- Region
- Wyoming
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- backpacking, hiking, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm permit requirements and applicable…
Plan with verified data
Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90) trip tools
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Bear Country Food StorageBear country: canister, Ursack or hang, and the local rules.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
How to get there
The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located towards the southern end of the Shoshone National Forest, beginning just below the town of Dubois, Wyoming. A primary access point is at the Trail Lake Trailhead near Dubois. Another route enters the Wilderness from Trail Lake, which is just outside the wilderness area near Dubois. Glacier Trailhead Campsites in Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area can be reached via Forest Road 411.
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 Trail Lake TrailheadThis trailhead is a primary access point to the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, located near Dubois, Wyoming. One of the main routes into the Wilderness enters from Trail Lake.
- Glacier Trailhead Campsites in Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area
Getting to Glacier Trailhead takes commitment via Forest Road 411. This road is long and rutted in sections, particularly the final stretch past the horse corrals to the creek. The actual camping spots are located beyond the vault toilet and corral, down toward Torrey Creek.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage · Forest Service · thedyrt.com. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Wyoming · United States · Season: Fall hunting seasons
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Climbing
- Mountaineering
- Wildlife Viewing
- Canoeing
- Fishing
Overview
The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located in the northern Wind River Range, directly east of Grand Teton National Park, and encompasses some of Wyoming's most glaciated peaks. This is a truly high-altitude environment, featuring rugged granite, vast snowfields, and numerous alpine lakes. What makes it special for mule deer is the extremely challenging terrain that funnels deer into specific basins and keeps human pressure low. Access points are limited, primarily from the Torrey Creek and Trail Lakes trailheads near Dubois, requiring a significant pack-in, often 7-15 miles, over steep passes. The ideal season is early archery or the first week of rifle season (September into early October) before heavy snows make higher elevations inaccessible. This is a hunt for expert mountaineering-style backpack hunters with top-tier fitness and navigation skills. Standard Wyoming deer tags are required, and wilderness permits are generally self-issued. Trade-offs include extreme physical demands at high elevations, significant exposure to weather, and the presence of grizzly bears. Expect to be above 10,000 feet for much of the hunt.
Why it stands out
Extreme high-alpine hunting in a stunning glacial landscape
Opportunity for truly isolated hunting above timberline
Potential for spotting and stalking bucks in open, rocky terrain
Exceptional solitude due to challenging access and terrain
Iconic views of the Wind River Range's highest peaks
Know before you go
Extreme high altitude and demanding physical exertion
Significant exposure to severe, unpredictable mountain weather
Grizzly bear presence, especially in lower river bottoms
Steep, rocky, and potentially dangerous terrain; route-finding critical
Very limited access points and difficult bail-out options
Planning notes
Where: Wyoming, United States Best season: Fall hunting seasons Good for: Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Wildlife Viewing Featured on: Top 10 High-Country Mule Deer Backpacking Units in Wyoming (#8) Access point: Fitzpatrick Wilderness, Dubois, WY 82513, USA
Check current permits, closures and fire restrictions with the managing agency before you commit to dates.
Field notes
- Extreme high-alpine hunting in a stunning glacial landscape
- Opportunity for truly isolated hunting above timberline
- Potential for spotting and stalking bucks in open, rocky terrain
- Exceptional solitude due to challenging access and terrain
- Iconic views of the Wind River Range's highest peaks
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90), United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 43.1909, -109.6487
- Latitude (DMS)
- 43° 11′ 27.1″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 109° 38′ 55.2″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90), not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located in the northern Wind River Range, directly east of Grand Teton National Park, and encompasses some of Wyoming's most glaciated peaks.
Key takeaways
- Region: Wyoming
- Country: United States
- Best season: Fall hunting seasons
- Good for: backpacking, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing
- Coordinates: 43.191, -109.649
Intended uses
- backpacking
- hiking
- camping
- wildlife viewing
Climate suitability
Fall hunting seasons
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90)
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Climbing
Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.
- Mountaineering
Glacier and high-route objectives with real consequence.
- Wildlife Viewing
Best light, best season, and where animals move.
Animals around Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90)
Destination identity and planning limits
Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90) is the Wyoming destination identified for this trip profile. Before making travel arrangements, confirm the exact boundary and what the Unit 90 designation means for the intended activity. A unit label should not be treated as a trail system, a public entrance, or a complete description of where travel is allowed. This profile does not establish a managing agency, a verified wilderness entrance, or a specific itinerary. It therefore cannot support turn-by-turn directions or recommendations for named hikes. The useful next step is to obtain an authoritative destination map and identify a legal starting point. Keep the destination name and unit designation together when asking for guidance, so advice applies to the intended area.
