Skip to content

Blacktail Butte

Blacktail Butte, seen from above at true elevation

Blacktail Butte rises to 2,341 m in Wyoming. Grand Teton stands 4,199 m to the northwest, 9.1 miles off. The nearest named place is Upper Blacktail Butte, a cliff 1.3 miles away. Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway passes 1.1 miles off.

The story

Blacktail Butte (7,688 feet (2,343 m)) is a butte mountain landform rising from Jackson Hole valley in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Blacktail Butte was originally named Upper Gros Ventre Butte in an early historical survey conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most of Blacktail Butte is densely forested with a mixed fir forest of lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and Engelmann spruce, with scattered pockets of aspen. There are several large sedimentary rock outcroppings, which are used by rock climbers. This butte is a principal landmark in Jackson Hole, with much of the Jackson Hole valley floor and many portions of the Teton Range visible from its hillsides. The butte is named after black-tailed deer. Bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, and bison are commonly found in the area, along with grizzly bears and gray wolves. Most notably, many thousands of elk cross through the area during their annual migration to and from their winter feeding grounds on the National Elk Refuge.

Local lore claims that the name reflects the fact that the north face and ridge lines are so heavily wooded that they appear black, as compared to the other slopes, which have sage brush, scrub grass, and fewer trees. There is also a scenic overlook nearby with the same name, Blacktail Pond. At the base of the butte is Mormon Row, a popular place for photographers and tourists, with the photogenic Moulton Barn and herds of bison.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q4923448, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What the record says

Elevation
2341 m

How to reach it

Coordinates43.63550, -110.69270

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Parks: 21
Cliffs: 9
Attractions: 9
Waterfalls: 8
Artworks: 7
  • Moose: 1.8 mi
  • Bison Columns: 3.1 mi
  • Arrival Over The Snake: 3.1 mi
  • Welcome to Jackson Hole: 3.1 mi
  • Callisto the Huntress - Grizzly Bear: 3.1 mi
Springs: 3
Historic sites: 3
  • Jackson Hole Veteran Monument: 11.3 mi
  • Green Knoll Fire Memorial: 13.2 mi
  • Old Chimney Kiln: 21.9 mi
Gardens: 3
Museums: 2
Hot springs: 1
  • Kelly Warm Springs: 3.8 mi
Nature reserves: 1
Beaches: 1
  • Phelps Beach: 5.6 mi
Picnic sites: 1
  • Sargent's Bay Picnic Area: 21.1 mi

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 10.6 miles of Blacktail Butte. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Grand TetonNW 323°4,199 m9.1 mi
The EnclosureNW 322°4,060 m9.3 mi
Mount OwenNW 326°3,924 m9.3 mi
Middle TetonNW 318°3,903 m8.8 mi
South TetonNW 312°3,814 m8.5 mi
Dike PinnacleNW 318°3,792 m8.7 mi
Bonney PinnacleNW 318°3,773.5 m8.9 mi
Gilkey TowerNW 314°3,767 m8.4 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:2718:5719:35
June solstice05:4220:2521:09
September equinox07:1118:4419:22
December solstice07:5416:0216:49

Local time (America/Boise).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Jun–Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F141928374755636153402716
Precip in2.62.21.81.82.01.81.11.21.61.72.32.8

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Moose, 2 mi away.

Inside the official boundary of Grand Teton National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Dec and Nov; busiest: Jul.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element node/356505915

More peaks in Wyoming

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Blacktail Butte.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens