Hiking the Belly of the Sleeping Indian
August 15, 2012 at 7:53 pm Painted Buffalo Inn 10 comments
The Sleeping Indian is one of the most iconic set of peaks in the Jackson Hole area. Opposing the Tetons, the rounded summit coupled with a sharper lower summit and a large high alpine field create the illusion of a, you guessed it, Indian, laying horizontally among the Gros Ventres mountains. He sleeps peacefully at 11,239 feet, creating the eastern border of Jackson Hole.
The Sleeping Indian, also known as Sheep Mountain, is a common objective for 
Jackson locals. It is a long day hike that provides sweeping views of the valley and the Tetons. Also, since it is in the Gros Ventres Mountains, which is national forest, pets are allowed. There is only one trail to the summit of the belly on most maps, however, it takes you by Blue Miner Lake and is 20+ miles. In contrast, the little know trail from the Jackson Hole side is around 12 miles – a very nice day hike.
The trail starts in the elk refuge and rises just under 4,000 feet to the summit of the belly. The trail is not maintained and therefore difficult to find and follow at times. Do not attempt to hike from the Jackson Hole side if you are not proficient at route finding. The start of the trail is unmarked in the National Elk Refuge. Take the Elk Refuge Road to Flat Creek Road. A high clearance vehicle and preferably one with four wheel or all wheel drive is required for the last mile of the drive. After passing the sign where it suggests that your car have 4 wheel drive, drive about 1.4 miles down the rough road until you see a barely visible double track to your left (right before the road heads into a stand of trees). Park here and walk up the double track. After the double track ends you should see a small trail in the brush to your left. This is the trail to the summit of the belly.
The trail meanders through forest and meadows and provides very little protection from the sun. I would recommend an early start in order to avoid getting overheated. There is also no water on this hike, so make sure that you pack in a significant amount. Bring extra clothes and food in preparation for if you lose the trail. Once you are about a mile away from the summit the trail ends in a large field – the body and feet of the Sleeping Indian. There are a few kairns scattered throughout the field but they are very scattered.
This is where it is important to look back and 
make a mental note of where the trail is as you travel up the field towards the belly. The last 500 feet or so are a slight rock scramble up the belly. There are small trails but they tend to go in and out. Just keep to the left and head up towards the summit where you will find some man-made rock walls to protect you from the wind while enjoying your lunch or snack. The view into the Gros Ventres and across the valley to the Tetons is stunning. It is rather cold since the summit is unprotected and it is usually windy, so I would recommend bringing a warm jacket to wear on the summit.
As you head back down the trail to the car make sure that you keep and eye out to the 
left for the kairns. When I went, my partner and I were distracted and ended up a mile or more off trail. We had to search for the trail and it took us an hour and a half to get back on trail. This trail requires a lot of attention since it is not maintained. As we were looking for the trail I started inventorying what I had in my backpack to make sure that we would survive the night if we didn’t find the trail. I remained calm and optimistic – we had a general idea where the trail was. We were also on trail at 7am so we had plenty of daylight left in order to find the trail so we weren’t pressured.
When I was new to the valley I was frustrated to find out that there were so many “local secrets” when it came to hiking trails. The trail maps provide only a fraction of the actual trails in the valley. I want everyone to experience the same joy of standing on the belly 
of Sleeping Indian that I felt, but it is also not my intention to provide information that could potentially get someone lost and in danger, so please use this information but do so with caution. Hiking is an inherently dangerous sport and the Painted Buffalo Inn does not assume responsibility for anything that happens to you in the backcountry. Always bring bear spray with you and check the local forecasts. Plan to be on the summit around noon at the latest because afternoon thunderstorms are common and very dangerous. The 2 miles before the summit of the hike are above treeline and the summit is completely open, so be aware of what the weather is doing. I hope that you are able to enjoy a beautiful day on the top of the Sleeping Indian. I believe that any avid hiker who lives in Jackson Hole should attempt to hike this non-technical peak in the Gros Ventres.
Entry filed under: Hiking, Summer Activities. Tags: "Sheep Mountain", "Sleeping Indian", Hike, jackson, Jackson Hole, summer, trail, wyoming.
1.
nutsfortreasure | August 16, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Now the names of my sons artwork make some sense
I see Sleeping Indian and think it is something totally different lol
Thanks!
I am so far away maybe 2500 miles or more but me the non skier know Cody Peak just by his artwork that graces my wall here in NH.
