With a rich ranching background, Pinedale is home to one of the nation’s oldest and longest cattle drives. The Green River Drift runs in June and October and literally stops traffic as cowboys herd their charges along a 70-mile journey. Prior to ranching’s heyday, Pinedale was a hub of the Rocky Mountain fur trade, an era commemorated each July at the Green River Rendezvous. Pinedale sits on ancestral lands of the Shoshone-Bannock, Aapsalooke (Crow), Eastern Shoshone, and Cheyenne peoples.
In Pinedale, wildlife outnumbers residents tenfold, and the resident moose can often be found in town parks. Many come to witness Pinedale’s ancient Path of the Pronghorn migration, one of the last remaining long distance animal migrations in the Western Hemisphere. And while the Pinedale area boasts over 1,300 named lakes, the king of them all is Fremont Lake.
Fremont Lake is surrounded by timbered foothills and a backdrop of spectacular snowy peaks, including Wyoming’s highest, Gannett Peak. Fremont Lake is 12 miles long, half a mile wide, and well over 600 feet deep, making it the second largest natural lake in Wyoming and one of America’s deepest. Accessible by road or the fully paved bike path running through town, the lake is a recreation hotspot for kayakers, paddle-boarders, anglers, boaters, and beach-goers looking for some relaxation in the sun.
The closest large airport to Pinedale is Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), which is about an hour and 45 minutes drive via US-191. American Air, Delta, and United offer year round flights to this airport and Frontier offers summertime flights between Denver and Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC):
Phone: 307-733-7682
Visit the website.
Rocky Mountain Yeti
153 S. Entertainment Lane
Pinedale, WY 82941
307-323-3203
Great Outdoor Transportation Co. (GOTCO) (Hiking & Airport Shuttles)
Pinedale, WY
307-360-3660
Ten Things to do in Pinedale
Experience the Wind River Mountains
Explore the Museum of the Mountain Man
Enjoy the fresh air at Fremont Lake
Visit the Pinedale Aquatic Center
Hike the Wind River Mountain Range
Fish the Green River with Two Rivers Fishing Co.
Grab a bite at the Pitchfork Fondue
Experience a Rodeo
Enjoy the Green River Rendezvous
Make art or pottery at Pinedale Arts and Crafts
Stop by the Visitor Center
Green River Lakes, Bridger-Teton National Forest
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 15+ miles one-way
Directions: Green River Lakes TH: Take US Highway 191 west from Pinedale. About six miles from Pinedale, you will reach the Cora turnoff at the junction of State Highway 352. Turn right, towards Cora, and keep going until you reach Green River Lakes. The last 23 miles of the trip is on a rough dirt road maintained by the Forest Service. During the summer it is suitable for most cars, but slow speeds are necessary, so plan a leisurely pace for your trip. Union Pass Road: From Dubois drive 8 miles on US 26/287 to Union Pass Road. Turn left onto gravel road before the DuNoir Gas Station. Follow Union Pass Road for 5.4 miles to the FR 532. You will see the Shoshone National Forest Kiosk and continue 10.9 miles along the Union Pass Road to the FR 693 intersection. There is not and established parking lot but you can leave your vehicle.
Maps:
USGS 7.5 Quadrangles: Green River Lakes, Union Peak, Fish Creek Park, Bridger Teton National Forest – Pinedale Ranger District and Bridger Wilderness
For More Information:
Bridger-Teton National Forest – http://www.fs.fed.us/btnf/
- wifi
- camping/ lodging
- showers
- food
- laundry
- camp supplies
- Pinedale Post Office
- 413 Pine St, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-2650
- Moosely Mailboxes & More
- 34 N Franklin Ave, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-7234
- The Great Outdoor Shop
- 332 W Pine St, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-2440
- Ridley’s Family Market
- 341 E Pine St, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-2131
- ACE Hardware
- 341 E Pine St, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-2131
- Sublette County Library
- 155 S Tyler Ave, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-4114
- Clean Wash Laundromat
- 1308 Wilson St, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-9800
- Pinedale Aquatic Center
- 535 N Tyler Ave, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-2832
- Sublette County Visitors Center
- 19 E Pine Street, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-367-3419
- Yellowstone Trail RV Park
- 1500 Wilson Street, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-360-7275
- Jackalope Motor Lodge
- 407 S. Pine Street, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-200-9642
- Pitchfork Fondue
- 9888 US Hwy 191, Pinedale
- WY 82941
- 307-360-8969
Submit a place
Is the thru-hiker section above missing a business or an amenity? If so, please let us know below!
Pinedale is unique among our Gateway Communities because the Continental Divide Trail sits high in the Bridger Wilderness Area, which encompasses the Wind River Mountains. The closest CDT trailhead to town is about an hour and a half’s drive or a 10 mile hike. Although it takes a bit of effort to experience the CDT near Pinedale, it’s well worth the effort. Visit the Sublette County Visitors Center or the Great Outdoor Shop to talk to local experts about the best ways to enjoy the CDT near Pinedale.