Sublette: Trails, Wilderness and Regional History

A trip to Sublette can be planned around a range of landscapes and themes: the Bridger Wilderness covers about 428,000 acres, most of which lies in Sublette County. In the lower elevations of the Wind River Range, granite outcrops, forests, meadows, small lakes and streams define the Scab Creek Wilderness Study Area. On a larger scale, the Wind River Range has more than 1,300 lakes and hundreds of miles of streams and trails. Individual natural areas are thus part of an extensive network of water and trails.

Nature Trails and Routes

Two trails lead from the Scab Creek Recreation Area through the Scab Creek Wilderness Study Area and connect with the trail system in the adjacent Bridger Wilderness. The recreation area offers parking for trailheads leading to Scab Lake and Scab Creek. From the sign, the Trappers Point Overlook can be reached via a 0.25-mile walking path. The overlook covers 10 acres and is owned and managed by the Sublette County Historical Society.

The 163-mile Centennial Scenic Byway runs through Sublette County. Its southern end begins in Pinedale on U.S. 191. The route follows a modern, two-lane paved road, with side roads providing access to nearby attractions. This makes it possible to explore the landscape along a designated road route, while the turnoffs lead to additional destinations in the area.

Winter Trails and Ski Areas

Sublette County has more than 20 miles of groomed winter trails. They are open to hikers, snowshoers and fat bikers. For downhill skiing, White Pine Resort in the Bridger-Teton National Forest has 27 runs across 363 acres of skiable terrain. It also has 35 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski loops designed for all ability levels. Backcountry snowmobiling is another option: Sublette County has terrain and trail systems for it.

Lakes and Waterways

The Boulder Lake Recreation Area includes about three miles of shoreline along Boulder Lake. There is a developed boat launch on the south shore. Green River Lakes offers a different setting: the Green River Lakes Campground is near Lower Green River Lake at an elevation of 8,000 feet, on the western edge of the Wind River Range. Small watercraft are recommended for Green River Lakes; there is a simple launch site on the shore where boats can be hand-launched. It is suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Check current conditions at the site before you go. Trails in the area include the Continental Divide Trail, the Highline Trail and the Lakeside Trail.

History and Culture

The Green River Valley Museum presents local history and culture in seven buildings. The Museum of the Mountain Man focuses on the mountain man era, the culture of Indigenous peoples of the Plains, the Oregon Trail and the region’s development. The Sublette County Historical Society, which operates the Museum of the Mountain Man, owns more than 21,500 artifacts dating from prehistoric times through the settlement era.

The site of Fort Bonneville also tells the story of the region’s early history. The fort was built in 1832 near the confluence of Horse Creek and the Green River in what is now Sublette County, and was the first trading post in what is now Wyoming. A monument erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1915 marks the site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes public and private land. At the park at the New Fork River crossing, visitors can also walk a self-guided one-mile loop with nine interpretive panels.

The annual Green River Rendezvous is a four-day celebration of the Rocky Mountain fur trade era; the program may vary from year to year. The Rendezvous Rodeo takes place on the second full weekend in July, and Chuckwagon Days takes place around July 4. Because recurring event dates may change in the future, check the dates for the year of your trip.

Plan Your Stay

The Sublette County Visitors Centers answer questions about visiting the county and help with accommodation planning. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sublette, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: hiking, winter activities, water or regional history.

Discover more destinations: Pinedale, Boulder, Carbon, Lincoln, Uinta County, Fremont County, Converse County, Sheridan.

For the main travel overview: Wyoming.