Unit 55 Grinnell (Area 55)
Grinnell — the wild North Fork of the Shoshone, wall-to-wall wilderness on the doorstep of Yellowstone.
Absaroka Range (Cody Region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
392
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–12,000
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
Hunt Area 55 (Grinnell) takes in the upper North Fork of the Shoshone River drainage west of Cody, running up the Wapiti Valley to the Yellowstone East Entrance. It is rugged, thickly timbered Absaroka high country, and the great majority of it lies within the North Absaroka and Washakie wilderness areas. Elk are the marquee species, with mature bulls in the 330-inch class available to hunters willing to work the backcountry; mule deer, a limited Absaroka bighorn tag, moose, and black and grizzly bears share the range. Because so much of the unit is wilderness, nonresidents must hunt with a licensed outfitter or a registered resident over most of it.
Terrain
Steep, heavily timbered Absaroka canyons and volcanic peaks draining to the North Fork of the Shoshone; deep side creeks, alpine headwalls and rimrock. Most of the unit is roadless wilderness.
Cover: Dense lodgepole, spruce-fir and Douglas-fir on the slopes; grassy and sage parks on south exposures; willow and cottonwood riparian along the North Fork and its tributaries; alpine tundra above timberline.
Landmarks: North Fork of the Shoshone River · Wapiti Valley · Eagle Creek · Fishhawk Creek · Grinnell Creek · Gun Barrel Creek · North Absaroka Wilderness · Washakie Wilderness · Yellowstone East Entrance
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard here — that pattern is a southern Wyoming issue. Access is dominated by wilderness rules: most of the unit is North Absaroka or Washakie wilderness, so nonresidents must be accompanied by a licensed outfitter or a registered resident. The paved US 14/16/20 (Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway) runs the North Fork valley with trailheads and guest ranches; deeded dude/guest ranches dot the valley floor.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wapiti Ranger District), North Absaroka Wilderness, Washakie Wilderness, private guest ranch
Access points: US 14/16/20 (Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway) up the North Fork · Eagle Creek trailhead and campground · Fishhawk / Elk Fork trailheads · Pahaska Tepee area near the Yellowstone East Entrance · Shoshone NF pack trails
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe core hunt — Absaroka elk summer in the high wilderness basins and funnel down the North Fork drainages as snow arrives. A guided backcountry hunt here can produce mature bulls in the 330-inch range.
- →Camp in and hunt the high wilderness basins early, then follow the migration to lower North Fork country with snow
- →Glass timberline parks and dark-timber edges at dawn
- →Work bugles in September's rut
- →Plan on horseback access and multi-day backcountry camps
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the open south slopes, sage parks and rimrock; high-country bucks are on the summits early and drift down the North Fork as weather builds.
- →Glass open grass-and-sage hillsides and rimrock morning and evening
- →Hunt the alpine-timber transition early season
- →Watch elevational movement down the North Fork with snow
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyPart of the Absaroka bighorn herd — a rare once-in-a-lifetime tag hunted in the high alpine crags and grassy benches. Rams can be outstanding.
- →Glass high ridgelines, cliff bands and alpine benches above timberline
- →Plan extended backcountry camps with horse support
- →Expect a demanding wilderness sheep hunt
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose hold in the willow bottoms and spruce riparian of the North Fork and its tributaries — a scarce, prized limited-quota tag.
- →Still-hunt willow flats and beaver complexes at first and last light
- →Glass riparian timber edges along the North Fork
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in the timber and berry country. Grizzlies are abundant throughout the North Fork and are not legal to hunt — this is prime grizzly range, so bear ID is essential.
- →Glass avalanche chutes, berry fields and green slopes spring and early fall
- →Be absolutely certain of species before shooting
- →Keep meat and camp clean and never leave carcasses
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the North Fork canyons; primarily a snow-track pursuit resource.
- →Cut fresh tracks along the valley and side-canyon roads after snow
- →Focus on rugged deer-holding rimrock
Pro tips
- →Most of the unit is wilderness — nonresidents need a licensed outfitter or registered resident, so line that up early
- →Time a hunt to the first hard snow that pushes wilderness elk down the North Fork toward accessible country
- →Carry bear spray and hunt grizzly-smart; the North Fork is heavy grizzly range
- →Plan horse support — the country is big, steep and far from the road
- →Glass the high timberline parks at dawn before elk slip into the dark timber
Watch out for
- !Grizzly bears are abundant — carry spray, keep clean camps and pack meat out fast
- !Extensive North Absaroka and Washakie wilderness restricts unaccompanied nonresidents
- !Early heavy snow can close high country and side roads
- !Deeded guest/dude ranches along the North Fork valley floor — respect boundaries
- !Remote, rugged terrain with long horseback pack-outs and no cell service
Logistics
Cody is the full-service hub and the launch point up the Wapiti Valley — fuel, lodging, groceries, outfitters and a hospital. US 14/16/20 is paved to the Yellowstone East Entrance, with guest ranches, campgrounds and trailheads along the North Fork; beyond the trailheads it is horseback or backpack into wilderness. High passes and side roads snow in early, and backcountry cell coverage is nil.
Nearest towns: Cody, Wapiti, Powell
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunt Area 55 boundary and description (GeoPDF) · WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD 2025 Wyoming hunt forecast (Cody Region) · Shoshone National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 55 in Wyoming?
- Unit 55 (Grinnell (Area 55)) covers about 392 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 55?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wapiti Ranger District), North Absaroka Wilderness, Washakie Wilderness, private guest ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 55?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 55 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.