How to Get a Gannett Peak Permit
The highest point in Wyoming has no permit, no quota and no ranger — just a very long walk before the mountaineering starts.
Check Gannett Peak permit availabilityNo fee. Individual climbing and backpacking in the Bridger Wilderness needs no permit
Permit Cost
4-7 days
Duration
expert
Difficulty
About Gannett Peak
Gannett Peak is the highest point in Wyoming, on the shared boundary between the Bridger Wilderness and the Fitzpatrick Wilderness. Bridger-Teton National Forest runs no quota, no lottery and no fee for climbing it. The permit rules that do exist are narrow. Bridger-Teton requires free permits for organized group use and overnight stock use in the Bridger Wilderness, with applications accepted beginning April 1 for the current year through the Pinedale Ranger District at 307-367-4326. Forest-wide Order 04-03-328 caps camping at 14 days in any 30-day period within the same five-mile radius. Everything else about this climb is logistics and weather. Bridger-Teton describes a wilderness of 600 miles of trail running 80 miles along the Continental Divide, with elevations above 13,000 feet and winter never far off. It lists no potable water anywhere in the system.
Bridger-Teton National Forest puts it in one sentence: "The highest point in Wyoming, Gannett Peak rests on the shared boundary with Fitzpatrick Wilderness offering mountaineers a great and memorable challenge." It is the state highpoint that cannot be day-hiked, and the approach is the reason.
The Experience
Days of walking through granite and lake country before the peak is even a factor, then glacier and snow to finish. Bridger-Teton describes the range as combining elevation and potential cold to create a truly wild feeling — on Gannett that stops being a description and becomes the itinerary.
Gannett sits on the boundary between the Bridger Wilderness on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Fitzpatrick Wilderness on the Shoshone National Forest, which means the permit answer depends on which side you approach from and where you cross.
On the Bridger side there is no permit for individuals. Bridger-Teton requires free permits only for organized group use and for overnight stock use, applied for from April 1 each year through the Pinedale Ranger District. Bridger-Teton also warns visitors directly to be aware of changing regulations when they cross the Continental Divide onto the Shoshone National Forest.
Forest Order 04-03-328 applies to the whole trip: no camping within the same five-mile radius for more than 14 days in any 30-day period.
What to Expect
No permit and no fee for an individual party
A multi-day approach before any climbing begins — this is not a trailhead-to-summit day
Glacier and snow travel on the peak itself
A wilderness boundary crossing, with different regulations on the Shoshone side
No potable water and no staffed presence of any kind
Get Gannett Peak Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
No permit is required for an individual or family backpacking trip. Bridger-Teton National Forest states that permits are required for group use and overnight stock use in the Bridger Wilderness
Group-use and recreational-livestock permits are free, and the Pinedale Ranger District only accepts applications beginning April 1 for the current year
Forest Order 04-03-328 caps camping at 14 days in any 30-day period within the same five-mile radius. After that you have to move outside that radius for 30 days
Standard Wilderness Act rules apply: no motorized or mechanized equipment, including bicycles, carts and drones
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •Glacier and snow travel equipment appropriate to the route and season
- •Water filter or treatment; Bridger-Teton lists no potable water in this wilderness
- •Bear-resistant food storage
- •Full cold-weather kit — elevations here run above 13,000 feet
- •Navigation for a multi-day approach across a 600-mile trail system
Recommended Gear
- •A satellite messenger, because self-rescue is otherwise the only rescue
- •Spare food for a weather day, which is a normal outcome here
- •Traction and an axe well into the summer
Hazards & Safety
Altitude. The Bridger Wilderness runs above 13,000 feet and the trails spend most of their length high
Weather that turns over fast — Bridger-Teton describes the combination of elevation and potential cold as creating a truly wild feeling, which is a polite way of saying summer snow happens
No potable water at the trailheads. Bridger-Teton lists it as unavailable at both the wilderness and at Big Sandy Trailhead, so everything gets filtered
Long drives on unpaved county and Forest Service roads to reach the trailheads
Bears. This is the Wind Rivers and food storage matters
Glacier travel and crevasse hazard on the peak
A rescue timeline measured in days, not hours, because of the approach
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July through August is the standard window, when the approach is snow-free and the snow on the peak is still consolidated. Bridger-Teton's framing — winter always just a breath away — applies to every week either side of that.
Pro Tips
There is no permit for an individual party. Organized groups and overnight stock users need a free Bridger Wilderness permit from the Pinedale Ranger District, applications from April 1
Gannett sits on the boundary with the Fitzpatrick Wilderness on the Shoshone National Forest — Bridger-Teton warns explicitly that regulations change when you cross the Divide
Order 04-03-328 caps camping at 14 days in any 30-day period within a five-mile radius, which matters on a trip long enough to include weather days
Bridger-Teton lists no potable water anywhere in this wilderness
Pinedale Ranger District: 307-367-4326
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Gannett Peak?
+
Yes, a permit is required. Walk-up permits are available at the trailhead or visitor center, but arrive early as they may be limited.
When is the best time to visit Gannett Peak?
+
Mid-July through August is the standard window, when the approach is snow-free and the snow on the peak is still consolidated. Bridger-Teton's framing — winter always just a breath away — applies to every week either side of that.
How difficult is Gannett Peak?
+
Experienced mountaineers who can manage glacier travel at the end of a multi-day approach with no support.
What gear do I need for Gannett Peak?
+
Essential gear includes: Glacier and snow travel equipment appropriate to the route and season, Water filter or treatment; Bridger-Teton lists no potable water in this wilderness, Bear-resistant food storage, Full cold-weather kit — elevations here run above 13,000 feet, Navigation for a multi-day approach across a 600-mile trail system.
Don't Miss Your Gannett Peak Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Gannett Peak availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts