Fitzpatrick Wilderness
Originally called the Glacier Primitive Area, this Wilderness holds 44 active glaciers (one spanning 1,220 acres) and many ragged mountain peaks in the northern half of the Wind River Mountain Range. It holds 13,804-foot Gannett Peak, which is the highest point in Wyoming. The western border is the Continental Divide, shared with the Bridger Wilderness. The eastern border is shared with the Wind River Roadless Area, a part of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Situated along the Continental Divide, this area displays incomparable beauty and grandeur. Carved by glaciers through granite and limestone rock, the area contains splendid alpine meadows, rocky plateaus, and stands of virgin timber.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wyoming |
| Size | 198,906 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.27° N, 109.58° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 23) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
20 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 102 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Trail ↗ | 23.9 | |
| Simpson Lake ↗ | 12.3 | |
| Ink Wells ↗ | 8.3 | |
| Dry Creek ↗ | 8.2 | |
| Whiskey Mountain ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Dinwoody ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Ross Lake ↗ | 5.6 | |
| Old Glacier Trail ↗ | 5 | |
| Sandra Lake ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Salt Barrels ATV Trail | 3.9 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.9 miWelty's General Store ↗Dubois, WY
- 2.9 miTwin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp ↗Dubois, WY
- 2.9 miAmoretti, Welty, Helmer & Co Bank ↗Dubois, WY
- 4.3 miEls Bridge over Big Wind River ↗Dubois, WY
- 5.2 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Wyoming
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Fitzpatrick Wilderness?
198,906 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Fitzpatrick Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Fitzpatrick Wilderness in?
Wyoming.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Fitzpatrick Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Fitzpatrick Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Fitzpatrick Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.273° N, 109.581° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Fitzpatrick Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Welty's General Store and Twin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.