Jedediah Smith Wilderness

The Jedediah Smith Wilderness was named for Jedediah Strong Smith, a well educated New Yorker who traveled west and became a famous mountain man in the early 1800's. The 123,451 acres of wilderness were designated by Congress to protect numerous caves, unique karst limestone formations and outstanding undisturbed scenery.

The Jedediah Smith Wilderness is on the Idaho-Wyoming border, along the western slopes of the Teton Mountains. The wilderness is long and narrow, reaching from Yellowstone National Park in the north to Teton Pass in the south, with Grand Teton National Park to the east. This is prime elk, moose, deer, wolverine, bighorn sheep, grey wolf, black bear, and grizzly bear habitat.

The Tetons see heavy recreational usage in the summer and heavy snowfall in the winter. The high country can hold snow on the ground well into June and July. There are about 175 miles of hiking trails in the wilderness. Some of these trails cross into Grand Teton National Park where guns and dogs are not allowed and overnight camping permits are required.