Unit 27 Upper Sweetwater (Area 27)
A compact, nearly all-public sliver climbing from the Sweetwater desert into the alpine backbone of the Wind Rivers.
Southern Wind River Range / Sweetwater Gap (Lander country) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
118
sq mi
Public land
94%
approx.
Elevation
6,600–12,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Area 27 is a small unit tracing the upper Sweetwater River from where Wyoming Highway 28 crosses it northwest to Sweetwater Gap at the southern tip of the Wind River Range, then along the Popo Agie divide over Granite Peak. It climbs from roughly 6,600-foot sage benches to alpine peaks above 12,000 feet and runs about 94 percent public, a mix of BLM foothills and USFS high country including designated wilderness. Elk concentrate in the northern, higher, rougher half, and the mountain reaches also hold moose and mule deer, making this a physically demanding backcountry hunt.
Terrain
Sage and mountain-shrub benches along the Sweetwater rising through timber and meadows into rugged alpine granite at Sweetwater Gap and Granite Peak on the southern Wind River crest.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass and mountain shrub in the lower Sweetwater; aspen, lodgepole and spruce-fir with willow bottoms and wet meadows higher; alpine tundra, granite and lakes at the top.
Landmarks: Upper Sweetwater River · Sweetwater Gap · Granite Peak · Popo Agie / Sweetwater divide · Willow Creek · WY Highway 28 · southern Wind River Range · alpine lakes
Access
Overwhelmingly public: BLM foothills give way to National Forest (Shoshone NF / Bridger-Teton NF) high country, and the upper drainage runs into the Popo Agie / Bridger wilderness where travel is non-motorized, foot or horseback only. Access is generally straightforward off Highway 28, but the terrain, not land status, is the limiting factor; the best elk country is a hard climb from the trailheads.
Managers: BLM, USFS Shoshone NF, USFS Bridger-Teton NF, WY state trust
Access points: WY Highway 28 crossing of the Sweetwater River · Sweetwater Gap / Wind River trailheads from the south · BLM roads up the lower Sweetwater and Willow Creek · foot/horse trails into the wilderness core
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityElk concentrate in the rugged, timbered northern half toward Sweetwater Gap; limited tags, wilderness terrain and low pressure make for a quality backcountry hunt for those who draw and can get in.
- →Backpack or pack in with horses to the high timber and meadows
- →Glass alpine basins and timber edges at daylight
- →Hunt the willow bottoms and park edges in the upper drainage
- →Let early snow push elk down toward the benches
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and wet meadows of the upper Sweetwater and its tributaries; a coveted, rare limited-draw opportunity.
- →Still-hunt and glass willow flats and creek bottoms at first and last light
- →Check beaver ponds and riparian pockets
- →Move slowly and listen in the timber-meadow edges
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer range from the sage benches up into the mountain-shrub and timber; mature bucks tuck into the high, rough pockets.
- →Glass shrub benches and rocky draws on the flanks
- →Work the timberline and alpine edges in early season
- →Still-hunt aspen and conifer stringers
Pro tips
- →Be prepared to climb, this is a small unit but the elk live high and rough in the northern half.
- →Watch the forecast; early snow can trap you in the alpine but also drops elk toward the benches.
- →Glass willow bottoms and wet meadows for moose if you drew that rare tag.
- →Respect the wilderness boundary, non-motorized travel only inside; plan foot or horse access.
- →Have a real meat-hauling and pack-out plan before you climb; it is a long way back to the truck.
Watch out for
- !Rugged alpine terrain and rapidly changing high-mountain weather, not land access, are the main hazard.
- !Non-motorized wilderness core (Popo Agie / Bridger); foot or horseback only.
- !Early, heavy snow closing trails and passes; rising stream crossings.
- !No cell coverage in the backcountry; carry navigation and emergency comms.
Logistics
Lander is the practical base for lodging, groceries, fuel and outfitters, with Atlantic City and South Pass City as tiny historic settlements near the south end. Access is off Highway 28; from there the hunt turns into a boots-and-horses backcountry effort. Carry backcountry gear, meat-hauling capacity and navigation; cell coverage disappears in the mountains.
Nearest towns: Lander, Atlantic City, South Pass City, Farson, Riverton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 27 (Upper Sweetwater) Profile · WGFD Chapter 7 Elk Hunting Seasons (Area 27 boundary description) · USFS Shoshone National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 27 in Wyoming?
- Unit 27 (Upper Sweetwater (Area 27)) covers about 118 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,600 to 12,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 27?
- Approximately 94% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Shoshone NF, USFS Bridger-Teton NF, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 27?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 27 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.