Outdoors
Recreation
There are many different opportunities for outdoor recreation surrounding Lander
Outdoors
Recreation
There are many different opportunities for outdoor recreation surrounding Lander
Lander is well known for its abundance of fun things to do outside. Besides climbing, Lander offers amazing hiking, backpacking, fly fishing, and mountain biking opportunities in the warmer months.
The winter activities near Lander include snowshoeing, cross country skiing and backcountry skiing. Climbing at Sinks Main Wall is even possible all winter long.
Whether you are visiting for the first time, or making a return trip to the area, Wild Iris Mountain Sports is here to help you make the most out of your outdoor adventure.
Day Hikes
DAY HIKES
The day hiking options just outside of Lander are perfect for an after work run, bike or hike with the dogs. Or make it an all-day excursion with the kids. In any direction from town you'll find a scenic and relaxing outing that will take your mind off the daily grind.
Day Hikes
DAY HIKES
The day hiking options just outside of Lander are perfect for an after work run, bike or hike with the dogs. Or make it an all-day excursion with the kids. In any direction from town you'll find a scenic and relaxing outing that will take your mind off the daily grind.
Old Truck in Sinks Canyon on Fairfield Hill along Pete's Lake Trail. Photo Jeremy Rowan
This is the definitive guide to day hikes within an hour of Lander, Wyoming. There are trails featured for every level of hiking experience complete with directions to the trailheads, trail descriptions, color maps of each hike, hiking times, difficulty and relevant GPS coordinates.
Local Day Hikes
Sinks to Rise Trail – Short (½ mi round trip) paved trail from the Sinks parking lot to the Rise fishpond. See the namesake for the canyon.
Popo Agie Nature Trail – 1 mile loop, with connections to more trails. Park at the end of the Popo Agie campground in Sinks Canyon State Park. Cross the suspension bridge and explore a series of loops on the North side of the canyon. A great place to run.
Popo Agie Falls – 3 miles round trip. Drive up Sinks Canyon to Bruce’s Parking Area. Carefully cross the road and a bridge over the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River to start this popular day hike.
Brewers Trail – From Bruce’s Parking Area hike 5.7 miles East and up the South side of the canyon to the Fossil Hill parking area. Strenuous uphill hike.
Leg Lake Cirque – 9.2 miles round trip. Park at Worthen Reservoir Trailhead and take the Roaring Fork Lake Trail. Follow the middle fork of the creek to Leg Lake. Beautiful alpine cirque. Thin trail with route finding skills necessary.
Looking southwest from the Blue Ridge Fire Lookout, Fiddler's Lake stands out among the evergreen, mountains and sky. Photo Jeremy Rowan
Blue Ridge/Cony Mountain – 1.7 miles. Short hike to an old fire lookout or continue on 4WD road FS 306.1a to the wilderness boundary to access Cony Mountain or Upper Silas Lake. Follow FS Road 300, more commonly referred to as the Loop Road, from Sinks Canyon up switchbacks to the signed trailhead for Blue Ridge, park on the left.
Christina Lake Trail 721 – 8 mile round trip. Follow driving directions for Blue Ridge but continue on the Loop Road to the Christina Trailhead at Fiddlers Lake. Hike mostly in forest and along the wilderness boundary passing the junction to Silas Lake. Eventually you come to FS Road 355, popular with OHV, and finish hiking that to the lake.
Silas Canyon Trail 722 – 8 mile round trip. From Christina Trailhead at Fiddlers Lake, hike 4 miles to Upper Silas Lake. Option to continue off-trail into the striking Silas Canyon cirque.
Dry Well Road – 3.8 miles round trip. Park at the Johnny Behind the Rocks parking lot and hike on the two-track road up the left canyon. Continue on the road to the two oil pipes at the trail junction. Turn right at the junction and hike an additional 1.2 miles to Johnny Falls.
Wild Iris Trails – Network of trails on Limestone Mountain. Follow the two-track road North-West from the Wild Iris Main Wall parking lot for great views of the Southern Wind River Range to the West and Red Canyon to the East.
