Jedediah Smith Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Teton County, Wyoming, US

Jedediah Smith Wilderness is a protected area spanning roughly 123,000 acres along the western slopes of the Teton Range. A network of established trails connects it to nearby Grand Teton National Park and creates a continuous backcountry experience for hikers.

Congress designated the area as a protected wilderness in 1984, formally establishing protection for these forested slopes. This designation marked a major step in preserving the original landscape and its natural resources for the future.

The wilderness takes its name from Jedediah Smith, a trapper and fur trader who explored parts of the Rocky Mountains in the 1820s as the first white man to do so. The name ties the protected west slope of the Teton Range to that fur-trade era rather than to later park tourism.

Visitors must carry all their own gear since motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited throughout. Plan ahead to locate parking and trailhead access points at the perimeter, as this requires a self-sufficient approach.

The wilderness takes its name from Jedediah Smith, a trapper and fur trader who explored parts of the Rocky Mountains in the 1820s as the first white man to do so. Its southern boundary reaches Teton Pass, and the United States Forest Service administers the area as part of the Targhee National Forest.