Both national forests and the entire mountain range are an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin, such as the Shoshones and Absarokas (Crow) Native Americans, lived in the range beginning 7000 and 9000 years ago.

One, dubbed "High Rise", has 60 lodges over a space of 26 acres and was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

[1] Climbing was pursued in the mid to late 1800s by men such as John C. Fremont, typically for the purpose of surveying the region.

Gannett Peak, the range and Wyoming's tallest, was first climbed by Arthur Tate and Floyd Stahlnaker in 1922.

Today, the Titcomb Basin remains one of the area's busiest recreation attractions along with the Cirque of the Towers to the south.

[1] Much of the Wind River Range received federal protection as National Forest primitive areas during 1931–32.

The first known transplant of fish into the area took place in 1907 when Colorado River cutthroat trout were introduced into North Fork Lake.

Other mammals include the black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain lion and wolverine.

The Winds are a popular recreation destination and the vast wilderness areas attract hikers, climbers and skiers.

[9] The Wind River Range has a number of trailheads for backpackers to explore, including: A longtime popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the Wind River Range has also played host to a number of wilderness and outdoor education programs.

[18] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.