Cirque of the Towers, Mountain cirque in Wind River Range, Wyoming.

The Cirque of the Towers is an almost circular glacial valley in the southern Wind River Range, its rim formed by jagged granite towers that rise in pale grey and tan spires above dark conifer forest. Lizard Head Peak is the highest at 12,847 feet, and the Continental Divide crosses the crest of the main peaks. Four lakes lie within the cirque, including Lonesome Lake.

The formation was officially named and documented in 1941 by mountaineer Orrin Bonney, who explored the remote region and brought it to wider attention. This recognition helped establish the area as a notable destination for hikers and climbers.

The cirque's granite gives climbers hundreds of routes from 5.1 to 5.11a, and two are in Steck and Roper's Fifty Classic Climbs of North America: the Northeast Face of Pingora (IV, 5.9) and the East Ridge of the Wolf's Head (III, 5.6). Orrin Bonney named the area in 1941.

From Pinedale, Wyoming, a 55 mi (89 km) drive, partly paved and partly gravel, leads to the Big Sandy trailhead, where a small National Forest campground sits. The 8.7 mi (14.0 km) hike starts at 9,000 ft (2,700 m), stays fairly level for about 7 mi (11 km), then climbs steeply to Jackass Pass at 10,800 ft (3,300 m) on the Continental Divide, followed by a steep half mile (800 m) down to Lonesome Lake. No camping is allowed within a quarter mile (400 m) of Lonesome Lake, whose water was deemed unfit to drink. Expect crowds in July and August, and watch for bears, bugs, wildfires, snow and cold nights.

Pingora's Northeast Face (IV, 5.9) is one of two Cirque of the Towers routes in Steck and Roper's Fifty Classic Climbs of North America; the other is the East Ridge of the Wolf's Head (III, 5.6). Reaching any of these walls means an 8.7 mi hike from Big Sandy trailhead over Jackass Pass at 10,800 ft.