Continental Divide Trail in Photos: Wyoming

Wyoming, the third state of the Continental Divide Trail (for northbound hikers) is another dramatic shift in the trail for thru-hikers. The transition from Colorado to Wyoming is just as dramatic as the shift from New Mexico to Colorado.

The small mountain resort towns of Colorado are replaced with simply small towns. This means fewer amenities but also a break from astronomical Colorado prices. In Wyoming, hikers enter via the Huston Park Wilderness in the Medicine Bow National Forest before then meeting with what will be a great friend to them in Wyoming, dirt roads. The trail passes the town of Rawlins and then crosses the Great Divide Basin before entering the Wind River Range (this is generally where hikers begin carrying bear spray). To finish up the state, CDT hikers enter the trail’s second National Park (heading north), Yellowstone.

If you are interested in a detailed account of my Continental Divide Trail hike through Wyoming, check out these posts:

CDT Wyoming State Line Mac — Entering Wyoming – the trail here isn’t (or wasn’t) very well maintained, but still managed to find this sign (and poop in the state line).

CDT Wyoming Southern Trail — There isn’t much craziness as far as the trail goes in the first stretch of Wyoming – it’s mostly just trying to stay on the trail (as in not losing it).

CDT Wyoming Encampment Sign — Encampment, Wyoming – the first town in the state (and also one of the smallest of the trail). Nothing too exciting here.

CDT Wyoming Tree Trail — The southern half of Wyoming isn’t particularly interesting compared to the rest of the trail, but it’s really just warming you up for the second half.

Rawlins is a large city (by Wyoming standards) that the CDT goes straight through. There are hotels with CDT Wyoming Rawlins Motel Breakfast (and even hot!) breakfasts.

CDT Wyoming Rawlins Appa Road Walk — Walking the road out of Rawlins as we enter the Great Divide Basin.

CDT Wyoming Basin Thunderstorm Clouds — Of course, as soon as we enter the Great Divide Basin, we get hit with a thunderstorm – not many places to cower.

CDT Wyoming Sign in Basin — A sign in surprisingly good shape in the Great Divide Basin.

CDT Wyoming Basin Long Road — A lot of people hate on the Basin because it’s “boring”, but it’s also stress-free when it comes to route finding – just follow the trail to the horizon.

CDT Wyoming Basin Apps with Skull — The largest animal skull we have come across on the CDT (and probably the largest we’ll find unless we unearth some dinosaurs).

CDT Wyoming Basin Poop Pile — An enormous mystery poop pile. Did one animal do all this? Did they all just poop in the same spot? Did someone come and intentionally make this pile? I may never know.

CDT Wyoming Basin Cow Skeleton — One thing the Great Divide Basin is known for? Not having many water sources.

CDT Wyoming Basin Horses on Hill — Another thing the Great Divide Basin is known for? Wild horses. So much smarter and more majestic than cows.

CDT Wyoming BLM Sign — I wonder how many people stop to read this sign every year. I wonder what percentage of these people are on the Continental Divide Trail.

CDT Wyoming Basin California Trail Sign — We find multiple signs for “The California Trail” and “The Oregon Trail” in the Great Divide Basin. I suppose it’s an easy spot to cross if you’re heading east to west.

CDT Wyoming Basin Appa Water Source — Finding water sources in the Basin can be tricky (even if you’re “pretty sure where they are”).

CDT Wyoming Basin Water Cache — One of the nicer water caches we found on the trail – no risk of these blowing away and becoming trash, most excellent.

CDT Wyoming Mac and Appa — We managed to find someone else in the Basin – it’s also where we see our first southbound CDT hiker.

CDT Wyoming South Pass City Sign — South Pass City marks the end of the Great Divide Basin and the start of the Wind River Range – it’s also where you can hitchhike to Lander, Wyoming from.

CDT Wyoming Lander Bear Spray — We make it to Lander (another relatively large Wyoming city of nearly 8,000) and pick up bear spray (mostly so that we feel safer as we hope to never have to use it).

CDT Wyoming Winds Cirque of the Towers — The Cirque of the Towers alternate route in the Wind River Range – highly recommended

CDT Wyoming Appa Texas Pass Climb — Heading up the south side of Texas Pass – still plenty of snow late in the season.

CDT Wyoming Appa Texas Pass North Side — The north side of Texas Pass is just as impressive as the south.

CDT Wyoming South Side Knapsack Col Snow — Another recommended alternate route on the CDT – Knapsack Col.

CDT Wyoming Appa Descending Knapsack Col Snow — Descending the northern side of Knapsack Col

CDT Wyoming Wind River Range View North — The Wind River Range is truly glorious. It should be high on your list of places to explore.

CDT Wyoming Winds Exiting North — One of the longest descents on the entire CDT.

CDT Wyoming Winds Appa River Crossing — Still no shortage of wet feet.

CDT Wyoming Winds Squaretop River — Looking behind us to catch a glimpse of Squaretop Mountain as we leave the mountains behind us.

CDT Wyoming Mac Dubois Antler Arch — You can hitch to Jackson or Dubois. We opt for Dubois (where apparently, there’s no cell reception).

CDT Wyoming Wooden Wilderness Sign — The northern half of Wyoming is far more interesting than the southern half.

CDT Wyoming Parting of the Waters Sign — This stream splits – one side drains to the Pacific Ocean, the other to the Atlantic Ocean. Nature is neat.

CDT Wyoming Appa Dark Ridgeline — We may be out of the mountains, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get hit with the occasional thunderstorm (sad face).

CDT Wyoming Mac Grizzly Bears Sign — This sign knows what’s up. Still have yet to spy a grizzly bear.

CDT Wyoming Morning Light — Sometimes photos manage to capture more magic than is actually there.

CDT Wyoming Appa Head Net — The mosquitoes in Northern Wyoming were absolutely brutal – the worst of the entire trail by a long shot.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Entry Sign — Yellowstone offers some logistical challenges as you need permits to camp at backcountry campsites – we hike into the park early and hit the backcountry office.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Appa Thermals — Do yourself (and everyone) a favor – stay well away from the geothermal pools and features in the park.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Backcountry Office — Apparently, nobody that works at Yellowstone knows where the backcountry office is – this place was incredibly difficult for us to find.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Appa Water Crossing — A surprisingly large water crossing for being inside of a National Park – where is the infrastructure!?

CDT Wyoming Old Faithful Village Breakfast — We both open and close the breakfast buffet at Old Faithful Lodge – we almost go back for the lunch buffet.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Castle Geyser — Castle Geyser near Old Faithful Village – neat.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Sunset Trail — We have no campsite reserved, so we need to hike out of the park before we camp.

CDT Wyoming Yellowstone Burn Area — The outer boundary of Yellowstone National Park near the Wyoming-Idaho border.

Questions about the Continental Divide Trail through Wyoming? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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