Fall Fly Fishing New Fork River - Visit Pinedale, WY

New Fork Lakes

Overview

Want to get away to a remote, beautiful mountain lake, but don’t want to drive too far from Pinedale? New Fork Lakes, nestled at the base of the rugged Wind River Mountains, offers extensive recreational opportunities and facilities and is only 24 miles from Pinedale.

Summer recreational opportunities at New Fork Lakes include camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and boating. Anglers can cast for brook trout, Mackinaw (lake trout), Kokanee salmon, and rainbows. New Fork Lakes is an access point for many trails in the Wind River Range and Bridger Wilderness. There are also opportunities for short strolls and day hikes.

Popular Activities

New Fork Lake Visit Pinedale WY

Camping

Forest Service facilities at New Fork Lakes Campground (lower lake) include basic campsites, boat launch, vault toilets, and drinking water. Lake access is a short walk from any of the campsites. Farther up the lake, at the Narrows, campers will also find some trailer pull-throughs, refuse containers, public corral, and extra parking and turnaround space at the Narrows trailhead. The Narrows Campground sits overlooking the lake and most sites have pretty views of the water. 

A secluded large group site is tucked in the trees near the lower end of the lake and can be reserved for 25 – 150 people. It offers a pleasant forested setting in a large level area and includes banquet sized picnic tables, grills, vault toilets, group campfire facility, and parking for up to 20 RVs with turnaround space. Drinking water and refuse containers are available at the Narrows. There are no hookups or dump stations for RVs. A Campground Host is onsite in the summer to answer questions and help visitors.

Location

In the winter, the road leading from Highway 352 to the lakes is not plowed, but can be an ideal trip on snowmobile for ice fishermen. There is a large turnaround and parking area for trucks and snowmobile trailers near the turnoff for New Fork Lakes.

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Fly Fishing Visit Pinedale WY

Before You Go

  • Moose often feed on the willows northeast of the lake, so bring your binoculars!
  • Because a special Wildlife Winter Range area surrounds most of the north shore, snowmobilers should consult their snowmobile maps for season of use, open trail areas, and winter range closure dates.
  • A high elk fence through the forest marks the boundary of this enclosure area, and gates off the road during times when the area is closed to human presence.
  • For campground fee information and reservations, call the Pinedale Ranger District at 307-367-4326 or visit Recreation.gov.
  • This campground fills up quickly during national and local holidays, so reservations are strongly advised.