For more information on local hikes consult the Day Hikes Around Lander book available in our store or the Lander Front map.
Hiking
Hiking and Backpacking
The Wind River Mountains range over 100 miles from north to south; from the forested peaks near Togwotee (pronounced Toe-go-tee) Pass to the sage-covered high desert of historic South Pass.
Hiking
Hiking and Backpacking
The Wind River Mountains range over 100 miles from north to south; from the forested peaks near Togwotee (pronounced Toe-go-tee) Pass to the sage-covered high desert of historic South Pass.
The Wind River Mountains are one of the largest Wilderness Areas in the country. This means that it is a haven free of roads and motorized vehicles, requiring great effort from anyone who wishes to enter the domain. Still, the vast mountain territory is a playground for climbers, hikers, campers, fishermen, skiers, snowshoers, and animal watchers alike.
The uninhabited, unperturbed nature of the Wind River Mountains makes prime habitat for innumerable species of birds, plants and mammals, including: bear, elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, wolverines and bobcat. There have also been sightings of grizzly bears and wolves throughout the Range.
The Wind Rivers have more than 1600 lakes, which provide legendary alpine fishing. You can catch cutthroat, brown, golden, rainbow, grayling and brook trout in many of the mountain waters.
Whenever traveling in the Wind Rivers all recreationists must carry Bear spray. Although this is not a law, bears are active during the spring summer and fall in the Wind Rivers, and can be seen often. Though bears are a beautiful sight, humans need to be careful around them. Every year several attacks are reported and those who carry spray always fare better.
The staff at Wild Iris Mountain Sports love to assist in making plans for trips into the Winds. Please contact us for books, maps, weather updates or specific information. Stop into the shop on your way out to stock up on any last minute needs including backpacks, stoves, med kits, and food bars.
Fishing
FISHING
Does the thought of finessing a beautiful golden trout onto the shore of a glacier fed lake high in the Wind Rivers sound good to you?
Fishing
FISHING
Does the thought of finessing a beautiful golden trout onto the shore of a glacier fed lake high in the Wind Rivers sound good to you?
With seven species of trout in the pristine alpine lakes and streams in Wyoming, the fishing in the Wind River Mountains near Lander is undeniably world class. While many waterways are accessible by car, there are hundreds of rarely visited fishing holes available to those who are undeterred by a hearty day hike. Any trip to Lander is not complete without a stop in Sinks Canyon to see the monstrous fish that swim in current at the Rise of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River. In addition to the spectacular trout fishing, Wyoming offers tremendous bass, walleye and sockeye salmon angling as well. Give us a call at Wild Iris Mountain Sports, and we can "hook" you up with all the information you need for that fishing trip that spawns a thousand stories.
For more information about fishing around Lander and Wyoming, get in touch with our good friends George or Hank Hunker by visiting their website Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions. or send them an email: sweetwaterflyfishing@gmail.com
WYOMING GAME and FISH DEPARTMENT
Gary Kramer Photo
We are an authorized Wyoming Game and Fish Department License selling agent for fishing licenses. Due to COVID-19, we are currently operating with reduced staff. License sales will be available in-store, but you may have to wait or schedule a time to come back, depending on how busy staff is assisting shopping customers. This is a service we provide and we love having you come purchase them here, but we don’t make any money from this service, except when you also purchase something from our showroom floor, of course!
You can also purchase your fishing license online directly from Wyoming Game and Fish. You can either print to plain paper, or save the .jpg picture to your phone and that can be used in the field as well.
Wyoming Game and Fish Fishing License Fees
WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION
Wind River Indian Reservation Tribal Fishing Permit
Wind River Indian Reservation Tribal Fishing Permit Fees
Northern Winds
Northern Wind River Range
The Wind Rivers are dramatic no matter which access point you choose.
Northern Winds
Northern Wind River Range
The Wind Rivers are dramatic no matter which access point you choose.
