Wind River Range — Cirque of the Towers
Wind River Range, WY
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Multi-day snow cycle rolling through Wednesday-Thursday with lows down to 11°F and 69% precip chance both nights — this is a cold, wet entry. Friday clears and warms to 39°F, so the back half of the trip looks good. Go prepared for full winter conditions on days 1-2.
34°/11°F · Partly Sunny then Scattered Snow Showers
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33" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
14h 1m daylight · Sunrise 6:15 AM · Sunset 8:15 PM
Full Briefing
The weather is the whole story here. You're dropping into the Cirque right as a multi-day snow cycle kicks off — today's high is 34°F with scattered snow showers likely by afternoon, tonight drops to 18°F with a 69% chance of snow continuing, and Thursday is more of the same: 30°F high, 7-13 mph NE wind, 69% precip. Thursday night bottoms out at 11°F. That's a legitimate cold bivouac situation, not just chilly camping. If your shelter and sleep system aren't dialed for sub-15°F at ~10,000 ft with wet snow loading the tent, this is the thing to rethink. The NE wind Thursday is worth noting — the Cirque's walls provide some protection, but exposed ridgeline camps will get scoured.
Snowpack in the range is substantial. The Long Lake SNOTEL at 8,400 ft is showing 89 inches depth and 38.2 inches SWE — that's a deep, consolidated spring snowpack, and with the current cold temps it's not going anywhere fast. Expect continuous snow coverage on the approach and throughout the Cirque. The Big Sandy trailhead and Jackass Pass approaches will be fully snow-covered; travel will be on consolidated spring snow. Early morning crusts are likely, especially Friday morning after the clear, cold Thursday night — that's your best travel window for firm, fast movement.
Stream crossings are a non-issue right now. The USGS gauge data shows flows well within normal range (all gauges between 78-118% of median, all trending stable or falling). Snowmelt pulses are limited by the current cold pattern — with highs in the low 30s through Thursday, melt-driven afternoon flow spikes won't be a factor until the Friday warmup. By Friday afternoon with a 39°F high and full sun, you may see some increase in drainage flow, but nothing that should create crossing problems in this range at current snowpack melt rates. No fires within 50 miles, air quality is a non-issue.
Timing recommendation: if you're starting today, move fast to get camp established before the snow showers intensify this afternoon. Plan to hunker Thursday — it's not a travel day. Friday is your reward: sunny, 39°F, light winds out of NNW. Use Friday morning's firm crust for any technical terrain or high passes, and be back in camp or descending before afternoon softening. Saturday morning departure will be on refrozen snow again — straightforward travel. Note that avalanche forecast data was unavailable for this briefing; use standard spring snowpack judgment on any loaded leeward slopes, particularly after the new snow accumulation from this cycle settles on Wednesday-Thursday.
Waypoints
Big Sandy Lodge Trailhead
Long dirt road from Pinedale. The trailhead for both the Cirque loop and Wind River High Route.
9,501 ft
Big Sandy Lake
Beautiful alpine lake camp. Many hikers spend a night here before the pass.
9,820 ft
Jackass Pass
The crux. Views of the Cirque beyond. Snow through mid-July.
10,801 ft
Cirque Basin
The heart of the Cirque. Pingora, Wolf's Head, and the other towers surround the meadow.
10,000 ft
Route Details
Distance
22.0 mi
Elevation Gain
3,750 ft
Elevation Loss
3,750 ft
Max Elevation
10,801 ft
Estimated Days
4
Trailhead
Big Sandy Lodge Trailhead
Best Season
July through September. Snow on passes in June and early July. Grizzly bears present—bear canister required.
Permit Required
Bridger Wilderness permit required. Self-issue at trailhead. Bear canister mandatory.
About This Route
The Cirque of the Towers is a dramatic horseshoe of granite spires in the southern Wind River Range of Wyoming, one of the most spectacular alpine environments in the Rocky Mountains. The 22-mile loop reaches the cirque via Big Sandy Lake and Jackass Pass, surrounded by towers with evocative names—Pingora, Wolf's Head, Warrior, Overhanging Tower. The approach from Big Sandy Lodge is 7 miles to Big Sandy Lake, where most hikers camp before continuing over Jackass Pass (10,798 ft) into the cirque basin. The towers are a world-class rock climbing destination, but the non-climbing hiker can experience the full visual spectacle of the granite walls from the meadows below. This is true wilderness. No maintained trails in many sections, camp fires prohibited above 9,500 feet, and grizzly bears are present in the drainage. Pack a bear canister and know your bear safety. Snowpack lingers well into July on the north-facing passes. The solitude here is profound by western standards—permits are required but quotas are generous. The nearest town is Pinedale, 30+ miles away. Cell service is absent for days at a time.
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