© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

The Gros Ventre River (pronounced 'grow-vont') flows from it's headwaters in the Gros Ventre Wilderness which forms much of the eastern boundary of Jackson Hole and lies mostly to the south of the river. The Gros Ventre is a swift medium-sized freestone river providing plentiful pocketwater, runs and pools. There are not many riffles on the Gros Venture. The River contains expansive open terrain with exposed sedimentary rock layers of many colors, cliff bands, dense forest, and narrow canyons. In places the color scheme of this beautiful river valley resembles the southwest. The river alternates between a broad cottonwood-lined bottom and narrow canyons. Views of the Grand Tetons Range are spectacular. It is a beautiful, undeveloped region with abundant wildlife. The Gros Ventre River is home to the Snake River Fine-spotted Cutthroat Trout, and whitefish. Brookies are in some of the tributaries of the upper Gros Ventre drainage. Early season kayaking is classic, the fishing is remarkable, and photographers will have no shortage of subject matter.

© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

Some say Gros Ventre, meaning "big belly" in French, refers to Indians who were reportedly found in the area with extended bellies. Others say that it comes from the long round belly of Sleeping Indian Mountain east of Jackson Hole that resembles an Indian Chief in full warbonnet, lying on his back visible from the Jackson Hole valley.

The 287,000 acre Gros Ventre Wilderness where the river originates is wild, steep and rugged, a paradox of softly rolling, meadows, meandering streams, narrow chasms, badlands, 20 peaks over 10,000 ft and several over 11,000 feet. It's forests and meadows are home to elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, wolves. and both black and grizzly bears. This area is some of the best wildlife habitat in Wyoming.

The Fishing

© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

The Gros Ventre River from the town of Kelly down to the Snake River has really good access however the fishing isn't as good as it is farther up river. To access the upper sections of the Gros Ventre River drive past Kelly, the road curves left drive north another mile and turn right on onto Gros Ventre River Road. You climb up an aspen covered hill that provides great views of the Tetons then drop of the other side and your back at the river. You can access the river from here but much of it is private property. If you continuing past National Forest/Park Boundary you will go up a hill and soon have some great views of the river still strewn with giant boulders. This is the awesome evidence of the aftermath of the Gros Ventre Slide, which happened in 1923; the side of Sheep Mountain slid into the river, forming Lower Slide Lake. Two years later, a major flood washed out part of this natural dam and destroyed the nearby town of Kelly. If you are a kayaker this is also a good vantage point to scout the river.

© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

Once on top of the hill, the second parking area on the right leads to a steep hike down an old jeep trail to the river. Wading this section of the river requires dexterity and conditioning, especially in the area of the slide. If you are unsure of your wading abilities, stick to the stream banks from which much of the river can be fished safely.

Right above what is left of the dam is Slide Lake. The red hills on the north side of the lake are gorgeous and also offer the opportunity for spotting Bighorn Sheep. At Upper Slide Lake which is really not much more than a wide spot in the river Trumpeter Swans can often be seen. Large lake trout have been caught in Slide Lake. In spring the juxtaposition of the green grass and the red hills can result in some great photo opportunities.

The fishing between the Crystal Creek/Gros Ventre confluence down river to Upper Slide Lake is excellent. This entire section is public land and can be accessed at various points along the way via spurs leading off the main road down to the river. This section of the Gros Ventre River is not quite as fast as the section below Lower Slide Lake but is similar in character minus the landslide debris. Overall the wading is still on the rugged side because of the river fording and bushwhacking.

© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

The Gros Ventre River road ends at Gooswing Ranger Station, if you walk or pack in from here you will find this upper section of the Gros Ventre River an ultimate outdoorsman°s paradise. The river meanders through the wide-open valley offering superb trout fishing on this meandering, flat meadow section of the river. Wildlife of all kinds frequent the varied terrain, which runs from rolling, sage-filled meadows to lush, treed hillsides. Big sweeping views or intimate timbered settings exist on this stretch of the river. Above the Darwin Ranch the river horseshoes back to the west gains in elevation where it meets Lunch Lake then Brewster Lake at the foot of 11,000 foot peaks which are the headwaters for the Gros Ventre River. Both lakes have very large and picky fish in them.

From the end of run-off through August is the best time of year to fish The Gros Ventre River, longer if there is sufficient water. The best fly-fishing is when the stonefly hatch occurs in the second week of July. During that time both dry and wet stoneflys will produce nice trout.

Trout range in size from 8" to 16" with 10" being about average. They are, however, quite abundant and will put up quite a fight in the swift flowing water. They will usually gobble up dry flies, but nymphing is always an option. 3 and 4 weight rods can be a lot of fun but a 6 weight will work fine.

© Daryl Hunter - The Hole Picture

Hatches: yellow stoneflies in size10, Caddis in size 14, and Pale Morning Duns size16 and smaller from late June through mid to late July. Then the usual hopper scene for the rest of the summer.

Flies: Royal Wulff, Humpies, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, Trudes, Hopper patterns, Turk's Tarantulas, Stimulators, Cahill's and Parachute Adams, You can also nymph the abundant pocket water with large nymphs like Halfbacks, Yuk Bugs, Bitch Creek Nymphs and Anderson's Golden Stones.

The Kayaking

Lower Gros Ventre River

Dr. Bruce Hayes, catarafting Gros Ventre River

May through July the Gros Ventre is a wild Class: III+/IV river. Starting from the calm waters of Slide Lake the Gros Ventre River tumbles down to the valley floor through the Avalanche debris deposited from the Gros Ventre Slide of 1923. At lower levels it offers great technical Class III boulder dodging and eddy hopping. When the water is high it offers really big water, Class IV boating. At levels of four feet and above good eddies are hard to come by so hang on and enjoy the ride.

Upper Gros Ventre River

Drive to Warden Bridge then float down 8 miles to the takeout at Lower Slide Lake. This scenic stretch of river is rated class II, III and offers some great boating without the death defying adrenaline rush of the slide section of the river.