Jedediah Smith Wilderness
The Jedediah Smith Wilderness was designated because of the unique karst limestone features, including numerous caves and outstanding scenery. It was named after Jedediah Strong Smith, a well-educated...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wyoming |
| Size | 123,896 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.8260, -110.9160 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 17) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 19 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
7 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 dispersed camping. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 10 miAlaska Basin ↗Dispersed camping
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
40 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 225 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Teton Crest ↗ | 16 | |
| Bitch Creek ↗ | 14.5 | |
| Moose Creek ↗ | 14 | |
| Teton Crest North ↗ | 12.2 | |
| Teton Crest South ↗ | 10.6 | |
| Conant Basin ↗ | 10.3 | |
| South Teton /Buck MT. Pass ↗ | 9.4 | |
| Fox Creek ↗ | 7.5 | |
| South Leigh ↗ | 7.5 | |
| South Boone ↗ | 7.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.1 miCascade Canyon Barn ↗Moose, WY
- 1.2 miUpper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin ↗Moose, WY
- 1.4 miDeath Canyon Barn ↗Moose, WY
- 1.4 miMoran Bay Patrol Cabin ↗Moose, WY
- 3.2 mi
- 3.7 miAlpenhof Lodge ↗Teton Village, WY
- 4.3 miHardeman Barns ↗Wilson, WY
- 4.6 miVictor Railroad Depot ↗Victor, ID
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
123,896 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Jedediah Smith Wilderness in?
Wyoming.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Jedediah Smith Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Teton Canyon, 0.1 miles out. 19 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 dispersed campground. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.826, -110.916. Grand Teton National Park is 8 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 17 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
Grand Teton National Park (8 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
37 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Cascade Canyon Barn and Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.