Walk-Up8/10
Wind Rivers Cirque of the Towers permit
Iconic granite amphitheater. On-trail access from Big Sandy....
Walk-UpClimbingModerate Demand
Gannett Peak (Wyoming Highpoint) Permit
Bridger-Teton National Forest / Wind River Range
Wyoming's highest at 13,804 ft. Technical glacier climb.
“The highest point in Wyoming has no permit, no quota and no ranger — just a very long walk before the mountaineering starts.”
How to get Gannett Peak
Gannett Peak is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Gannett Peak
Gannett Peak is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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Gannett Peak Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate6/10
CostNo fee. Individual climbing and backpacking in the Bridger Wilderness needs no permit
This permit is not bookable online
You get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone. There is no online reservation to race for, so availability alerts do not apply. We still track key dates and season info for your trip.
Official permit page →Key Information
Permit Details
TypeClimbing
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand Level6/10
LocationWind River Range, Wyoming, WY
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
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
4-7 days
Difficulty
ExpertHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: 65% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.
Today
☁️
77°
48°
Sat
🌧️
77°
53°
Sun
🌧️
80°
55°
44%
Mon
🌧️
77°
50°
65%
Tue
🌧️
77°
49°
29%
Wed
🌧️
76°
50°
36%
Thu
☁️
79°
47°
26%
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued — and any fee — at U.S. Forest Service before your trip.
2
Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served, and quotas can fill early on weekends and holidays.
3
Have backup plans
Popular trailheads may be full. Know alternative routes or dates in case your first choice is unavailable.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: Mid-July through AugustShoulder: Early July and early September
Conditions
Full snow cover on the approach and the peak.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +Snow-covered approach can be faster on skis
Challenges
- !Avalanche hazard
- !Road access
- !Very long days needed
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill4/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation4/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Experienced mountaineers who can manage glacier travel at the end of a multi-day approach with no support.
Recommended Experience
Glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and prior multi-day self-supported trips at altitude.
Not Recommended For
Highpointers treating this like the other 49. It is the hardest state highpoint outside Alaska and there is nobody out there to notice you are overdue.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Gannett Peak
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Gannett Peak.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gannett Peak FAQ
Do I need a permit to climb Gannett Peak?
Not as an individual or a small private party. Bridger-Teton National Forest requires free permits only for organized group use and overnight stock use in the Bridger Wilderness, applied for from April 1 through the Pinedale Ranger District. There is no quota, no lottery and no climbing fee.
Where is Gannett Peak?
On the shared boundary between the Bridger Wilderness on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Fitzpatrick Wilderness on the Shoshone National Forest, in the Wind River Range. Bridger-Teton describes it as the highest point in Wyoming.
How long does it take to climb Gannett Peak?
Longer than any other state highpoint in the Lower 48, because the mountain sits deep inside a wilderness with 600 miles of trail and no road close to it. Bridger-Teton publishes no standard itinerary; plan a multi-day approach, a summit day, and a spare day for weather.
Is there a camping limit in the Bridger Wilderness?
Yes. Bridger-Teton Forest Order 04-03-328 prohibits camping within the same five-mile radius for more than 14 days in any 30-day period, and prohibits returning to that radius within 30 days afterwards. It applies forest-wide and runs to July 1, 2030.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Alpenglow on the summit block from a high camp, which is the only realistic place to shoot it from.
Best Light
Early morning on the glacier before the sun softens everything.
Beat the Crowds
The approach is the filter. Very few parties get this far, and midweek in August you may see nobody above the last lake.
Classic Shots
- 📍The peak from the approach basin, still a day away
- 📍Glacier ice and crevasse texture
- 📍A high camp with the Divide behind it
- 📍The summit view across the whole Wind River Range
Can't Get a Gannett Peak Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Titcomb Basin
Easier AlternativeThe same wilderness and much of the same approach country, without the glacier travel and the summit commitment.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
No state highpoint, and no crevasse rescue kit to carry.
Cirque of the Towers
Similar ExperienceThe southern Wind Rivers, from Big Sandy Trailhead, with world-class granite and no permit.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Technical rock rather than glacier, and considerably more company.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Gannett Peak trip
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