The Green River Lakes deliver one of the most iconic views in Wyoming – the flat-topped pyramid of Squaretop Mountain rising beyond a mirror-calm lake at the headwaters of the Green River. Tucked at the end of a long gravel road north of Pinedale, in the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Range, these twin alpine lakes are a postcard come to life and a premier gateway to backpacking in the Winds.
This guide covers the Green River Lakes: the scenery, hiking, fishing, and access. It’s part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Green River Lakes at a glance
- Setting: Upper & Lower Green River Lakes at the headwaters of the Green River
- Location: Sublette County, western Wyoming, Bridger-Teton National Forest (north of Pinedale/Cora)
- Landmark: Squaretop Mountain, one of Wyoming’s most photographed peaks
- Top fish: cutthroat, brook & rainbow trout, mountain whitefish
Squaretop and the Wind River Range
The classic image is unmistakable: Squaretop Mountain reflected in the still water of Lower Green River Lake, framed by forest and the peaks of the Wind River Range. This is the headwaters of the Green River – a major tributary of the Colorado – and one of the great trailheads into the Bridger Wilderness, where the Highline Trail and dozens of routes lead to a wonderland of granite and alpine lakes. The end-of-the-road setting, with a Forest Service campground on the shore, makes it a beloved basecamp.
Fishing and paddling
The lakes and the river between them offer fishing for cutthroat, brook and rainbow trout and mountain whitefish in clear, cold mountain water. A Wyoming fishing license is required. Canoeing and kayaking the lakes – with Squaretop looming ahead – is unforgettable, and the trails around the lakeshore make for easy, spectacular day hikes.
Hiking and camping
A Forest Service campground sits at the lower lake, and trails lead along the shores and deep into the wilderness. The popular hike between the lower and upper lakes, beneath Squaretop, is one of the finest easy walks in the Winds, while serious backpackers push on toward the high country. Come prepared: this is remote, high-elevation, bear-aware country.
Getting there and what’s nearby
The Green River Lakes are at the end of a long gravel road north of Cora and Pinedale in western Wyoming – roughly an hour of driving from Pinedale, the last stretch unpaved. Fremont Lake and the rest of the Pinedale lake country are nearby.
Know before you go
- Gravel access: the final road is unpaved and seasonal – check conditions and allow time.
- Fishing license: a Wyoming license is required.
- Wilderness & bears: high elevation, remote, grizzly country – carry bear spray and proper gear.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the Green River Lakes famous?
For the classic view of Squaretop Mountain reflected in the lake at the headwaters of the Green River – one of the most photographed scenes in Wyoming – and as a premier gateway to the Bridger Wilderness.
What fish are in the Green River Lakes?
Cutthroat, brook and rainbow trout, plus mountain whitefish, in clear, cold mountain water.
Where are the Green River Lakes?
At the end of a gravel road north of Cora and Pinedale in Sublette County, western Wyoming, in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Related: explore the small lakes of Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
