Wyoming | Wind River Range / Pinedale

Green River LakesGreen River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Lower Green River Lake shoreline and return

A high-elevation canoe and kayak day trip from the Bridger-Teton National Forest campground launch along Lower Green River Lake toward Squaretop Mountain.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 8 lake miles out and back (planning line)
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3–6 hours depending on wind and carry
ShuttleCar shuttle
Upper Green River Lake and Squaretop Mountain in Wyoming.
River contextGreen River Lakes and Squaretop Mountain; route-area context, not current launch conditions river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Bridger-Teton National Forest via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultymoderatePublished difficulty is a planning classification, not a safety guarantee. Scout current hazards and keep a conservative turnaround rule.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Bridger-Teton NF campground/parking rules, Wyoming AIS/PFD requirements, fire restrictions, and any wilderness permit rules for overnight travel.
CampingOptions nearbyEndpoint campground camping is available only under current Recreation.gov/Forest Service status. Backcountry camping in the adjacent Bridger Wilderness requires the applicable Forest Service rules and permits; do not camp at an informal shoreline.
SeasonMay-SepPlan for late spring through early fall only after checking the live gauge, weather, water temperature, wind, debris, and land-manager notices. Shoulder-season ice, snow, and cold water can make a nominally open launch unsafe.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

A high-elevation canoe and kayak day trip from the Bridger-Teton National Forest campground launch along Lower Green River Lake toward Squaretop Mountain.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch

Use only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.

Finish

Take-out

Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch

Confirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.

Road shuttle

Choose a shorter tripOptional

Choose your launch and take-out

This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance8.0 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 3–6 hours depending on wind and carryFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch is about 8.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.
  • Confirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.
  • Private banks and easements may constrain landing, scouting, camping, or portage; remain within the authorized corridor.

Watch for

  • cold water, wind, lightning, and high-elevation weather
  • road reconstruction, fire impacts, and primitive carry access
  • wilderness boundary, wildlife, and no informal shoreline camping

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official route corridorGreen River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Lower Green River Lake shoreline and return; About 8 lake miles out and back (planning line)

    Bridger-Teton National Forest Green River Lakes campground identifies the access pair and operational character.

    Source

  • Defensible proxy gaugeUSGS 09188500 — Green River at Warren Bridge near Daniel, WY (proxy)

    Gauge is upstream or downstream in the same regulated river system; it cannot substitute for a local scout or dam-release notice.

    Source

  • Threshold postureMinimum-only planning model with no numeric cutoff

    No live scoring is justified from the available route-specific evidence; the model is intentionally planning-only.

    Source

  • Public access controlGreen River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch

    Named agency/park access points are retained, including any intentional parking or campground offset from the shoreline.

    Source

  • Safety and land managementPFD, AIS, water temperature, current hazards, and current closures govern the decision

    Review current agency rules, dam/release notices, wind, debris, and private-bank restrictions before launching.

    Source

  • Camping classificationendpoint_campground

    Endpoint campground camping is available only under current Recreation.gov/Forest Service status. Backcountry camping in the adjacent Bridger Wilderness requires the applicable Forest Service rules and permits; do not camp at an informal shoreline.

    Source

  • Image decisionUSFS Green River Lakes route-context photograph

    This photo shows the same watershed, not this exact reach.

    Source

  • Overlap decisionRetained as a distinct access-to-access card

    Adjacent cards have different launch/take-out pairs, operational boundaries, difficulty, or trip length; no duplicate corridor was found in the Wyoming baseline.

    Source

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Green River Lakes paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Lower Green River Lake shoreline and return route on the Green River Lakes?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Lower Green River Lake shoreline and return route on the Green River Lakes start and end?

This route starts at Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch and ends at Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch, about 8 lake miles out and back (planning line) on the water.

Is the Green River Lakes Campground carry-down launch to Lower Green River Lake shoreline and return route on the Green River Lakes suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.