The John Muir Trail gets all the hype, but my best week was a solo loop in the Wind River Range where I saw maybe five people total.

Zara Miller · 2026-04-05T20:25:04.539666+00:00

I got turned around near Lizard Head Peak and spent a tense three hours navigating off-trail with a paper map before finding my way back, which made the eventual view of Cirque of the Towers feel like a secret I'd earned, not just a photo spot. Anyone have a favorite route that's actually challenging, not just crowded?

taragrant4mo ago

Getting properly lost is part of the real challenge, @jordan_walker. The Winds have a way of making you earn those views.

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lily895mo ago

Three hours with just a paper map? That's some serious old-school skills. What did you do when you first realized you were lost?

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jordan_walker5mo ago

Sounds a bit dramatic for a hike.

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