Wind River Range Backcountry Road

This forgotten mining road climbs the east face of the Wind Rivers, following Louis Lake Creek through some of the most rugged country in Wyoming. Built in the 1920s to access tungsten claims near Atlantic City, the route deteriorates into a technical rock crawl above 9,500 feet, demanding careful line choice through granite ledges and loose talus. The payoff comes at Christina Lake, where you can glass for bighorn sheep on the Continental Divide peaks towering 4,000 feet overhead.

Expert-level difficulty requires armor, recovery gear, and experience reading rock. The season runs mid-July through September, with afternoon thunderstorms a serious concern above treeline. No permits needed but the Shoshone National Forest requires fire restrictions most summers. Fuel up in Lander — you’re 60 miles from civilization once committed. Multiple alpine lakes offer spectacular dispersed camping for those willing to earn it the hard way.