Dubois: geographic context, not a confirmed gateway
Dubois is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, pronounced DOO-boyz. Its town limits encompass 3.49 square miles, while the area covered by the Dubois 82513 ZIP Code extends across 1,537.47 square miles. That distinction matters when interpreting an address or a location described simply as Dubois: the postal area is much larger than the town itself. The town recorded 911 residents in the 2020 census, compared with 971 in 2010. These details provide geographic context, but they do not establish Dubois as an access point for Fitzpatrick Wilderness or give a driving time to an entrance. Confirm the actual location of any proposed starting point rather than treating a town name or ZIP Code as adequate navigation.
Resolve access before choosing an itinerary
A workable itinerary needs an identified entrance, a mapped route, and confirmation of the rules that apply to the planned activity. Those details remain unverified here, so no mileage, difficulty rating, seasonal recommendation, or named route is assigned. Likewise, there is no basis for describing particular terrain, water availability, wildlife concerns, or destination-specific hazards. Do not interpret those omissions as evidence that travel is straightforward or unrestricted. Confirm access and current requirements with the managing agency before committing to a day hike or an overnight trip. Ask for guidance tied specifically to Fitzpatrick Wilderness and the Unit 90 designation. Once the starting point and intended route are established, use their actual conditions to decide whether the trip fits the group's experience.
Route options
- Day-hike route: not established
No specific day hike can be recommended. Identify a verified trailhead and mapped route before selecting an outing.
- Overnight route: not established
No specific overnight itinerary can be recommended. Confirm the route, legal access, and applicable overnight-use requirements with the managing agency.
Sample itineraries
- One-day trip planning · 1 day
Planning outline only, not a verified route. Before scheduling a day in Fitzpatrick Wilderness, confirm the Unit 90 designation, legal access, trail conditions, and a suitable turnaround point with the managing agency.
- Two-day overnight planning · 2 days
Planning outline only, not a verified backpacking itinerary. Confirm an access point, route, overnight rules, water availability, and campsite options before committing to two days. No specific route or camping location can be established here.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
No verified travel window
Spring access and trail conditions are unconfirmed. Check current conditions with the managing agency before selecting dates.
Summer
No verified travel window
Summer access, water availability, and suitable routes are unconfirmed. Do not assume a route is accessible solely because it is summer.
Fall
No verified travel window
Fall access and seasonal conditions are unconfirmed. Obtain a current conditions report before committing to an itinerary.
Winter
No verified travel window
Winter access and route suitability are unconfirmed. A winter itinerary requires destination-specific guidance and current conditions.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | No verified travel window | Spring access and trail conditions are unconfirmed. Check current conditions with the managing agency before selecting dates. |
| Summer | No verified travel window | Summer access, water availability, and suitable routes are unconfirmed. Do not assume a route is accessible solely because it is summer. |
| Fall | No verified travel window | Fall access and seasonal conditions are unconfirmed. Obtain a current conditions report before committing to an itinerary. |
| Winter | No verified travel window | Winter access and route suitability are unconfirmed. A winter itinerary requires destination-specific guidance and current conditions. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm permit requirements and applicable rules with the managing agency for Fitzpatrick Wilderness and the intended Unit 90 activity.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Route-specific hazards are unconfirmed; obtain a current assessment before choosing an itinerary.
- Access conditions are unconfirmed; verify the intended entry point before traveling.
- Water availability and wildlife considerations are unconfirmed; resolve both before planning an overnight stay.
What to pack for Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90)
- Verified map covering the intended route and access point
- Current managing-agency rules and contact information
- Route-specific equipment checklist
- Confirmed water and overnight plans
- Current conditions report
Fitzpatrick Wilderness (Unit 90) FAQ
- Is Unit 90 a confirmed wilderness designation?
- The meaning and boundaries of Unit 90 are not established here. Confirm the designation with the agency responsible for the intended activity.
- Which trailhead should be used?
- No trailhead or access route can be verified here. Obtain a current map and confirm legal access with the managing agency.
- Is Dubois a verified access point?
- Dubois is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming. Its role as an access point for this destination is not established here.
- When is the best time to visit?
- A destination-specific travel season cannot be established here. Choose dates only after checking access and current conditions for the intended route.
- Are these ready-to-follow itineraries?
- No. They are planning outlines. Verified routes, access points, and overnight guidance are needed before they can become field itineraries.