NATIONAL PARKS & FORESTS

While it’s remarkable that Wilder Ranch itself is a sprawling 3250 acres, it’s all the more amazing that it is bordered on one side by the massive Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and both are not far from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks (all part of the 20 million protected Yellowstone ecosystem). That adds up to endless miles of trails and opportunities for you to enjoy the landscape, wildlife, and historic points of interest across this amazing expanse of open space.

But perhaps most importantly, all three of these distinctive areas are protected for eternity, ensuring that Wilder will always be right in the heart of some of the most wild, most pristine ecosystems on the planet.

  • Less than an hour from Wilder Ranch, Grand Teton National Park is a pristine ecosystem of rugged mountains, glacier-fed lakes, and sweeping sagebrush plains. Most people would say it’s defined by its dramatic skyline—sharp, sawtooth peaks rising abruptly from the valley floor. But it’s also known for being home to a broad variety of wildlife, including the iconic moose, probably the creature most often associated with this park. With its combination of jagged mountains, quiet forests, and clear alpine waters, Grand Teton National Park offers a more intimate, sharply focused mountain experience than its northern neighbor.

  • Yellowstone Park was established in 1872 as the world’s first national park, covering nearly 3,500 square miles across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The landscape blends wide plateaus, pine forests, waterfalls, and river valleys. The park sits atop a massive volcanic system, which feeds an extraordinary array of geysers, hot springs, and mud pots, including the always-amazing Old Faithful. Yellowstone is home to bison, elk, pronghorn, bears, wolves, eagles, and many other species. Its wild character, striking geology, and thriving ecosystems make it a place where nature feels dramatic, ancient, and alive — and it’s only an hour northeast of Wilder Ranch.

  • Wilder Ranch is bordered by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, a wilderness so huge, it’s near impossible to fathom — almost 3 million acres of mountains, forests, rivers, and high desert, forming a vast and varied landscape across eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. Outdoor recreation here is truly year-round. Summer invites hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, and fly fishing along an extensive network of trails and waterways, while fall is ideal for hunting and wildlife viewing. In winter, deep snow and open terrain support Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Defined by its scale, diversity, and accessibility, the Caribou-Targhee offers endless opportunities to explore and connect with the landscape in every season.