Backpacking in Wyoming
Wyoming $2,200 • August 30-September 4, 2027
The Gros Ventre Wilderness (pronounced Grow-vahnt) lies directly across the valley of Jackson Hole from the rugged Grand Tetons and is within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Here is an extremely beautiful Rocky Mountain wonderland of thick forest, lush meadows and long, gently sloping stream valleys rising to majestic snow-capped peaks. There are lakes and magnificent waterfalls. Here is one of the premier wildlife areas in the country and this is a great trip for viewing large mammals such as elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, bear and beaver. Many other wild critters thrive here, and there will also be late spring wildflower blooms. The Gros Ventre is a little known treasure, and offers one of the great wilderness experiences and some of the best hikes in Wyoming to be found anywhere in the Rockies! This is a moderate to fairly strenuous trip based out of Jackson, Wyoming.
Our trail route will explore the headwater mountains and drainages of the upper Gros Ventre River, and upper Swift Creek. The Gros Ventre River Valley and its adjacent tributary drainages are some of the most beautiful mountain river valleys on the planet! 
TREK BASE: Antler Inn, 43 West Pearl, Jackson, WY; 800-522-2406 or 307-733-2535. Make reservations early; if the motel is full, they’ll place our clients at a nearby motel owned and run by the same people.
MEETING TIME: Pre-trip orientation and safety talk plus food/gear handout at 6 PM the evening prior to the first day of the trip in the Antler Inn lobby.
TRANSPORTATION: Fly to Jackson, cabs or Uber to motel available upon arrival. Make flight reservations early, because summer flights fill quickly! Alternatives: fly to Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, or Bozeman and rent car. For bus/van service from Salt Lake or Idaho Falls to Jackson, call Jackson Hole Express, 800-443-6133 or 307-733-1719.
TREK RATING: Unlike our Spring route which is rated moderate, this trip is moderate to fairly strenuous, with at least one layover, and backpacking mileages generally in the 7-9 mile range. Most of the route is on trail. There will be stretches that are flat & mellow and others where we will be ascending over higher mountain passes.
ELEVATIONS: 7,500 to 10,500 feet. Maximum one-day elevation gain with packs is about 1200 feet. We will have a large descent of 3,000 feet over the last 2 days down Swift Creek.
WEATHER: Early September can either be summer or fall, so be prepared for anything from snow to hot sun and 80 degrees. High country nights are chilly; afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, but usually fairly brief. Click here for a National Weather Service forecast.
SPECIAL FEATURES: The Gros Ventre Range is astonishingly beautiful, with snow-capped alpine peaks rising above a mosaic of forest, flower-strewn meadow and verdant wetland. There are big populations of deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bear, wolves, birds galore and much more! Though less well known than the nearby Tetons and Wind Rivers, the Gros Ventres are no less beautiful but they are much less visited by humans. The upper Gros Ventre River Valley is breathtaking, as are a number of spectacular waterfalls!
SPECIAL TIPS: Learn to pronounce the French name of these mountains: “Grow-Vahnt”. This is bear country, so leave all deodorants and other sweet smelling things behind. If possible, arrive in Jackson an extra day early to begin acclimating to the altitude, though we do not require this (there’s plenty to do/see around Jackson).
STATUS: Big Wild co-fonder Howie Wolke helped to get the Gros Ventres designated as a protected Wilderness area back in 1984, though some outlying parts of the range remain unprotected.
ITINERARY: This route will be a point A to point B trip. It will require a shuttle. We will have the option at the end of the trip to soak in Granite Hot Springs. The trailhead is about 2 hours from Jackson, way up a dirt road. The trail end along Granite Creek is about a 1 hour drive back to Jackson, WY.
Please Note: We vary our routes as conditions dictate, so mileages and elevations are approximate.
Book Your Trip!
Space is limited!
Have questions? Call (406) 823-0337
Return to the main backpacking in Wyoming page to view other related guided tours.