We have our mountains here for play in winter and summer and hikers know all the names and the trails. I think the one I worry most about is Tuckerman’s Ravine lol oh and the Mt Washington Auto Road.
I know Mike plants trees, and hikes with his dog in those areas you also call home bikes too I think. Like I said love your posts showing NO SNOW so far lol
2.
Painted Buffalo Inn | August 16, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Well I’m glad that you enjoyed my post! No snow here.. yet. I am hoping that it will hold off until the end of October. New Hampshire is a gorgeous place and your mountains are equally beautiful – in the winter and the summer! Does your son have a website? Maybe I have seen his work around..
3.
nutsfortreasure | August 16, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Teton Artist Mike Tierney is his Facebook page. He does movies with Darrel Miller, Storm Show and was in the movie The Story another ski movie this one from Hollywood. He paints for Igneous Skis and does Graffiti type spray paint art out your way . His pieces hung in a Coffee Shop and a Spa lol he has had Art shown at ArtLab I think
and he paints guitars too
He has been so wild out there before meeting me I thought EVERYONE knew HIM lol
His first show was all mountains last one was all flowers
He has a black dog Freya and used to date Kari K on and off.
He really hates computers except emails but if you want your art to be seen around the world it is a path that makes it easy. I think he is OK we really do not talk much since meeting just trying to get used to knowing each other after 31 years apart
4.
Painted Buffalo Inn | August 16, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I thought so! I had a hunch when you were saying that you have artwork of Cody Peak that he was the spray paint artist that I have seen around town. His stuff is great, he has some real talent! Though Jackson is a small town I don’t think that I have had the pleasure of meeting Mike. Thanks for sharing a little bit of your story, and maybe one of these days you will get to see our mountains first hand
5.
nutsfortreasure | August 16, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Thanks!
He is so talented, troubled too at times, with being adopted and not knowing the whole story but now that he does I have seen a wonderful change in him.
He is young, well not that young lol much older than I was when I had him but he knows he was always LOVED which hopefully allows him to love himself and reach for the stars. I hope someday your paths cross and your dogs meet as well
I used to go over Donner’s Pass and did the northern run cross country in a semi when I placed him for adoption just 2 years before but in winter months I always took I-10 or 20 to AVOID SNOW lol
Blonde, Blue eyed same as him lol wild I was at times but so much better to myself after meeting and holding him getting and giving kisses, I know I am blessed,
am a beach bum to be sure
I hope he is happy, really happy it is why I let him go to them so he would have a good life with all the money he would need to succeed but it is me and his father’s DNA that gives him his talents, be it in paint, love or RACING lol(me, loved my speed) loved trucking out your way,flat out, hit a hill go down to 20 mph then flat out again.
I miss the west. We, my boyfriend and I and our Border Collie head south or southwest for treasure hunts for Gold and Jewelry lol
Cody holds a special place for me always will but I like your photos of pastures, valleys and wild flowers just as much. He picked a beautiful place to run away from home too.
Eunice
6.
Painted Buffalo Inn | August 16, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Wow, that is quite the story! Well I am glad that you have reconnected now and I’d imagine that someday our paths will cross here. Treasure hunts sound fun! I wish you luck. Thank you for your kind comments about my photos, just like yours is treasure, my passion is photography. Thank you also for following the Painted Buffalo blog! It’s always nice to know people read my posts and enjoy reading them. I hope that you are enjoying your summer and finding lots of treasure.
7.
nutsfortreasure | August 16, 2012 at 4:00 pm
You are welcome Photography as you can see by my blog are also where my love is as well
Enjoy your hikes with your buddy and camera as well
Treasure comes in so many forms does’t it
Enjoy your time out and about
8.
nutsfortreasure | August 17, 2012 at 11:27 pm
I have nominated you for The Beautiful Blogger Award! Come to my blog for the award and rules and ENJOY the spotlight
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Itinerary for the Adventure Lover Visiting Jackson Hole « Paintedbuffalo's Blog | August 29, 2012 at 7:51 pm
[...] Day Hikes in Grand Teton National Park. If you are looking to summit something, Jackson Peak and Sleeping Indian are good options in the Gros Ventres Range. These peaks are located across the valley from Grand [...]
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Our Favorite Photos of 2012 « Paintedbuffalo's Blog | January 8, 2013 at 9:30 pm
[...] Sheep Mountain looks like an Indian sleeping peacefully in the middle of the Gros Ventres range. A hike up the belly provides sweeping views of the Tetons and the valley [...]