Sleeping Indian Turnout

Closeup Sleeping Indian

Quick Facts

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The Sleeping Indian is a nickname for Sheep Mountain. Facing east, the long ridge climbs south from the Gros Ventre River rising above tree line as if a person is lying down. Further south, the ridge rises more steeply as a series of limestone cliffs forming the person's crossed arms. A notch forms the neck and chin while the face slopes to the south. Steep limestone cliffs wrap around the face forming the Indian's headdress. Some visualize the Indian quite easily; some do not.

Name Origin

The official name of this summer is Sheep Mountain for the bighorn sheep that graze on its slope. The unofficial name is "Sleeping Indian" because it resembles an Indian chief wearing a feather headdress stretched out on his back. Limestone cliffs form the headdress. This summit is part of the Gros Ventre Range extending south and east from Jackson Hole.

History

In 1925, a large landslide occurred on the north end of Sheep Mountain, damming the Gros Ventre River and forming Lower Slide Lake. In 1927, the natural dam partially failed and a torrent of water flooded across the valley. Six people were killed in Kelly and water was 3 feet deep in Wilson at the base of Teton Pass.