Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bridger-Teton National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Green Lakes region of Bridger-Teton National Forest
Location	Wyoming, United States
Nearest city	Jackson, Wyoming
Coordinates	43°26′N 110°41′W / 43.433°N 110.683°W / 43.433; -110.683Coordinates: 43°26′N 110°41′W / 43.433°N 110.683°W / 43.433; -110.683
Area	3,402,684 acres (13,770.17 km2)
Established	July 1, 1908
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	www.fs.usda.gov/btnf

Bridger-Teton National Forest is located in western Wyoming, United States. The forest consists of 3.4 million acres (14,000 km²), making it the third largest National Forest outside Alaska. The forest stretches from Yellowstone National Park, along the eastern boundary of Grand Teton National Park and from there rides along the western slope of the Continental Divide to the southern end of the Wind River Range. The forest also extends southward encompassing the Salt River Range and Wyoming Range mountains near the Idaho border.

Located within the forest are the Gros Ventre, Bridger and Teton Wildernesses, totaling 1.2 million acres (4,900 km²). Other points of interest contained in the forest include Gannett Peak (13,804 ft/4,207 m), the tallest mountain in Wyoming, and the Gros Ventre landslide, which is one of the largest readily visible landslides on earth. All of the forest is in turn a part of the 20-million-acre (81,000 km²) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

While Gannett Peak is the highest summit in the forest, another 40 named mountains rise above 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The high altitudes and abundant snowfall, exceeding 600 inches (50 ft/15 m) at some locations, provides a constant supply of water for streams and rivers. 1,500 lakes also help provide water for the Yellowstone, Snake and Green rivers, which all have their headwaters in the forest. Seven of the largest glaciers outside of Alaska are located within the forest boundaries.