Straddling the Continental Divide along the boundary between Fremont and Sublette counties, it has the second greatest topographic prominence in the state (7076') after Cloud Peak (7077'), and is the highest ground for 290.36 miles (467.29 kilometers) in any direction.

Geographically, Gannett Peak is the apex[clarification needed] of the entire Central Rockies, the largely continuous chain of mountains occupying the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Named in 1906 for American geographer Henry Gannett,[5] the peak is also the high point of the Wind River Range.

Because of this, its elevation, and extreme weather, it is often considered by mountaineers to be one of the most difficult U.S. state high points to reach, after Denali and possibly Granite Peak.

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