Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bordering the forest are some of the most splendid parks nature has to offer. Yellowstone National Park, located northwest of Bridger-Teton, is the largest in the Lower 48 and one of the nation's most famous. It contains 1,100 miles of trails and over 300 different species of animals. But there's more—nearby is Grand Teton National Park, which has matchless mountain scenery and distinctive wildlife.

Established in 1840, the Oregon Trail served as a passage for those aspiring to live the better life promised in the Western United States. Though the original trail passed just south of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, many shortcuts were created through Bridger-Teton and western Wyoming. Today, one can access these trails—both in and around Bridger-Teton—on Country Road 350 between Big Piney and South Piney Creek. Additional trails can be visited as one travels westward toward Star Valley.

Periodic Spring, east of Afton, is the largest of only three natural cold water geysers in the world. A pristine, well marked segment of the Lander Cutoff—the first federally funded road project west of the Mississippi—crosses the Forest from around Big Piney to Afton. Several significant features such as original trail ruts, road beds, grave markers, and aspen carvings are located along the Cutoff. Fremont, Half Moon, New Forks, and several of other large lakes along the southwestern flank of the Wind River Mountain Range provide outstanding examples of topography left by the Pleistocene glaciation.