Fremont Lake

Fremont Lake sits in a classic glacial trough. During the ice ages, rivers of ice flowed out of the high Wind River Range and gouged a long, deep basin, then dropped ridges of rock and gravel, called moraines, that dammed the lower end. When the ice melted, the basin filled with water.

That glacial origin explains the lake's remarkable depth and its cold, clear water fed by mountain snowmelt. The surrounding ridges of piled glacial debris, cloaked in pine and aspen, frame the lake and mark exactly how far the ice once reached.

The lake is a favorite for boating, sailing, kayaking, and fishing, with a marina, boat ramps, and campgrounds along its lower shore. Anglers pursue lake trout, brown and rainbow trout, and kokanee salmon in the deep cold water, and the big lake trout here can reach impressive size.

Along the shore, forests of lodgepole pine and aspen climb the moraine ridges, laced with trails and dotted with quiet coves. A scenic overlook above the lower end gives a sweeping view down the length of the lake to the peaks beyond.

Beyond the head of Fremont Lake rises the Bridger Wilderness and the crest of the Wind River Range, home to Gannett Peak, the highest mountain in Wyoming, and to hundreds of alpine lakes, granite spires, and some of the largest glaciers in the American Rockies. Pinedale and the lake are a principal gateway to this high country.

Trails leading from the Pinedale area climb into a world of tundra basins and jagged peaks that draws backpackers, climbers, and anglers from around the world. Fremont Lake is where the mountains begin, the last easy water before the country turns wild and vertical.

This country was long the summer range of the Eastern Shoshone and other tribes, and near Pinedale the Green River rendezvous sites recall the fur-trade era, when trappers and tribes gathered each summer to trade. That deep human history still colors the valley.

Moose browse the willows, elk and mule deer move through the timber, ospreys and eagles fish the lake, and black bears range the slopes. Summer is short, bright, and busy, and the best time for the water. Fall turns the aspens gold, and winter locks the high country in deep snow, when the lake freezes and the peaks stand white against a hard blue sky.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Fremont Lake, near the town of Pinedale in western Wyoming, is a large, deep, and beautiful glacial lake at the foot of the Wind River Range, one of the largest natural lakes in the state. Formed by glaciers, the clear, cold lake stretches for miles amid forested hills, framed by the dramatic peaks of the Wind Rivers, offering excellent fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, camping, and stunning mountain scenery. A gateway to the Wind River wilderness, Fremont Lake is a beloved destination for water recreation and outdoor adventure. With its large, clear glacial waters, mountain setting, and abundant recreation, Fremont Lake offers a gorgeous outdoor destination near Pinedale in western Wyoming.

You can boat, water ski, kayak, paddle, and sail on the large lake, fish for trout including lake trout in the deep, clear waters, swim, camp at the lakeside campground, hike trails in the area and into the nearby Wind River Range, and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. The lake serves as a gateway to the Wind River wilderness for backpackers. Its size and depth make it great for boating and fishing. With its boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and stunning mountain setting at the foot of the Wind Rivers, Fremont Lake offers a gorgeous water-recreation destination near Pinedale, Wyoming.

The lake is large, deep, and cold, being glacial, so the water is chilly even in summer, and swimmers should be cautious of the cold and the depth, while boaters and paddlers should always wear a life jacket, watch for winds that can create hazardous waves on the large lake, and be aware of changing mountain weather. Watch children closely near and in the water. Bring layers for the elevation. Being mindful of the cold water, wearing a life jacket, and watching the weather and wind ensures a safe visit to Fremont Lake near Pinedale, Wyoming.

Summer through early fall is the prime time for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping, when the weather is mildest and the lake and campground are open, though even summer nights are cool at the elevation, while fall brings color and good fishing, and winter is cold and quiet. The lake serves as a warm-weather base for Wind River adventures. For water recreation and warm weather, aim for summer, and for fall color and fishing, early fall is lovely. The lake's beauty and recreation make it most rewarding in the warmer months at Fremont Lake near Pinedale, Wyoming.

Fremont Lake is near the town of Pinedale in western Wyoming, at the foot of the Wind River Range, near the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, the Green River country, and within reach of Dubois, Jackson Hole, and the route toward Grand Teton National Park. That makes Fremont Lake a gorgeous water-recreation stop to combine with Pinedale, the Museum of the Mountain Man, the Wind River Range, and the other attractions of western Wyoming on a visit to the state.