Gros Ventre Wilderness
The Gros Ventre Wilderness lies just east of Jackson in western Wyoming. (The name "Gros Ventre" is French, meaning "big belly".) It is roughly bounded by the Gros Ventre River to the north, the Green River to the east, the Hoback River to the south and the National Elk Refuge and Snake River to the west. The Gros Ventre Wilderness lies within the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, an area internationally known for its wildlands, wildlife, geological features, scenic beauty, and recreation opportunities. Key values leading to this area's designation include important species habitat, geological features, its location, watershed values, and opportunities for recreation.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wyoming |
| Size | 285,619 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.43° N, 110.42° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
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 9 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.
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Trails
48 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 328 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Gros Ventre Road Snowmobile ↗ | 28.6 | |
| Gros Ventre River Trail ↗ | 18.8 | |
| Upper Shoal Creek ↗ | 18.1 | |
| Granite Creek ↗ | 17.9 | |
| Big Twin/Rock Creek ↗ | 17.1 | |
| Granite Highline ↗ | 14.6 | |
| Swift Creek ↗ | 13.7 | |
| Horse Creek ↗ | 13.6 | |
| Crystal Creek ↗ | 13 | |
| West Fork Crystal Cr ↗ | 11.8 |
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
- 0.3 miMiller Cabin ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.3 mi
- 0.9 miGap Puche Cabin ↗Kelly, WY
- 1.3 miWeston, Henry and Estella, House ↗Jackson, WY
- 1.4 miVan Vleck House and Barn ↗Jackson, WY
- 1.4 miEllen G. Walker Shop ↗Jackson, WY
- 1.4 miCoe Cabin ↗Jackson, WY
- 1.4 miHuff Memorial Library ↗Jackson, WY
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Wyoming
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gros Ventre Wilderness?
285,619 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Gros Ventre Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Gros Ventre Wilderness in?
Wyoming.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Gros Ventre Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Gros Ventre 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 Gros Ventre Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.433° N, 110.418° W. Grand Teton National Park is 14 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Gros Ventre Wilderness?
Grand Teton National Park (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Gros Ventre Wilderness?
The National Register has 37 listings within 15 miles, including Miller Cabin and Miller, Grace and Robert, Ranch (Boundary Increase).
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.