How to Get a Cirque Permit
The most famous granite amphitheatre in the Lower 48 has no permit, no quota and no fee — the barrier is that it is 57 miles of road from Pinedale before you start walking.
Check Cirque permit availabilityNo fee. Bridger-Teton charges nothing at Big Sandy Trailhead, and individual backpacking needs no permit
Permit Cost
3-6 days
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Cirque
The Cirque of the Towers sits in the Popo Agie Wilderness on the Shoshone National Forest, and is reached almost exclusively from Big Sandy Trailhead on the Bridger-Teton side of the Continental Divide. Neither forest runs a quota, a lottery or an entry fee for backpackers. What does exist is a set of rules that people miss because there is no permit desk to read them at. Bridger-Teton requires free permits for organized group use and for overnight stock use in the Bridger Wilderness, applied for through the Pinedale Ranger District from April 1 each year. Forest-wide Order 04-03-328 caps camping at 14 days in any 30-day period within the same five-mile radius. And on the Shoshone side, camping in the Cirque of the Towers carries an additional setback from Lonesome Lake under a special order. The Popo Agie was designated by Congress in 1984 and covers 101,870 acres. Shoshone counts more than 20 summits above 12,000 feet, with Wind River Peak at 13,225 feet the highest, and over 300 lakes and ponds. Neither forest lists potable water anywhere in this system — not at the wilderness, not at Big Sandy Trailhead.
Shoshone National Forest lists the Cirque of the Towers among the rugged, picturesque formations that draw climbers, photographers, backpackers and horsepackers to the Popo Agie Wilderness, and notes that the resulting visitor numbers have led to resource-protecting restrictions on camping and travel. That is the tension in one sentence: an unregulated place that people arrive at in regulated numbers anyway.
The Experience
A ring of granite towers standing around a single lake, with the Continental Divide running through it. Perennial snowfields sit on the Divide here even in August. You will not be alone, and it will not matter.
Almost everyone starts at Big Sandy Trailhead on the Bridger-Teton side. Bridger-Teton calls it one of the more popular trailheads on the Pinedale Ranger District and says it provides access to the Bridger Wilderness, the Continental Divide Trail and the picturesque Cirque of the Towers. There are two separate parking areas — one for backpackers, one for equestrians — both with vault toilets, and the stock area has corrals. It is open 24 hours a day and there are no fees.
The drive is the first real commitment: Bridger-Teton puts it at 57 miles and about an hour and 25 minutes from Pinedale, on a chain of state highway, county road and Forest Service road that finishes on FS-370850.
The permit picture changes as you walk. The Bridger Wilderness side needs no permit for an individual trip; Bridger-Teton is explicit that permits are required for group use and overnight stock use only. Cross the Continental Divide and you are on the Shoshone National Forest in the Popo Agie Wilderness, and Bridger-Teton warns in its own words to be aware of changing regulations when you do. Shoshone publishes an additional camping setback from Lonesome Lake specifically for the Cirque of the Towers, issued as a special order with a posted map.
What to Expect
No permit for an individual or family trip, on either side of the Divide
A 57-mile, 85-minute drive from Pinedale, finishing on Forest Service road
Vault toilets and corrals at Big Sandy, and no potable water anywhere
Two sets of forest regulations, because the Cirque straddles the boundary between two national forests
A camping setback from Lonesome Lake that is specific to the Cirque and issued as a special order
Get Cirque Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
No permit is required for an individual or family backpacking trip. Bridger-Teton National Forest states that permits are required for group use and overnight stock use in the Bridger Wilderness
Group-use and recreational-livestock permits are free, and the Pinedale Ranger District only accepts applications beginning April 1 for the current year
Forest Order 04-03-328 caps camping at 14 days in any 30-day period within the same five-mile radius. After that you have to move outside that radius for 30 days
Standard Wilderness Act rules apply: no motorized or mechanized equipment, including bicycles, carts and drones
Shoshone National Forest imposes an additional camping setback from Lonesome Lake for the Cirque of the Towers under a special order — the order and a map are posted in the Shoshone alerts section
A separate permit is required to enter the Wind River Indian Reservation, which borders the north side of the Popo Agie Wilderness
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •Water filter or treatment — neither forest lists potable water at any point in this system
- •Bear-resistant food storage
- •A map of both forests, since the route crosses between them
- •Layers for genuine cold; perennial snowfields sit on the Divide through the summer
- •A full tank of fuel before the last 30 miles of county and Forest Service road
Recommended Gear
- •A climbing rack if the towers are the point — this is why most people come
- •Trekking poles for a long approach with a heavy pack
- •A satellite messenger; there is no coverage
Hazards & Safety
Altitude. The Bridger Wilderness runs above 13,000 feet and the trails spend most of their length high
Weather that turns over fast — Bridger-Teton describes the combination of elevation and potential cold as creating a truly wild feeling, which is a polite way of saying summer snow happens
No potable water at the trailheads. Bridger-Teton lists it as unavailable at both the wilderness and at Big Sandy Trailhead, so everything gets filtered
Long drives on unpaved county and Forest Service roads to reach the trailheads
Bears. This is the Wind Rivers and food storage matters
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July through early September is the practical window in the Wind Rivers, once the passes clear and before the first serious snow. Shoshone notes perennial snowfields along the Continental Divide, so even in the middle of that window you should expect snow underfoot somewhere.
Pro Tips
No permit is needed for an individual or family trip. Organized groups and anyone bringing overnight stock do need a free permit from the Pinedale Ranger District, applied for from April 1
Check the Shoshone National Forest alerts for the Cirque of the Towers camping setback from Lonesome Lake before you pick a site
Fill your water containers before the trailhead. Bridger-Teton lists no potable water at Big Sandy or anywhere in the Bridger Wilderness
The equestrian lot is a separate parking area off 850B, just before the main lot — do not follow a horse trailer by mistake
A separate permit is required to enter the Wind River Indian Reservation, which borders the north side of the Popo Agie Wilderness
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Cirque?
+
Yes, a permit is required. Walk-up permits are available at the trailhead or visitor center, but arrive early as they may be limited.
When is the best time to visit Cirque?
+
Mid-July through early September is the practical window in the Wind Rivers, once the passes clear and before the first serious snow. Shoshone notes perennial snowfields along the Continental Divide, so even in the middle of that window you should expect snow underfoot somewhere.
How difficult is Cirque?
+
Self-sufficient backpackers and climbers comfortable being a long way from a road with no permit system holding their hand.
What gear do I need for Cirque?
+
Essential gear includes: Water filter or treatment — neither forest lists potable water at any point in this system, Bear-resistant food storage, A map of both forests, since the route crosses between them, Layers for genuine cold; perennial snowfields sit on the Divide through the summer, A full tank of fuel before the last 30 miles of county and Forest Service road.
Don't Miss Your Cirque Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Cirque availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts