure information in avaliable 24 hours a day by calling 307-335-7277 (335-PASS) or the Shoshone National Forest Station at 307-335-2171.

Weather
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=82520

Wyoming Road Reports
http://www.wyoroad.info/

Wyoming Snotel

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Wyoming/wyoming.html

Camping Info

City Park in Lander

From Wild Iris Mountain Sports, drive South on 3rd Street straight to City Park . Camping is FREE with a maximum stay of 3 days.

Sinks Canyon Campgrounds (3 options all on South/left side of the canyon road as you drive up)

1st campground- Popo Agie Campground (State Park) $6 per vehicle resident, $11 per vehicle non-resident. 24 sites total (19 pull in and 5 tent), 2 vault toilets, tables, fire pits and potable water. 307-332-6333. Open: May 1st to October 1st.
2nd campground, just past cattle guard on your left. 9 sites total with 1 vault toilet, tables and fire pits. Open May 1st to October 1st with non potable water. Shoshone Forest Service 307-332-5460. $15 per vehicle.
FREE camping area just past the Missouri Field Camp . Also known as Hugh Ottie. Limited sites, 1 pit toilet and no tables or fire pits. Please keep the area clean. Do not drive off road in wet or dry conditions!

Atlantic City/ South Pass campgrounds (BLM managed-307-332-8400)

From Lander, go past the Wild Iris climbing area about 5 miles. Look for the brown sign on your right; the turn is on your left.
$6 per night. Picnic tables, water, and pit toilets. Water is turned off. Price reduced for seniors ($3 with Golden Age Pass).
BE BEAR AWARE!

Wild Iris climbing area camping

FREE camping along the base of the OK Corral wall. BE DISCREET and low impact! Hang your food! This is bear country. Don't leave food outside of your vehicle unless you are there with the food and consuming. Same applies for dog food. Also do not leave food in your tent during the day or at night. Bears like all food, especially human food! Shoshone National Forest (307) 332-5460.

Wind River Trip Suggestions

Miles	Trip Description	Days	Trailhead	Notes	Topo's	Book Ref
1 to 7	Blue Ridge	Overnight	Blue Ridge	Short hike to an old fire lookout or continue on 4WD road to wilderness border to access Cony Mountain or Upper Silas Lake. Follow FS 131 from Sinks Canyon up switchbacks to signed trailhead for Blue Ridge, park on the left.	Cony Mountain
9	Silas Canyon	Overnight	Fiddler's Lake	Out and back. May be shortened by stopping before Island Lake. Fishing: Brook, Cutthroat. Trail not marked	Cony Mountain, Christina Lake	Woods, p. 152
11	Big Sandy Lake	Overnight	Big Sandy Opening	Out and back. Very little elevation gain. Bear boxes at lake. USE THEM!	Big Sandy Opening, Temple Peak, EWP southern	Adkison p 220 Woods p. 114
14	Stough Creek Basin	2-3 days	Worthern Meadows Reservoir	Out and back. Length depends on how deep you go into basin. Popular fishing area.	Cony, Sweetwater, EWP So	Adkison p 220
19	Cirque of the Towers	2-3 days	Big Sandy Opening	Out and back. Opportunity for camping early, shortening trip (Big Sandy Lake)		Kelsey p 272, Adkison p 174
26	Wind River Peak	2-3 days	Worthen Meadows Reservoir	Loop or out and back. Non-technical summit (strenuous). Fishing: Cutt, Rainbow, Brook, Golden	Sweetwater, EWP SO	Kelsey p 346, Woods p. 128
28	Bears Ears Loop	3-4 days	Dickinson Park area	Loop. Hard first day. River crossings impassable early in season. Trailhead currently closed. Private prop/Indian res.		Kelsey p 249
32	Titcomb Basin	3-4 days	Elkhart Park	Out and back. Possible loop over knapsack col. (snow, 38 mi) Early season river problems. Fishing potential.		Kelsey p 161, Woods p 100
32	Squaretop Loop	3-4 days	Green River Lakes	Loop over Porcupine Pass. Circumnavigates Squaretop Mtn.		Kelsey p 91, Woods p 163
36	Cirque of the Towers to Washakie Pass	4	Big Sandy Opening	Big loop. Bigger possible (Hailey Pass). Diverse country.		Kelsey p 249, 273
50	Gannet Peak Base Camp	4+ min.	Trail Lake Ranch	Out and back. Very strenuous. Fair amount of elevation gain and loss. Gannett is technical!		Adkison p 240, Kelsey p 113

Related Links

Climbing Related Links:

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides http://www.jhmg.com/
Exum Mountain Guides http://www.exumguides.com/ or http://www.exumguides.com/?page_id=6&progId=12&subProgId=18
Climbing Gym at Elemental Training Center http://elementaltraining.com/

Hiking Related Links:

Lander Llama http://www.landerllama.com/
Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch http://www.diamond4ranch.com/
Continental Divide Trail http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php

Biking Related Link:

Gannett Peak Sports http://gannettpeaksports.com/Home.html

Fishing Related Links/Contacts:

Wild Iris Mountain Sports (we now offer both Wyoming & Reservation licenses)
Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions - George Hunker www.sweetwaterfishing.com
Dunoir Fishing & Ramshorn Guest Ranch - Jeramie Prine http://www.dunoirfishing.com/Site_2/Home.html
The Good Place155 Main Street Lander, WY 82520 307-332-3158
Big Sandy Lodge http://www.big-sandy-lodge.com/fishinghorseback.htm

Winter Activities Related Links:

Lander Nordic Ski Association http://landernordic.org/
Gannett Peak Sports http://gannettpeaksports.com/Home.html
Bridger Teton National Forest Avalanche Advisories http://jhavalanche.org/
Brooks Lake Lodge http://brookslake.com/
Togowotee Mountain Lodge http://www.togwoteelodge.com/index.cfm
Togowotee Pass Backcountry Alliance http://tpba.wordpress.com/

Miscellaneous Local Links:

NOLS http://www.nols.edu/
WMI http://www.nols.edu/wmi/
Louis Lake Lodge http://www.louislake.com/
Big Sandy Lake Lodge http://www.big-sandy-lodge.com/fishinghorseback.htm
Continental Divide Trail Alliance http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php

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Lander Area Map

Lander Area Info

Wind River Hike Suggestions
(18 Kb / Microsoft Excel)

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Wild Iris Mountain Sports
333 Main Street
Lander, WY 82520
307-332-4541

Developed and Produced by
BigforkWEB Development

Wild Iris Mountain Sports is the source for everything you need to go climbing, camping, and backpacking...whatever your plans, wherever you are going. Located on Main Street in Lander, Wyoming, at the base of the Wind River Mountains, Wild Iris is conveniently located to be your last stop on the way to play.

We feature the top brands in outdoor clothing and equipment and our staff puts our products to the test everyday in the mountains where we live. This means that we can be confident in helping you find exactly what you need.

We also have a complete selection of guide books and USGS topographic maps to help you plan your excursions-whether you're climbing at Sinks Canyon or Wild Iris, or you're headed into the Wind River Mountains (Winds) for a ten-day backpacking trip. Our experienced staff would be happy to make suggestions based on your specific needs. Wild Iris Mountain Sports is the most comprehensive source of information available for Wyoming's Wind River Mountains.