Lander Area Chamber of Commerce 2014 Travel and Relocation Guide | Page 24

Wind River

Mountain Recreation

A young fisherman pulls in the catch of the day;
Photo Courtesy of Ericka Rossman

Lander is situated directly
at the base of the Wind River
Mountain Range, arguably the
most pristine wilderness area
in the 48 connected states. It
is a virtual paradise of natural
beauty that supports an
incredible variety of outdoor
activities. Whether you are a
hiker, hunter, rock climber,
angler, camper, photographer,
nordic skier, horseman, or snow
machine rider, you will find
unparalleled opportunities to
engage with the great outdoors.
Despite it’s awesome beauty,
the Wind River Range remains
uncrowded due to its relative
distance from heavily populated
areas. Residents of Lander
feel blessed to live so close to
an area that possesses such an
extraordinary range of outdoor
opportunities. Visitors quickly
realize that it is an important
part of the quality of life that
we enjoy here.
Straddling the continental
divide, the Popo Agie
Wilderness Area, established
in 1984, lies at the heart of the
Wind River Range. At 13,255
feet, Wind River Peak is the
highest point in the wilderness
area, and many other peaks
exceed 12,000 feet. The winter

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snows feed hundreds of lakes
and ponds and innumerable
streams, many of which contain
trout. It is a land of rugged
beauty, filled with glaciers,
waterfalls, and forests of pine
spruce and fir. Climbers are
drawn to the rugged peaks and
sheer granite walls, while backcountry hikers and fisherman
revel in the remote valleys
and canyons. The Popo Agie
Wilderness area contains over
100,000 Xܙ\