Wyoming boasts countless outstanding backcountry destinations. While some of these attractions are world famous, many are virtually unknown even to the savviest locals. Award-winning author Douglas Lorain details both famous and hidden treasures in his picks of Wyoming's 28 most enjoyable backpack trips. Lasting from three days to two weeks, these carefully chosen itineraries offer the hiker mountain scenery, magnificent wildlife, colorful geologic marvels, and reasonable daily mileage goals. This in-depth guide reveals the best trips in and around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains, the Absaroka and Snowy Ranges, the Wind River Range, and such treasures as the Wyoming, Gros Ventre, Bear Lodge, and Salt River Mountains. Each of the trips rates scenery, solitude, and difficulty; specifies mileage, elevation gain, days on the trail, and shuttle distance; and notes special attractions, required permits, and challenges. A detailed map and photographs accompany each trip. Everything the backcountry adventurer needs for a "trip of a lifetime." Douglas Lorain's family moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1969,and he has been obsessively hitting the trails of his home region ever since. Over the years he calculates that he has logged well over 30,000 trail miles in this corner of the continent, and despite a history that includes being bitten by a rattlesnake, shot at by a hunter, charged by a grizzly bear, and donating countless gallons of blood to "invertebrate vampires," he happily sees no end in sight. Lorain is a photographer and recipient of the National Outdoor Book Award. His books cover only the best trips from the thousands of hikes and backpacking trips he has taken throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. His photographs have been featured in numerous magazines, calendars, and books. He is described by the Seattle Times as the "next great Northwest trail guide author." Bighorn Pass & Sportsman Lake Loop RATINGS: Scenery: 8, Solitude: 5 Difficulty: 6 MILES: 45.7 (54.7), including a 3.9-mile roadwalk ELEVATION GAIN: 6550´ (9750´) DAYS: 3–5 MAP: Trails Illustrated Mammoth Hot Springs-NW Yellowstone National Park USUALLY OPEN: Mid-July to October BEST: Late July to mid-September CONTACT: Yellowstone National Park SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS: Good mountain scenery; plenty of wildlife PERMITS A permit is required. Advanced reservations are recommended. The nearest location to pick up a permit is the Mammoth Hot Springs Ranger Station. RULES Fires are allowed only at specified camps. All food and other odorous items must be stored away from bears at all times. Most of this trip is in the Gallatin Bear Management Area, where off-trail travel is prohibited from May 1 to November 10. Because of the bears, a minimum group size of four is recommended and solo hiking is discouraged. TAKE THIS TRIP Some of the best mountain scenery in Yellowstone National Park is in the Gallatin Range, a cluster of 10,000-foot peaks filled with snowy summits, colorful wildflowers, sparkling lakes, and all the other attractions typically found in the mountains of the American West. This being Yellowstone, however, these mountains also boast a higher concentration of wildlife than places not protected in a national park. So not only can hikers enjoy the usual wildflower-covered meadows and impressively tall peaks, they will also probably see elk, bison, moose, and possibly bears and wolves, along with many smaller animals. The loop described here visits many of the Gallatin Range’s most outstanding scenic attractions, including lovely Sportsman Lake, miles of beautiful lower-elevation meadows, and wonderful viewpoints at Bighorn Pass and Electric Divide. It also provides access to side trips to such places as Electric Peak and Cache Lake and visits a wide variety of habitats. All in all this is perhaps the most diverse, scenic, and enjoyable longer backpacking trip in the park. CHALLENGES Grizzly bears are very common―camp and act accordingly. HOW TO GET THERE The trailhead is in the northwest part of Yellowstone National Park along the spur road into Indian Creek Campground. The campground turnoff can be reached either by driving north 12.9 miles from the Norris Geyser Basin junction or south 8.9 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs. In either case, turn west at the sign for Indian Creek Campground, drive over a bridge, and almost immediately thereafter reach the signed Bighorn Trailhead. Parking is on the right. DESCRIPTION The slightly uphill trail begins by going west through a forest of young lodgepole pines that are slowly recovering from the massive fires of 1988. Most of the trees are only about 15 feet tall, so shade is something of a rarity. The extra sunshine allowed in by the shorter trees, however, has led to fine wildflower displays from late June to early August and generally better views. After 0.1 mile you come to a junction. Go right on Bighorn Loop and soon walk past