Sawmill Road to Gros Ventre Slide — Kelly Warm Spring to Red Hills via Gros Ventre River Road
A landslide scar, red hills, and Teton solitude.
The Gros Ventre River Road (County Road 23/Forest Road 30400) runs east from the tiny community of Kelly, Wyoming into the Bridger-Teton National Forest, tracing one of the most geologically violent landscapes in the American West. In 1925, a chunk of Sheep Mountain — roughly 50 million cubic yards of rock — let go and dammed the Gros Ventre River, creating Lower Slide Lake. Two years later the natural dam failed catastrophically, destroying the town of Kelly downstream. The slide scar is still raw and massive, visible from miles away. Past the lake, the road climbs into the Red Hills — a band of Triassic red mudstones and siltstones that glow in evening light — before reaching Atherton Creek Campground and the trailheads into the Gros Ventre Wilderness. The road gets rougher and rockier past Lower Slide Lake with embedded boulders and creek crossings at Crystal Creek and Flat Creek tributary drainages.
High-clearance 4WD handles the lower canyon; past Crystal Creek a rig with some flex and decent ground clearance is needed. The road is typically open May through November, though spring runoff crossings can run fast and thigh-deep in June. No permit required for day use or dispersed camping beyond the wilderness boundary. Fuel in Jackson, 15 miles west — don’t push it. Cell service dies quickly east of Kelly. Grizzly bear country: hard canisters or bear cans required for overnight travel. The Red Hills at sunset are one of the most underrated views in all of the Tetons region.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 29 mi / 46.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7850 ft |
| Best season | June–October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Kelly, WY |
| Land manager | Bridger-Teton National Forest / Teton County |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bridger-Teton NF — Gros Ventre Road Atherton Creek Campground |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this trail without modifications?
Yes — a stock high-clearance 4WD is the baseline and handles it fine under normal conditions. Lifted rigs aren't required, but low-range is useful on the rockier canyon sections and after rain when the dirt gets greasy.
When does Gros Ventre Road typically open in spring and close in fall?
The road is generally accessible June through October. Spring snowmelt and early-season mud can keep the upper sections soft and impassable into late May — check current conditions with Bridger-Teton NF before heading out.
Do you need a permit or is there a fee to drive this route?
No permit required and no fee to drive the road itself. Atherton Creek Campground charges a nightly fee if you use the developed sites; dispersed camping along the corridor is free under standard Bridger-Teton NF rules.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The canyon stretch through the Gros Ventre narrows has the most embedded rock and limited line choice — nothing extreme, but it demands attention. After rain the clay-heavy sections near the slide area get slick fast and can bog lighter rigs without aggressive tread.
Are there reliable water sources on trail, and how far is the nearest gas before heading in?
The Gros Ventre River runs the length of the route but treat or filter anything you take from it. Fill up in Jackson before you leave — Kelly is just a small community with no fuel, and once you're in the canyon you're committed for the full 29 miles.
Trail track
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