Over
80% of Sublette County is public land, mostly National Forest or land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Three mountain ranges offer
hundreds of miles of hiking trails, over 1,300 lakes for sport fishing,
and thousands of acres of remote back country to explore. Visitors will
find many outdoor activities, and fun for the whole family, both summer
and winter in Sublette County. Local businesses provide equipment and
services to outfit visitors with just about anything they might need for
their outdoor recreation adventures.
Winter
Lots
of snow doesn't slow things down in Wyoming, it means winter fun! Outdoor
enthusiasts enjoy snowmobiling,
downhill and cross-country skiing,
ice fishing, snowshoeing,
and sled dog racing.
White Pine Ski Area and Resort offers challenging downhill skiing just
10 miles from Pinedale. Many cross-country ski trails are located near
the ski area, as well as in many other locations throughout the county.
The towns of Big Piney and Pinedale both have outdoor ice
skating rinks for recreational skating and ice
hockey for youth and adult teams.
There are many opportunities for cross-country skiing throughout the county
offering scenic views and a variety of terrain. Trail maps are available
at the local Forest Service Ranger Station offices in Big Piney and Pinedale.
White
Pine Ski Area and Resort has challenging downhill skiing for the whole
family and is located just 10 miles from Pinedale in the Wind River Mountains.
They also offer snowboarding and access to extensive cross-country ski
trails and acres ofmeadows for snowshoeing. They have a 12,000 square
foot, three-story base lodge with food services, ski rentals, and convention
facilities. Two state of the art triple chair lifts provide access to
over 25 trails for novice to advanced skiers and riders. The "Great
Spirit" lift rises to the summit of Fortification Mountain with an
elevation of 9,500 feet with spectacular views of the Continental Divide
of the Wind River Mountains, the Bridger Wilderness, Fremont Lake, as
well as the Wyoming Range, the Gros Ventre Mountains, Teton Peaks, and
the Uinta Range of Utah. Ski and snowboard rentals are available at the
White Pine Ski & Sports located at the White Pine Lodge, and lift
tickets and season ski passes can be purchased there as well. Skiing and
snowboarding lessons are available from the Ski School at White Pine.
The Wind River Mountains have an extensive trail system with more than
250 miles of groomed and marked trails, with snow depths ranging from
5-10 feet. The Continental
Divide Snowmobile Trailgoes right through Pinedale and provides
more than 400 miles of continuous riding from South Pass to Yellowstone
National Park. The Wyoming Range also offers over 330 miles of groomed
and ungroomed marked trails that connect Alpine to Afton to 15 miles north
of LaBarge and Kemmerer. Miles ofpowder are also available for off
trail riding. Snowmobiling season usually runs from early December through
mid April.
Summer
Warm weather
melts the deep snow and the remote high country for hikers. Popular
activities include camping, fishing,
backpacking, horseback
riding, and hunting. The
more adventuresome can try their mountaineering skills to climb Gannett
Peak, Wyoming's highest peak, or rock climbing
in the Cirque of the Towers of the rugged Wind River Mountains. For those
who prefer not to hike, there are miles of roads for 4-wheeling
and trails for mountain biking. The
many area lakes offer boating and sailing,
water skiing, fishing, and other
water fun.
The Bridger-Teton
National Forest offers twenty developed campgrounds for overnight or extended
camping stays. Campgrounds have picnic tables, campfire pits, and a place
for your tent. Campgrounds have restrooms and potable water, but none
have showers or telephone services. Larger units are available with pull-throughs
for RVs or groups. Some campgrounds have units that can be reserved through
the Reserve USA
federal reservation system. There are also many trailheads into the Wind
River, Gros Ventre and Wyoming Range mountains providing access to the
remote country for backpackers and horse packers. Some campgrounds and
trailheads also have corrals and loading docks for horses and llamas.
There are
also many opportunities in the county for undeveloped camping experiences.
Be sure to read the regulations regarding locations of campsites near
water sources and any regulations regarding campfires for the area where
you plan to recreate. There are many places here to "get away from
it all". Be aware that the remote country and wilderness areas can
provide challenging mountaineering experiences, but getting lost isn't
one you'll probably want to happen. Local businesses have USGS topographical
maps, guide books, compasses and other necessities to make your backcountry
trip a pleasant experience.
Local Outfitters
and Guides can provide guided services into the remote backcountry areas
for fishermen, backpackers and horse pack trips for those who wish to
hire someone who knows the area well and where the best fishing holes
are located. Those preferring to pack in with lesser impact can rent llamas
from several local businesses. Commercial lodges and guest ranches are
located near many of the larger lakes and can provide lodging, rent boats,
and equip visitors with some gear.
For more
area information: Bridger-Teton
National Forest
Pinedale Ranger District
29 E Fremont Lake Road, P.O. Box 220, Pindale, WY, 82941
/739-5700
Fax:
Big Piney
Ranger District
P.O. Box 218, Big Piney, WY, 83113
or 276-5800/5200
Fax: /276-5835
Bureau of
Land Management, Pinedale Management Area
432 E. Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
www.visitsublettecounty.com Sublette County Visitor's Guide
Sublette County, Wyoming
For more information call the Sublette County Visitor's Center
at or e-mail: .
This web site is funded by lodging tax money collected in Sublette County,
Wyoming and managed by the Sublette County Joint Tourism Promotion Board.
Photos
used on this site are by Pinedale
Online unless otherwise credited in the photo caption. Photos are copyrighted
and may not be used without permission.