The hardest hikes in Wyoming, by the numbers
Of the 451 trails in Wyoming in our dataset, 88 (20 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; these are the 25 with the highest rating.
Jenny Lake Loop leads with 17,158 ft of gain over 25.5 miles, 673 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 86 percent.
Across the 25, gain runs from 1,989 to 17,158 ft and distance from 8.2 miles to 25.5 miles; the median gain is 3,933 ft and the median distance 19 miles.
15 of the 25 are out-and-back routes; the rest are point-to-point (9) or loop (1).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenny Lake Loop | 25.5 | 17,158 | 673 | 86% | 6,785 to 11,217 | 935.4 | |
| 2 | Valley TrailGrand Teton NP | 22.9 | 14,763 | 645 | 62% | 6,526 to 11,088 | 822.3 | |
| 3 | Pahaska / sunlight Trail | 18.1 | 13,175 | 728 | 6,668 to 10,922 | 690.6 | ||
| 4 | Owl Creek TrailGrand Teton NP | 23.3 | 9,673 | 415 | 47% | 6,770 to 9,769 | 671.4 | |
| 5 | Teton Crest South | 15.7 | 11,152 | 710 | 6,177 to 10,873 | 591.8 | ||
| 6 | Specimen Ridge TrailYellowstone NP | 17.4 | 7,069 | 406 | 53% | 6,229 to 9,241 | 496 | |
| 7 | Cloud PeakCentral Wyoming | 23.8 | 5,135 | 216 | 45% | 9,101 to 13,157 | 494.4 | |
| 8 | Heart Lake / Mount SheridanYellowstone NP | 23.7 | 3,933 | 166 | 45% | 7,459 to 10,262 | 431.8 | |
| 9 | Death Canyon & Static Peak Divide to Teton CanyonGrand Teton NP | 19.6 | 4,383 | 224 | 35% | 6,768 to 10,788 | 414.5 | |
| 10 | Buffalo Fork TrailYellowstone NP | 22.8 | 3,566 | 156 | 30% | 6,461 to 9,639 | 403.2 | |
| 11 | Paintbrush DivideGrand Teton NP | 19.6 | 3,932 | 201 | 33% | 6,802 to 10,665 | 392.6 | |
| 12 | Electric PeakYellowstone NP | 19 | 3,808 | 200 | 61% | 7,279 to 10,868 | 380.4 | |
| 13 | Slough Creek TrailYellowstone NP | 25.3 | 2,676 | 106 | 21% | 6,281 to 8,514 | 368 | |
| 14 | Specimen RidgeYellowstone NP | 17.7 | 3,681 | 208 | 42% | 6,253 to 9,583 | 361 | |
| 15 | Fishawk Cr Trail | 10.1 | 6,372 | 631 | 77% | 6,364 to 8,322 | 358.8 | |
| 16 | Open Canyon TrailGrand Teton NP | 9 | 7,121 | 791 | 88% | 6,630 to 9,743 | 358 | |
| 17 | Cache Creek TrailYellowstone NP | 16.7 | 3,713 | 222 | 37% | 6,859 to 9,982 | 352.2 | |
| 18 | CDT: Union Pass to Sheridan Pass (WY Sec. 16)Northwestern Wyoming | 20.7 | 2,648 | 128 | 17% | 9,012 to 9,865 | 331.1 | |
| 19 | Jones Cr Trail | 10.8 | 4,608 | 427 | 55% | 6,944 to 9,968 | 315.5 | |
| 20 | Eagle Pass TrailNorthwestern Wyoming | 14.9 | 3,256 | 219 | 29% | 6,468 to 9,486 | 311.5 | |
| 21 | Mary Mountain-Nez Perce TrailYellowstone NP | 20.1 | 2,281 | 113 | 29% | 7,264 to 8,423 | 302.8 | |
| 22 | Kitty Cr Trail | 8.2 | 5,382 | 656 | 73% | 6,405 to 9,951 | 297.1 | |
| 23 | Sportsman Lake TrailYellowstone NP | 16 | 2,643 | 165 | 67% | 7,153 to 9,781 | 290.8 | |
| 24 | Bighorn Pass TrailYellowstone NP | 13.7 | 3,071 | 224 | 44% | 7,284 to 9,351 | 290.1 | |
| 25 | Berry Creek LoopGrand Teton NP | 20.8 | 1,989 | 96 | 22% | 6,784 to 7,615 | 287.6 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Wyoming" here means the 451 trails in Wyoming in our dataset, not every trail in Wyoming.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Jenny Lake Loop.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other states in our dataset.