Gros Ventre Wilderness Area

With Wyoming's two national parks and the Wildernesses of Bridger and Teton nearby, Gros Ventre receives relatively light human use. In fact, few people can claim any real familiarity with the area. Even the name is not well understood. Gros ventre is French for "big belly" and may refer to the Indians who once inhabited the area. But gros vente means "big wind," and the similarity may have created some confusion among mountain men who stood here and looked across the Wind River Mountains.

From the town of Kelly, I've watched alpenglow gloriously dwindle into darkness from the mountain called Sleeping Indian. The Indian, in full warbonnet, lies on his back, while behind him hides this wild, steep, and rugged Wilderness interspersed with rolling, luxuriant meadows. Meandering streams occasionally roar through narrow chasms when the snow melts on the 20 or so peaks that rise above 10,000 feet.

Doubletop Peak, the highest point in the Wilderness, reaches 11,750 feet. Elk and moose live here, along with black bears, mule deer, and bighorn sheep. Great fishing is available in a half-dozen alpine lakes and miles of streams. In July and August, colorful wildflowers bloom in the meadows near forests of quaking aspen, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and alpine fir.

Many paths lead into the area from numerous trailheads. Approaches from the northern (Gros Ventre River) side are generally easier than those from the southern (Hoback River) side.

The above information has been adapted, through input from the managing agency or agencies, from America's Wilderness by Buck Tilton. Below is the citation for this book, where the information, prior to agency-recommended edits, can be found.

Tilton, Buck. America's Wilderness: The Complete Guide to More Than 600 National Wilderness Areas. San Francisco, CA: Foghorn Press, 1996.

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