Page Type: | List |
---|---|
The state of Wyoming has 35 ranked peaks over 13,000 feet; the vast majority (31) of these mountains are in the spectacular Wind River Range, and the others are located in the northern half of the state in the Teton (1), Absaroka (1), and Big Horn (2) ranges. Most of the 13ers are tightly bunched together and are located in the Gannett Peak (19), Downs Mountain (2), Fremont Peak North (4), and Fremont Peak South (5) quadrangles, which are adjacent to each other in the heart of the Winds.
Wind River Peak is located alone near the southern end of the Wind River Range. Many of these summits are remote and challenging technical climbs, and are climbed infrequently when compared to the 14ers in Colorado. In fact, as of 2020, only 5 people have publicly come out with completing the list. They are described in the list below.
Note that due to prominence calculation differences between major peak databases, the WY 13ers list (as well as many other lists) may appear different depending on where you look. The authorative database for the WY 13ers is without a doubt the Lists of John one, which can be found here. John uses a more accurate method for calculating prominence by averaging between the contour line above a peaks key saddle and the one below from data shown on the official USGS quads. He also adds 20 feet to the highest closed contour for unnamed peaks without an elevation marked on the map. In this method, his averaging will provide the best chance for a full comprehensive list.
The Peakbagger site bases its lists using a much more restrictive "Clean Prominence" rule, meaning in order for a peak to be included on their list, the peak must have the required number of contour lines shown between the lowest contour above the peaks key saddle, and the highest closed contour at its summit. This method most certainly would omit many peaks that have a very high chance of having the required prominence, but since many peak elevations are not labelled on the maps, and virtually no saddle elevations are marked on the maps either, the only way to really build a full list when peaks hover around the prominence cutoff value is to use the averaging method John uses (which is the same method almost everyone in the peakbagging community uses). In the American Rocky Mountains as a whole, the required prominence cutoff to be considered its own peak is 300 feet.
The Peakbagger site is a major outlier here, so if you use their lists for your information, note that you will very likely not be climbing all the required peaks, as dictated normally by the local communities.
Thanks to John Kirk for uploading more of his fantastic pictures for this page, and to his Lists of John website for the elevation, prominence, and YDS numbers. Regarding the YDS difficulty ratings, note that these values on the list below will differ from Johns website because I have firsthand information based on my experience climbing all 35 of the peaks and I have rated the peaks based on what is very likely their easiest routes, which are all the routes I climbed. This list includes only peaks with 300 feet of prominence; going back to the Peakbagger issue you'll see The Sphinx and Spearhead Pinnacle are soft-ranked on the Peakbagger site, but not on the LoJ site. The Peakbagger page also includes various unranked Wyoming 13ers, but does not include ranked Peak 13180. See this page for more information.
Finally, there is some uncertainty regarding the Twin Peaks, located just above Knapsack Col between Titcomb Basin and the Peak Lake cirque. It is generally regarded the East Twin Peak is slightly higher, but after numerous attempts made by the 5 finishers to determine whether West Twin Peak is truly lower, it was not conclusive. Therefore, until someone goes up there with a surveyors sight level (at a minimum), it is going to be customary to climb both the Twin Peaks to be certain. Simple line of sight tests done by myself while standing on West Twin concluded the two peaks are very likely within 10 feet of one another.
One last note - these are serious peaks and should not be taken lightly. It would be a great idea to at the very least have climbed peaks of all difficulty ranges in more rugged places like the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Beartooths etc before attempting a full boar attempt of the Wyoming 13ers. Knowledge of how to use ropes in moderate alpine climbing settings as well as a general understanding and experience with glaciers is also required. Climbing even all the Colorado 14ers would likely not prepare you sufficiently for this list. Experience is gained by simply doing it more and slowly increasing your comfort levels both with regards to climbing ability and exposure, proper use of technical gear, and with having general mountain sense.