The Northern Winds are known best as the home of Gannett Peak; at 13,804 feet it is the tallest peak in Wyoming. While climbing Gannett is a popularly sought ascent, there are endless backpacking and climbing opportunities including Titcomb Basin and Squaretop. The Bears Ears Loop is regarded as one of the most scenic hikes in the entire Wind River Range. Investing in a Wind River Indian Reservation Fishing Permit allows one to explore and enjoy rarely visited areas of the Northern Winds.
Wind River Range North by Beartooth Publishing
This trail map of the Northern Wind River Range is an excellent companion for your hiking and backpacking adventures in the Northern Wind River Range of Wyoming.
Southern Winds
Southern Wind River Range
The Southern portion of the range is best known for the beauty, grandeur and climbing in the Cirque of the Towers.
Southern Winds
Southern Wind River Range
The Southern portion of the range is best known for the beauty, grandeur and climbing in the Cirque of the Towers.
With a good map, boots that fit and plenty of food & water you really can't go wrong. The Southern Winds are famous for the Cirque of the Towers and the countless back country climbing routes that are found not only in the Cirque, but also on lesser known peaks such as Haystack, the Steeple Peaks and the Cathedral Cirques. Equally popular are backpacking excursions to Big Sandy Lake, the Stough Creek Basin, Wind River Peak and many others.
Wind River Range South by Beartooth Publishing
This trail map of the Southern Wind River Range is an excellent companion for your hiking and backpacking adventures in the Southern Wind River Range of Wyoming.
Camping
CAMPING
Waking up to breathtaking scenery, crisp fall mornings, abundant wildlife, campfires and trail-hikes; all just a handful of the many wonderful experiences that Wyoming camping has to offer.
Camping
CAMPING
Waking up to breathtaking scenery, crisp fall mornings, abundant wildlife, campfires and trail-hikes; all just a handful of the many wonderful experiences that Wyoming camping has to offer.
In the eastern part of the state, the Black Hills area offers rolling hills, white tail deer and wild turkey populations, as well as fantastic hiking and sightseeing destinations. Devils Tower National Monument serves as a terrific "home base" when traveling through the area where you can climb or watch other climbers ascend the tower. Further west in the state and deeper into the Rockies, the Wind River Range hosts an abundance of alpine and sub-alpine camping venues. From Lander you can head northwest into the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. This area is one of, if not Wyoming's most popular camping destination. So whether you're looking for rolling hills, rugged peaks, lakes, plains, or the epic adventure, Wyoming can fulfill your camping needs. After your trip make sure to swing by the shop and tell us about all of your adventures, good, or bad and why. We will do our best to make your camping experiences the best possible in all aspects. In the eastern part of the state, the Black Hills area offers rolling hills, white tail deer and wild turkey populations, as well as fantastic hiking and sightseeing destinations. Devils Tower National Monument serves as a terrific "home base" when traveling through the area where you can climb or watch other climbers ascend the tower. Further west in the state and deeper into the Rockies, the Wind River Range hosts an abundance of alpine and sub-alpine camping venues. From Lander you can head northwest into the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. This area is one of, if not Wyoming's most popular camping destination. So whether you're looking for rolling hills, rugged peaks, lakes, plains, or the epic adventure, Wyoming can fulfill your camping needs. After your trip make sure to swing by the shop and tell us about all your adventures, good, or bad and why. We will do our best to make your camping experiences the best possible in all aspects.
Pedal
Pedal
Mountain biking around the Lander area offers something for everybody, from the casual weekender to the hardcore biking enthusiast.
Pedal
Pedal
Mountain biking around the Lander area offers something for everybody, from the casual weekender to the hardcore biking enthusiast.
With millions of acres of public lands in Wyoming, trails abound. Whether you are looking for the challenge of the “loop road” to the pristine beauty of the Red Desert and South Pass, there is a trail for you. For the most current information on pedaling in the area, contact our friends over at The Bike Mill or Gannett Peak Sports.
Recommended Mountain Bike Rides:
Recommended Road Bike Rides:
Squaw-Baldwin Loop
North Second-North Fork
Lyons Valley Road
Sinks Canyon to Worthen Meadows
Willow Creek
Lander-Sweetwater-Riverton Century Ride