Best Hiking Trails in Wyoming
Yellowstone, the Tetons, and the Wind River Range. Our team's Wyoming picks — some of the wildest hiking left in the lower 48.
Wyoming is the place our team goes when we want to feel small. Mia did the Titcomb Basin route in the Winds last August and described coming back as a kind of grief. Jake's been up Grand Teton twice; Owen swears by the less-crowded Teton Crest Trail over the celebrity stuff. Rae did a 10-day Yellowstone backcountry loop in July 2023 and saw exactly nine other people.
The catch: Wyoming's hiking season is short. July and August are it for the high country. Snow lingers into June, weather turns mid-September. Pack real layers — we've had 35°F mornings in August above 10,000 ft.
By region
Yellowstone
Most of the iconic stuff (geyser basins) is drive-up. The real hiking is in the Lamar Valley and South-Absarokas backcountry.
Grand Teton
Cascade Canyon, Paintbrush-Cascade Loop, the Teton Crest Trail. Arguably the most scenic range in the US.
Wind River Range
Titcomb Basin, Cirque of the Towers, the Winds High Route. Remote, huge, for experienced backpackers.
Bighorns
North-central Wyoming. Cloud Peak Wilderness. Less famous, fewer crowds.
When to go
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Common questions
- Bear spray?
- Mandatory in both Yellowstone and the Tetons. Carry it on your hip, not in the pack. Practice drawing it.
- Permits?
- Yellowstone overnight backcountry: $5 application + $3/night. Grand Teton: free, but lottery for popular sites. Winds: no permit, but fill out the trailhead register.
- When is grizzly activity highest?
- Spring and fall. Hike in groups of 3+; make noise. Store food in hard-sided canisters.