Rank | Image | Peak Name | Elevation | Prominence | YDS Class | County | Quad | Easiest Route |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gannett Peak | 13,804 | 7,076 | 4 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | Gooseneck Route | |
2 | Grand Teton | 13,770 | 6,550 | 5.4 | Teton | Grand Teton | Owen Spalding | |
3 | Fremont Peak | 13,745 | 1,184 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Fremont Peak South | South Slopes | |
4 | Mount Warren | 13,722 | 982 | 3 | Fremont | Gannett Peak | SW Chute | |
5 | Mount Helen | 13,620 | 840 | 4 | Sublette | Gannett Peak | East Ridge | |
6 | Turret Peak | 13,620 | 640 | 5.0 | Fremont | Fremont Peak North | North Ridge | |
7 | Mount Sacagawea | 13,569 | 469 | 4 | Fremont/Sublette | Fremont Peak North | East Ridge | |
8 | Jackson Peak | 13,517 | 737 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Fremont Peak South | SE Ridge | |
9 | Mount Woodrow Wilson | 13,502 | 522 | 5.1 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | North Couloir | |
10 | Bastion Peak | 13,494 | 674 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | North Slopes | |
11 | Mount Febbas | 13,468 | 728 | 2 | Fremont | Fremont Peak North | From Blaurock Pass | |
12 | Sunbeam Peak | 13,460 | 600 | 2 | Fremont | Fremont Peak North | From Blaurock Pass | |
13 | Flagstone Peak | 13,450 | 830 | 2 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | North Ridge | |
14 | Pinnacle Ridge | 13,365 | 345 | 4 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | North side | |
15 | Downs Mountain | 13,349 | 1,569 | 2 | Fremont/Sublette | Downs Mountain | Various | |
16 | Mount Koven | 13,265 | 445 | 5.3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | South Ridge | |
17 | The Sphinx | 13,258 | 318 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | NW Ridge | |
18 | Spearhead Pinnacle | 13,220 | 320 | 5.3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | North Ridge | |
19 | American Legion Peak | 13,205 | 945 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | South side | |
20 | Bete Noire (Brown Cliffs HP) | 13,198 | 1,058 | 3 | Fremont | Fremont Peak South | West side | |
21 | Wind River Peak | 13,192 | 2,572 | 2 | Fremont/Sublette | Temple Peak | South Slopes | |
22 | East Twin Peak | 13,185 | 405 | 2+ | Sublette | Gannett Peak | West Ridge via Mammoth | |
23 | Peak 13180 | 13,180 | 320 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Gannett Peak | SE side | |
24 | Cloud Peak | 13,167 | 7,077 | 2 | Big Horn/Johnson | Cloud Peak | SW Ridge | |
25 | Desolation Peak | 13,155 | 935 | 3 | Sublette | Gannett Peak | SE Ridge | |
26 | Split Mountain | 13,155 | 575 | 2+ | Sublette | Gannett Peak | West Ridge | |
27 | Francs Peak | 13,153 | 4,056 | 2 | Park | Francs Peak | Various | |
28 | Henderson Peak | 13,115 | 775 | 4 | Sublette | Gannett Peak | North Ridge | |
29 | Klondike Peak | 13,114 | 664 | 2+ | Sublette | Gannett Peak | East Ridge | |
30 | Peak 13062 (South Downs Mountain) | 13,062 | 442 | 2 | Fremont/Sublette | Downs Mountain | Various | |
31 | Ellingwood Peak (Harrower Peak) | 13,052 | 912 | 4 | Sublette | Fremont Peak South | SW Ridge | |
32 | Bow Mountain | 13,020 | 680 | 3 | Sublette | Gannett Peak | NW Ridge | |
33 | Mount Whitecap | 13,020 | 600 | 4 | Sublette | Gannett Peak | NW Ridge | |
34 | Black Tooth Mountain | 13,005 | 665 | 4 | Big Horn/Johnson | Cloud Peak | NE Ramp | |
35 | Knife Point Mountain | 13,001 | 661 | 3 | Fremont/Sublette | Fremont Peak South | South side |
Matt Lemke - Aug 28, 2020 10:51 pm - Hasn't voted
All peaks addedI added SP pages for all the remaining peaks on this list, and adopted and reworked 10 others. Also, the YDS ratings have been updated. Thanks!