Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Wyoming with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 4,372 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Wyoming holds the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone's thermal-and-bison plateau, the Wind River Range (arguably the country's most beautiful alpine wilderness), and the Bighorns. Gannett Peak (the state high, 13,809 ft), Grand Teton, and Cloud Peak deliver Wyoming's biggest vertical objectives. Grizzly bears (carry spray), lightning above treeline, and unbridged stream crossings on Wind River routes are the standard hazards.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 4,372 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Wyoming — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes
CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Daniel in Sublette County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Sheridan - Two Ocean - Togwotee CDT Alternate
Sheridan - Two Ocean - Togwotee CDT Alternate ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Moran in Teton County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Sheridan - Two Ocean - Togwotee CDT Alternate trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Double Black Diamond Trail
Double Black Diamond Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Buford in Albany County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Double Black Diamond Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Encampment in Carbon County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Wyoming, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Continental Divide Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Teton Crest South Trail
Teton Crest South Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Moose in Teton County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Teton Crest South Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. CDT hfjLW Lake of the Woods Alternate
CDT hfjLW Lake of the Woods Alternate ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Dubois in Fremont County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT hfjLW Lake of the Woods Alternate trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Gunsight Summit Trail
Gunsight Summit Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Kelly in Teton County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Gunsight Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route
CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Boulder in Sublette County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. CDT hje Riverview Road Alternate
CDT hje Riverview Road Alternate ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Lander in Fremont County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Compared to similar trails in Wyoming, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT hje Riverview Road Alternate trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. CDT Knapsack Col Alternate Route
CDT Knapsack Col Alternate Route ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Cora in Sublette County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT Knapsack Col Alternate Route trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Wyoming trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Wyoming. July through mid-September is the high-country window; afternoon thunderstorms and grizzly activity are baseline conditions. Grizzly bears (carry spray), lightning above treeline, and unbridged stream crossings on Wind River routes are the standard hazards.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Wyoming hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Wyoming coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Wyoming — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Wyoming — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Wyoming — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Wyoming — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Wyoming — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Wyoming — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Wyoming — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Wyoming last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
