Snake River

The Snake River in Wyoming is a river of superlatives, framed by the most dramatic mountain scenery in the lower 48 states, home to a genetically unique native cutthroat trout, and offering a fly fishing experience that has drawn anglers to Jackson Hole for over a century. From its headwaters near the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park through Jackson Lake and the braided channels of the Jackson Hole valley, the Snake is an iconic Western trout stream.

The prime fly fishing water begins where the Snake exits Jackson Lake Dam and flows south through Grand Teton National Park. Here the river braids into a complex network of channels, side streams, and gravel bars backed by the spectacular Teton Range. The native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout, a genetically distinct subspecies found nowhere else on earth, is the star of the show. These beautiful fish, marked by a dense pattern of small black spots, are eager dry-fly eaters that will rise aggressively to well-presented flies.

The most popular float fishing section runs from Deadman's Bar to Moose Landing in Grand Teton National Park, a 10-mile float through braided channels with the Cathedral Group of the Tetons as a backdrop. Below the park, the river continues through the town of Wilson and south toward the Snake River Canyon, offering additional float and wade fishing opportunities. The Wilson to South Park section is a local favorite, with a longer, mellower float through cottonwood bottoms that sees the largest congregation of bald eagles in Wyoming.

Below South Park, the Snake enters the dramatic Snake River Canyon, a steep-walled gorge with powerful Class III whitewater that is primarily a rafting and kayaking destination, though determined anglers can find productive pockets between rapids. The canyon holds brown trout and mountain whitefish in addition to cutthroat.

Jackson Hole's world-class resort infrastructure means anglers have access to exceptional lodging, dining, and fly shop services. However, the fishing itself maintains a wild, backcountry character that is increasingly rare in the American West. Protected within Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Snake River corridor is a conservation success story where native cutthroat trout still thrive in their ancestral waters.

The Snake River in the Jackson Hole valley is a high-gradient mountain river fed by snowmelt from the Teton Range, the Yellowstone Plateau, and the Gros Ventre and Wind River ranges. Jackson Lake Dam at the head of the valley moderates flows somewhat, but the river retains its wild, freestone character with significant seasonal variability. Peak runoff typically occurs in late May through late June, pushing flows above 15,000 cfs with heavy sediment loads. By mid-July, flows usually stabilize between 2,000 and 4,000 cfs, dropping to 800 to 1,500 cfs by late September.

The riverbed substrate is coarse: large cobble, gravel, and boulders typical of a steep mountain river. This substrate supports strong populations of stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies, though insect densities are lower than tailwater fisheries like the Grey Reef. The Snake's aquatic productivity comes from its cold, well-oxygenated water and extensive spawning habitat in the braided gravel channels. Water temperatures during the fishing season typically range from 48 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for cutthroat trout.

The braided channel morphology is a defining characteristic. The Snake splits into multiple channels around gravel bars and islands, creating a complex habitat mosaic of riffles, runs, pools, and backwater eddies. This braiding provides abundant edge habitat where cutthroat trout hold and feed. The channels shift from year to year as spring floods rearrange gravel bars, creating a dynamic landscape that requires anglers to relearn the river each season. Clarity is excellent from mid-July through October, typically 4 to 8 feet of visibility.