Located within the forest are the Gros Ventre, Bridger and Teton Wildernesses, totaling 1.2 million acres (4,900 square kilometers).

The high altitudes and abundant snowfall, exceeding 600 inches (15 m) at some locations, provides a constant supply of water for streams and rivers.

Threatened and endangered species found within the forest boundaries include grizzly bear,[2] gray wolf, black-footed ferret and peregrine falcon.

Elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, bison, coyote, marmot, pronghorn, and cougar are but a few of the 75 species of mammals known to exist in the forest.

355 species of birds have been sighted including bald eagles, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, hawks, and Clark's nutcrackers.

In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Sublette, Teton, Lincoln, Park, and Fremont counties.

[12] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.