Hike to Lake Louise, Wind River Range

Start your journey headed South/East out of Dubois toward Riverton and Lander. Take a left onto Fish Hatchery Road. The road forks and you can either turn right and go to the CM Ranch, or left towards Ring Lake Ranch. Go left. Follow this road to the end. But keep your eye out for big horn sheep and ancient petroglyphs on the side of the road on the drive up! (Whenever you see a wooden post about 3-4 feet off the ground off the side of the road that means there are petroglyphs nearby or a short hike up a trail near wherever the post is located.)

Once in the parking lot the trailhead is easy to spot. Follow this trail all the way up to Lake Louise! The official name on the wilderness signs call it the Glacier Trail instead of Lake Louise, so do not be confused and go up to the top of Whiskey Mnt. by accident. About a half a mile up the trail there is a bridge with a lovely waterfall cascading it's way down the canyon. It's a great place to stop for a water break, both scenically and literally! Across the bridge there are a few awesome & longer day hikes and even leads up to Granite Peak (currently the highest peak in Wyoming.)

The trail is about 2 miles up to Lake Louise with approx. 1,400-1,600 feet in elevation gain. It isn't at all a strenuous hike and on average takes most people around an hour and a half to get up and an hour to fourtyfive minutes to make their way back down. Most of the hike takes you through forest and across glacier rock. The last part of the trail can be discouraging for some as the trail fades out and into the rock. This is only about 200-300 yards from the lake so keep going! It's normally windy once you get to the lake (except in the peak of the summer) so put on a windproof layer and enjoy the company of Lake Louise and the Wind River Range! It is beyond gorgeous.