Wind River Wilderness

Introduction
Wyoming USA
Remotely located in the Wind River Mountains, the ranch lies at the edge of the Popo Agie Wilderness area of the Shoshone National Forest, the world's first National Forest! At 9,200 feet above sea level, you will find sparkling mountain lakes, glaciers and pristine forests right outside your cabin porch. Rustic comfort, western hospitality and friendly staff make this place perfect for your summer vacation! Your stay in a cozy handcrafted log cabin includes family style meals in the lodge, daily horseback riding, wild trout fishing, natural history hikes and wildlife watching.
Children age 6 and older are welcome and encouraged to participate in all ranch activities with their parents. Overnight wilderness pack trips are also available as an upgrade. You may also explore the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation, historic gold mining towns, Yellowstone Park or go white water rafting. Friendly and informal, the ranch has only 4 guest cabins, assuring you a personalized and relaxing wilderness experience.

This ranch is the perfect place for a family vacation, a summer retreat or a mountain getaway. Since 1973, the Allen family has owned and operated the ranch with their staff of friendly wranglers. Jim's grandfather was also a dude rancher and outfitter here during the 1920's and 1930's. You can rely on the Allen's to provide a memorable wilderness vacation.

Since we are Wyoming's highest and most remote dude ranch, we are off the grid. We are proud of the rustic comfort we provide guests in each painstakingly handcrafted log cabin. The ranch is small, yet friendly with propane lights, sink and heater in each cozy cabin with showerhouse nearby. Daylight lasts until bedtime during the summer ranch vacation season. After dinner, we often enjoy conversation on the porch of the main lodge while viewing spectacular alpine sunsets over towering snowcapped peaks. The nightly horse stampede is also exciting as 70 horses thunder through the corral gate to graze unfenced mountain meadows.

Experience our unique wilderness hospitality and the mountain grandeur that can only be enjoyed far away from noisy highways and crowded civilization. What better way to spend time and create lasting memories with your family.

Accomodation



Accommodations
The Ranch Vacation is a stationary ride, so all nights will be spent at the ranch.
The Pack Trip involves 3 nights tenting.

Description
There is no laundry or WIFI available at the ranch or during the pack trips.
You need to bring your sleeping bag, pillow and towel only on pack trips (bedding provided at the ranch).

Camping
For the pack trips, you will stay in 2-person dome tents. You will be sleeping on the ground/ a sleeping pad if you choose to bring one. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag. Washrooms are trench outhouses and bathing can be done in the streams. Please bring a solar charger to charge any electronics.

Ranch
The ranch is the highest one in Wyoming and the only ranch at the edge of the 100,000 acre Popo Agie (pronounced Puh-Posia) Wilderness Area. Since we are Wyoming's highest and most remote dude ranch, we are off the grid. We are proud of the rustic comfort we provide guests in each painstakingly handcrafted log cabin. Daylight lasts until bedtime during the summer ranch vacation season when we light our propane lights, free from electricity. After dinner, we often enjoy conversation on the porch of the main lodge while viewing spectacular alpine sunsets over towering snowcapped peaks. The nightly horse stampede is also exciting as 70 horses thunder through the corral gate to graze unfenced mountain meadows.
With only 5 guest cabins, we offer you a friendly, personalized dude ranch experience. Cabins are complete with bedding, pillows, and towels, as well as a wood stove for heating. Facilities include a traditional ranch cookhouse for meals and shared shower houses and outhouses.
Experience our unique wilderness hospitality and the mountain grandeur that can only be enjoyed far away from noisy highways and crowded civilization. The stars at night, you will be in awe at the vast expanse of the milky way. With no distraction of town lights, the skies become a stargazers paradise. What better way to spend time and create lasting memories with your family.

Room Options
If we are unable to find another rider to share, single supplement is mandatory.




Meals
Your stay includes three meals a day.

At the ranch
Meals are hearty, with meat three times a day, and done in class ranch style. Coffee, juices and tea are available throughout the day. Feel free to bring your own alcohol.
Breakfast is at 7:00am and dinner is at 6:00pm.

On pack trips
Breakfast includes bacon or sausage, eggs, potatoes, muffins or oatmeal etc.
For lunch, we prepare a hearty sack for the trail with a sandwich, fruit, and other treats.
Dinner is freshly prepared with meat, fresh salad or vegetable and sides. Often beef, or pork grilled on campfire, possibly chicken or burger in fajita or another meal. If it is a long trip, smoked or prepared meats that last longer are used toward the end of the trip.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


We breed, raise and train our own sturdy, gentle mountain-wise horses for your use on the ranch.

HELPFUL HINTS:
- We always ride our horses at a walk for safety and high-altitude considerations. Enjoy the solitude and alpine beauty from the back of an experienced mountain horse.
- Prior riding experience is very helpful for your own comfort, balance, and safety. If you are able to ride before the trip, please do so! The more experience you can gain before your trip, the better! This will help reduce soreness as you prepare your muscles for multiple hours in the saddle. Anticipate spending anywhere from 3 to 8 hours in the saddle each day, riding through some rocky, steep terrain. Preparing your body for the saddle will make your experience much more enjoyable. Gaining experience and a deeper understanding of horses ahead of time will also help to mitigate the risks involved in this activity.
- You are welcome to walk/lead your horse periodically throughout the rides, in order to stretch your legs. This will help mitigate soreness from long hours in the saddle. Please take this into consideration as you plan footwear that is both suitable for riding (smooth bottom with a heel) and is comfortable for walking on rocky trails.
- Stay hydrated! In higher altitude and dry climate your body requires more fluids. Drink lots of water, even starting before you come up to the ranch.

