Discover the Most Dangerous Mountains in Wyoming

Wyoming is a beautiful state, best known for its Yellowstone National Park. This mountainous state attracts many visitors every year. While mountains themselves aren’t dangerous, there is always a risk when hiking, skiing, or rock climbing. Sadly, some people have lost their lives in some mountains in Wyoming, either because of accidental falls or avalanches.

Listed below are some of the most dangerous mountains in Wyoming. Follow along to learn more about each mountain and the tragic accidents that have occurred in them.

Bighorn Mountains

The Bighorn Mountains are tall mountains with an elevation of 13,175 feet. The peak of these mountains is Cloud Peak. However, Black Tooth Mountain also sits at an elevation of over 13,000 feet. The mountain range is also located in Montana. Most of the mountain is within the Bighorn National Forest, a large over 1-million-acre forest in northern Wyoming. This mountain range likely started rising and developing about 70 million years ago.

There are many things to do in the Bighorns, like hiking, camping, skiing, snowmobiling, backpacking, fishing, and ATV riding. Each year, an ultramarathon trail running event called the Bighorn Trail Run is held in the mountains and forest. There are also two small ski areas to choose from, the Meadowlark Resort off Highway 16 near Buffalo, and Antelope Butte Ski Area on U.S. 14.

Although accidents in the mountains are rare, they still happen. Sadly, in the last few years, some people have lost their lives within this mountain range. In 2021, a woman climbing fell off of Steamboat Point, a cliff in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. She was found only a few hours after her fall, but it was too late.

More recently in February 2023, David Madsen got stuck with his snowmobile in the mountains. Fearing the incoming snowstorm, the 65-year-old snowmobiler dug a cave. There was zero visibility and temperatures soon dropped to -17 °F The brave man survived by eating ice and a Baby Ruth bar. He waited for days, noticing his legs were as solid as ice. Three days later, two snowmobilers spotted him and he got medical help. David Madsen lost his legs but kept his life.

Taylor Mountain

Taylor Mountain is beautiful. It’s located near Wilson and Jackson, Wyoming, and sits at an elevation of about 10,352 feet. Taylor Mountain is in the Teton Range and is a popular hiking mountain during winter. It’s known for its snow and great skiing opportunities. To reach the mountain’s peak, you need to use one of the hiking trails. It’s an 8.5-mile trail near Wilson and can take over 5 hours to complete. This mountain is a local favorite, and the trail offers stunning sights including a beautiful creek.

There are many animals in and around the mountain. While hiking, you might spot moose, caterpillars, butterflies, banded garden spiders, gray foxes, snakes, and birds. In the spring and summer months, wildflowers are also common in the meadow near the trail. If you choose to climb Taylor Mountain, hikers recommend using hiking poles and packing the right shoes. The second half of the trail when the mountain is snowy can be slippery or confusing.

The snowiness of this mountain makes it one of the most dangerous mountains in Wyoming. There have been at least 2 recorded fatalities in the mountain. Avalanches aren’t an everyday occurrence, but they are extremely dangerous. In 2020, a 28-year-old snowboarder, Trace Jordan Carrillo, was buried under the snow after the triggering of an avalanche. He was missing for a day before his body was recovered and found by a rescue dog.

Snow King Mountain

Next on our list of the most dangerous mountains in Wyoming, is the Snow King Mountain. This mountain is a huge mountain skiing resort. Here, you can enjoy both winter and summer activities. Snow King Mountain Resort is in Jackson and offers multiple skiing trails. The trails and slopes range in difficulty.

You also don’t have to ski while visiting this resort. You can book a guided tour of the mountain, or sleigh through the National Elk Refuge. The highest elevation of this amazing mountain resort is 8,000. You can also rent everything you need in the resort and experience breathtaking views on the gondola ride.

As beautiful as this scenic mountain resort is, there have been a few painful accidents. For instance, two skiers, accidentally triggered an avalanche while skiing down a backcountry area known as Scotty’s Ridge. These local skiers got stuck and were carried away by the snow. One was buried and sustained injuries. They were rescued and flown on a helicopter to the START Bus Barn.

Rendezvous Mountain

Another dangerous Wyoming mountain in the Teton Range is Rendezvous Mountain. You can see some of the most spectacular views of this mountain from the top of the Rendezvous Bowl at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This mountain sits at an elevation of 10,455 feet. Many people every year hike and backpack to Rendezvous Peak, the highest peak on the mountain. It doesn’t come without risks though.

In 2022, multiple people were injured in accidents in Rendezvous Mountain. For instance, in July, a contractor was severely injured while on the Aerial Tram. The injury was severe enough that the contractor needed a technical rope rescue and a helicopter flight. The Tower Painters contractor suffered a back injury after he was struck by a moving tram car as it crossed over Tower Five. They were on a catwalk adjacent to the saddles, in an unauthorized zone.

Another incident the same year followed Connor James when an avalanche swept him down about 1,500 feet. His partner was several hundred feet away and heard a shout before watching James get swept away. Connor James hit his leg while going down and tried to backstroke quickly to receive air. He survived with minor injuries.

Mount Moran

Last but not least is Mount Moran, a mountain in western Wyoming. It’s located within Grand Teton National Park. The mountain’s elevation is 12,610 feet. Mount Moran also has a basalt intrusion known as the Black Dike on its face.

As beautiful as this mountain is, it’s also challenging. With as tall as it is, you’d expect it to be filled with mountain climbers, but it’s not a very popular mountain because of its climbing difficulty. The hiking trails that were once marked in pristine condition are not maintained. Instead of taking the previous hiking trail near Leigh Lake, some climbers canoe across Leigh Lake. The hike up the mountain takes days and lots of planning.

Interestingly, the easiest and more direct route to the summit is rated 5.4. The first people to climb this mountain were LeGrand Hardy, Bennet McNulty, and Ben C. Rich of the Chicago Mountaineering Club. On July 22, 1922, they took the Skillet Glacier route.

1950 Plane Crash

In 1950, a large cargo plane carrying 21 people, crashed on Mount Moran during a storm. All aboard died, and while Paul Petzoldt organized a rescue search for the wreckage, they were unable to recover the plane or the bodies because of the extreme location. While the wreckage remains, Park Service discourages climbing to the site.

The plane accident victims aren’t the only ones who passed away in the mountains. In 1986, a climber was killed after falling over 1,250 feet down a snow-clad glacier on the slope of Mt. Moran. Abigail Mackey died of severe head wounds. Her friend, Nicola Rotberg, also fell but survived with major injuries and a body temperature of 82 °F.