Unit 13

Washakie Peak, Atlantic Peak, and the Sweetwater Needles serve as unmistakable high-country reference points for navigation. The Continental Divide running along the western boundary provides consistent orientation. Washakie Glacier and Hooker Glacier mark significant terrain features visible from distance.

Lower down, Sweetwater Gap and Texas Pass offer crucial passage points between drainages. Named basins—Young Basin, Cony Basin, and Harvey Basin—provide natural gathering areas and glassing opportunities. These landmarks help break up vast, featureless alpine terrain into manageable sections.

The unit spans from 5,300 feet in the lower drainages to 13,100-foot summits, with most of the terrain concentrated in the high alpine and subalpine zones. Lower elevations feature scattered lodgepole and whitebark pine mixed with open meadows and grasslands. As elevation increases, timber thins dramatically, giving way to alpine tundra, rocky scree slopes, and permanently snow-covered peaks.

Glaciers, including Washakie and Hooker, cap some of the highest terrain. The vegetation transition creates distinct habitat bands that shift seasonally as snow recedes and advances.

A sparse network of roughly 620 miles of roads and trails serves the unit, but much is rough and seasonal. Access points near South Pass City, Atlantic City, and from the north via Highway 287 provide entry, but from there, hunters face substantial foot travel. The extreme terrain complexity and limited road access create naturally dispersed pressure—most hunters cluster around accessible lower drainages.

The high alpine terrain sees relatively light use simply because reaching it demands serious commitment. Weather and snow limit the season, further concentrating pressure into mid-summer and early fall windows.

Unit 13 occupies the high peaks and drainages of the Wind River Range, bounded on the north by the Wind River Reservation and U.S. Highway 287, on the east by Highway 287 to the Sweetwater River, and on the west by the Continental Divide. South Pass City and Atlantic City provide nearby resupply points. The unit encompasses some of Wyoming's most dramatic alpine terrain, with numerous basins, ridges, and drainage systems creating a complex maze of high-country habitat.

Most terrain sits well above 8,000 feet, making seasonal access critical.

Water sources are scattered across the high country. Cirque Lake, Shoshone Lake, and several smaller alpine lakes offer reliable water in the high basins, though they may freeze early and thaw late. The Little Sweetwater River and Shoshone Creek provide consistent flowing water in lower drainages.

Springs including Uncle Tom Spring, Radium Springs, and Harvey Spring supplement water availability, though distances between sources can be significant. Seasonal snowmelt fills many drainage systems through summer. Low precipitation and high elevation mean water planning is essential—knowing spring and creek locations is critical for multi-day trips.

Unit 13 holds black bear across its alpine and subalpine habitat, particularly in drainage systems where berry-producing vegetation and carrion attract bears. Lower timbered slopes and meadow edges offer the most reliable hunting, while higher alpine terrain, though spectacular, sees fewer bears. Spring hunts (late June-July) focus on emerging vegetation and snowmelt corridors.

Fall hunts (August-September) target berry concentrations in subalpine meadows and creek bottoms. Success requires understanding drainage systems and seasonal bear movement patterns. The terrain demands physical fitness, route-finding skills, and willingness to hunt terrain others won't reach.

Plan for significant vertical gain and multi-day camps in remote basins.