Itinerary


Next to daily riding, other activities on the ranch include hiking, trout fishing, wildlife viewing and trips to nearby hot springs. These parts of the Winds are so vast that most folks sign up for one of our pack trips to reach just a few of the 30 lakes and many streams available from the ranch.

Chat with your wrangler each day to plan rides that best match the goals and abilities of you, your family or group. Ride to high lookouts, rivers, streams or lakes - there is an abundance of options! Unlike most dude ranches that have a pre-set daily schedule, we enjoy tailoring a unique experience to each individual or group, allowing everyone private rides each day.
Daylight lasts until bedtime during the summer ranch vacation season. After dinner, we often enjoy conversation on the porch of the main lodge while viewing spectacular alpine sunsets over towering snowcapped peaks. The nightly horse stampede is exciting as 80 horses thunder through the corral gate to graze unfenced mountain meadows.

Approximate riding times for the pack trips are:
Middle Lake  - 4 hrs/ 10 mi
Valentine Lake - 6 hrs/ 15 mi
Cliff Lake - 5 hrs/ 12 mi
Dutch Oven Lake - 5½ hrs/ 14 mi 
Baer Lake - 5½ hrs/ 15 mi
Washakie Lake - 7 hrs/ 17½ mi
Lonesome Lake - 6½ hrs/ 17 mi
Grave Lake  - 8 hrs/ 20 mi
The inlet of Grave Creek on Grave Lake is as far as we can go for a one day charge.
Baptiste and Mt. Hooker are a 10 hour ride and charged at two days.



Popo Agie Wilderness Area
The Popo Agie Wilderness was first established as a primitive area on March 2s, 1932. The area, containing 101,991 acres, was classified as wilderness by the Wyoming Wilderness Act of 1984. It is bounded by the Wind River Indian Reservation on the north, and the Bridger Wilderness on the Bridger- Teton National Forest on the west. 
The Popo Agie Wilderness is within the boundaries of the Shoshone National Forest in western Wyoming. It lies immediately east of the Continental Divide, l8 miles west of Lander, 135 miles west of Casper, and 80 miles north of Rock Springs, Wyoming. It is accessible via trailheads which may be reached by US Highway 287, Wyoming Highway 131 and secondary roads. 
The topography of the Popo Agie is very rough, consisting of high jagged peaks separating many beautiful stream courses in deep, narrow valleys and canyons along a 25-mile stretch of the southern Wind River Range. Sheer granite walls are prevalent. There are several permanent snowfields along the Continental Divide.
Wind River Peak, 13,255 feet in elevation is the highest peak associated with the Popo Agie. It is on the western boundary which is common with the Bridger Wilderness on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Over twenty summits above 12,000 feet in elevation are present within the Popo Agie Wilderness. The lowest elevation, 8,400 feet, is at the point where the eastern boundary crosses the Middle Fork Popo Agie River. 
Over 300 lakes and ponds are dispersed throughout the area. Headwaters of the Middle Fork Popo Agie, North Fork Popo Agie, and South Fork Little Wind Rivers originate here. All are tributaries of the Wind River.
The montane, subalpine, and alpine vegetative life zones are represented within the wilderness. 



Fly-fishing
Also, for non-riders, or those that like fishing, the ranch is in a prime location to spend the days waiting for a tug on that fishing rod. Cutthroat trout are the only native fish in the Wind River Range. However, thanks to the old-timers who horse packed young fingerlings in milk cans to secluded lakes, today you can also enjoy catching golden, rainbow, mackinaw, brook and beautifully colored hybrid trout.
We encourage catch and release fishing, but recommend fresh pan-fried trout at least once during your stay.
Fishing rods should be in hard protective cases; shorter pack rods are better on the pack horse.
Wyoming fishing licenses may be purchased ahead online at  http://wgfcms.wyo.gov/apply-or-buy or in Lander at Wind River Outdoor Company or the Good Place on Main St.

Rates and Dates for Wind River Wilderness

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Ranch near Lander
Airport: Riverton
Transfer:

Climate:
                                                Lander area

• Travel documents and Voucher
• Flight tickets
• Passport
• Visa (check with your consulate)

• Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!)
• Riding boots, waterproof with heels + full long chaps
• Riding helmet  (recommended for all trips)
• Riding gloves (2 pairs)
• Hat (with chin strip and wide brim) for sun protection
• Lightweight Rain coat or long riding slicker

• Jacket or sweater for cool evenings
• Comfortable long sleeved Shirts/ T-shirts
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Long Underwear, Warm Wooly Hat & Neck Warmer (For June & September Camps)
• Pyjama
• Bag for dirty clothes
• Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes
• Swimsuit (for showering in camp if you are modest)

• Towel
• Small bar of soap
• Small water bottle
• Flashlight

• Personal Toiletries
• Insect protection
• Personal medications
• Sore cream (for the emergency)
• Refillable water bottles (we suggest bringing 2 bottles – about 32oz + 16-20oz)
• Sewing kit
• Handkerchiefs
• Camera and enough extra films and batteries
• Belt pack
• Address book and pen (for pictures postcards!)
• Sun glasses with strap
• Sun tan lotion and lip balm