Boulder, WY – Despite its remote location, Big Sandy Lake is one of the most popular trailheads in the Wind River Range for access into the Bridger Wilderness. The trailhead is located 25 miles from a paved road. From this trailhead, the majority of the visitors hike to Big Sandy Lake and then on to high country destinations like the Cirque of Towers, a very popular climbing destination. Backpacking is also extremely popular at Big Sandy Lake and nearby Clear and Deep Lakes. This trailhead is used to access the Fremont Trail via Meeks Lake Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. We day hiked to Big Sandy Lake (out and back) for a distance of about 12 miles including exploring around the lake. For selecting trails I used, “Falcon Guides: Hiking Wyoming’s Wind River Range” by Ben Adkison which includes both day hikes and backpacking options.
Why is Big Sandy Lake so popular? To reach Big Sandy Lake and its alpine setting, the relatively easy trail gradually climbs about 800 feet over 6 miles. Enroute you travel along Big Sandy Creek and have intermittent views of alpine peaks. This is a scenic region. The trailhead is located at 9,080 feet and offers a vault toilet.
Mountain vista and meadow along the Big Sandy Trail
Big Sandy Lake is 6 miles from the trailhead
As you start up the trail you soon reach Big Sandy Creek and a wide meadow. At 0.6 miles you reach the turnoff to Meeks Lake Trail/Fremont Trail. Shortly after you will climb the steepest part of the trail.
Big Sandy Creek near the trailhead
Horse and mule trains use the trail
Trail junctions were well marked
Once the trail grade moderates, the trail will travel in and out of lodgepole pine stands and open meadows. There are a couple of easy streams to rock hop. Big Sandy Creek changes from slow and wide to narrow and rushing with white water. The trail also alternates between easy tread and tedious rocky sections. The meadow sections offer wildflowers including lupine, cinquefoil, mountain daisy and yarrow.
Along the Big Sandy Trail
The Bridger Wilderness border is labelled with a sign
Another view of Big Sandy Creek
Distant view of the mountains near Big Sandy Lake
Big Sandy Mountain from the trail
At 3 miles you reach the junction with the Diamond Lake trail. From here, whitebark pine and Engelmann Spruce join the lodgepole pine in the forested sections. The gentle ascent continues until you reach Big Sandy Lake showcased under Big Sandy Mountain which tops out at 12,416 feet. Haystack Mountain, East Temple Peak, and Schiestler Peak (11,624 feet) frame Big Sandy Lake on the east and southeast.
First view of Big Sandy Lake and Big Sandy Mountain
Schiestler Peak (11,624 feet) looms over Big Sandy Lake
We enjoyed a nice lunch at Big Sandy Lake before returning to the trailhead. Over 50 percent of the hikers we passed along the trail had climbing gear, one person was trail running, and the rest were backpackers. We also saw 2 groups of horse/mule trains. Cirque of Towers is reached via the trail to Jackass Pass at the far end of the lake. This was the busiest hike we encountered in the Wind River Range.
We had lunch at Big Sandy Lake
Haystack and East Temple above the lake
View from the Big Sandy Trail
To reach the Big Sandy Trailhead from Boulder, follow Wyoming state route 353 east. Boulder is 11.5 miles south of Pinedale or 88 miles north of Rock Springs via US 191. Travel 32 miles on route 353, which is paved for the first 18 miles and is then unpaved, rough and has sections of washboard. There will be several junctions in the 32 miles, just stay on the main road and/or follow signage. At 32 miles, turn left onto Big Sandy Road. Follow Big Sandy Road for 10.75 miles to the trailhead, the route is rough, rocky, narrow, and steep in sections. You may begin to see cars parked a good distance from the trailhead, as the popularity of this trailhead means that parking is often overflowing.
We stayed at Highline Trail RV Park in Boulder when we visited the Big Sandy Lake Trail. Other hikes we completed during this visit to the Wind River Range included:
