Murphy Lakes are a set of pretty little moraine lakes on the east side of the Salt River Range in western Wyoming's Star Valley country, near Bedford in Lincoln County. Sitting at around 6,760 feet and ringed by forest, they make a low-key, family-friendly mountain destination: an easy place to paddle a canoe, wet a line for cutthroat trout, or cool off on a summer afternoon in a genuinely scenic corner of the Bridger-Teton high country.

The main lake is small, shallow and welcoming, which is exactly its appeal. It gets stocked with cutthroat trout in the spring, making it a reliable and enjoyable fishing spot, and its calm, protected water is a popular place for canoeing and kayaking. The shallowness that makes it friendly also gives it character: there are a lot of downed trees in parts of the lake and along the trail, so paddlers and anglers work around timber, and swimmers should expect a soft, weedy, gentle-entry lake rather than a clear alpine plunge.

Access runs up the Murphy Creek drainage, and the setting is classic Salt River Range: forested slopes, the creek tumbling alongside the approach, and quiet that comes from being off the beaten path. This is uncrowded country, a favorite of Star Valley locals rather than a marquee tourist stop.

Camping works well here with a bit of planning. There's no developed overnight camping at the lake itself, but there are campsites along Murphy Creek on the way to the lake, and the Murphy Creek area is a pleasant base for a weekend of paddling and fishing.

This is mountain country with a short season and changeable weather; snow lingers into early summer at this elevation, the access roads are unpaved and can be rough, and cell coverage is thin to nonexistent. The downed timber in and around the lake is worth respecting, both for footing and for boats.

Summer and early fall are the prime window, with the spring trout stocking making early season good for fishing once the roads clear. Bring an Idaho-or-Wyoming-appropriate fishing license, layers for cold mountain nights, insect repellent for the early-summer mosquitoes, and everything you need to be self-sufficient. For a quiet paddle, easy trout fishing and an unhurried afternoon in the Salt River Range, Murphy Lakes are a genuine Star Valley gem.