Gannett Peak
Highest peak in Wyoming and the Central Rockies.
Gannett Peak, Wyoming’s tallest mountain, rises to 13,810 feet (4,210 meters) in the Wind River Range. It sits within the Bridger Wilderness, part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and straddles the Continental Divide on the border between Fremont and Sublette counties. Its topographic prominence of 7,076 feet (2,157 meters) ranks second in the state, just one foot behind Cloud Peak, and it stands as the highest point for 290.36 miles (467.29 kilometers) in every direction.
Geographically, Gannett Peak is the highest summit in the Central Rockies, the mountain chain spanning Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Named in 1906 after American geographer Henry Gannett, it is also the high point of the Wind River Range. Its slopes lie within both the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests. Within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Gannett is the tallest peak and the highest in the Rocky Mountains outside of Colorado. The 896-acre (363-hectare) Gannett Glacier, likely the largest single glacier in the U.S. Rockies, covers the mountain’s northern slopes. Minor Glacier occupies the western cirque, while Dinwoody and Gooseneck Glaciers are found on the southeast side.
The peak sits deep in a remote, rugged wilderness. Its elevation, extreme weather, and isolation make it one of the most challenging U.S. state high points for mountaineers to reach, second only to Denali and possibly Granite Peak.
The summit has a tundra climate (ET), with short, cool summers and long, very cold winters. Precipitation, mostly snow, falls moderately year-round, with April as the wettest month.
Hazards in the Wind River Range include bears, bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions, and nighttime cold. Falls from steep cliffs (class 4/5 terrain) and falling rocks have caused accidental deaths in incidents reported in 1993, 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader), 2011, 2015, and 2018. Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker airlifted near SquareTop Mountain in 2005, and a fatal hiker fall in 2006 that triggered a state search and rescue. The U.S. Forest Service does not keep updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the range.
- elevation
- 13,810 ft (4,210 m)
- prominence
- 7,076 ft (2,157 m)
- location
- Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA
- named_after
- Henry Gannett (1906)
- highest_point_of
- Central Rockies, Wind River Range, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- glacier
- Gannett Glacier (896 acres)
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Elevation Ft
- 13810
- Prominence Ft
- 7076
- Isolation
- 290.36 mi
- Parent Peak
- Longs Peak
- Listing
- North America highest peaks 75th · North America prominent peaks 74th · North America isolated peaks 38th · US highest major peaks 57th · U.S. state high points 5th
- Location
- Fremont and Sublette Counties, Wyoming, United States
- Range
- Wind River Range
- Topo
- USGS Gannett Peak
- First Ascent
- 1922 by A. Tate and F. Stahlnaker
- Easiest Route
- rock/ice climb
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Geographically, Gannett Peak is the highest point in the Central Rockies, the largely continuous chain of mountains occupying the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. It is also the highest peak within what is better known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains outside of Colorado. The mountain slopes are located in both Bridger-Teton National Forest and Shoshone National Forest. The 896-acre (363 ha) Gannett Glacier, which is likely the largest single glacier in the American portion of the Rocky Mountains, extends across the northern slopes of the mountain. Minor Glacier is situated in the western cirque of the peak while Dinwoody and Gooseneck Glaciers can be found on the southeast side of the mountain.
Reader's Guide
Gannett Peak is in the heart of a remote and rugged wilderness. Because of this, its elevation, and extreme weather, it is often considered by mountaineers to be one of the most difficult U.S. state high points to reach, after Denali and possibly Granite Peak. The summit has an ET (tundra) climate, with short, chilly summers and very long, very cold winters. Precipitation (mostly snow) is moderate year-round, but the wettest month is April. Hazards include encountering bears in the Wind River Range, as well as bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures. There have been notable incidents, including accidental deaths, due to falls from steep cliffs (a misstep could be fatal in this class 4/5 terrain) and due to falling rocks, over the years, including 1993, 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader), 2011, 2015 and 2018. Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain in 2005, and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue. The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.
Did You Know?
- Gannett Peak has the second greatest topographic prominence in Wyoming (7,076 ft) after Cloud Peak (7,077 ft).
- It is the highest ground for 290.36 miles in any direction.
- The 896-acre Gannett Glacier is likely the largest single glacier in the American portion of the Rocky Mountains.
- The peak was named in 1906 for American geographer Henry Gannett.
- The wettest month on the summit is April, with precipitation (mostly snow) moderate year-round.
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