Things to do nearBridger-Teton National Forest

Bridger-Teton National Forest covers roughly 3.4 million acres across western Wyoming, making it one of the most expansive national forests in the contiguous United States. The forest takes its name from two distinct historical figures: Jim Bridger, the celebrated mountain man and fur trapper who ranged across this region in the early nineteenth century, and Major General Alfred Howe Terry, though local usage has long anchored the Bridger name to the rugged character of the land itself. The forest encompasses portions of the Wind River Range, the Wyoming Range, the Gros Ventre Range, and the Snake River Plain, creating an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems within a single administrative boundary.

Visitors come to fish blue-ribbon trout streams fed by snowmelt, backpack through the Bridger Wilderness into glacially carved lake basins, and watch for wolves, elk, pronghorn, and bald eagles along river corridors. In winter, the forest transforms into a destination for backcountry skiing and snowmobiling, with terrain that draws experienced riders from across the region.

The town of Jackson serves as the primary gateway, offering outfitters, guide services, and a range of dining options that reflect both the ranching heritage and the cosmopolitan energy that has grown up around the area's outdoor economy. Few landscapes in the American West offer this combination of accessible trailheads, genuine solitude in the backcountry, and consistent wildlife encounters, making Bridger-Teton National Forest a destination that holds up across every season.