Name: Tensleep Creek

County: Washakie

Authority Name: 

GNIS Entry

Longitude:  1072743W

Latitude: 440150N

Legal Description:

Elevation: 4383/1336

(ft/m)

Feature Type: Stream

Origin of Name:

During the early days when the Indians roamed this country, they would hunt in this region. They would come from miles around to hunt their winter’s supply of meat, bringing the whole tribe along to help take care of the meat after it was dressed. The region around what is now Ten Sleep was noted for the various animals that the Indians liked to hunt and even numerous herds of deer and elk. Ten Sleep meant ten days of travel, or “ten sleeps”, ten nights of sleep. The point was an equal distance from the home of the Crows, Lodge Grass, Montana, and of the home of the Shoshone, Fort Washakie, Wyoming. 

Source: WPA

The name "Tensleep" means ten sleeps from either the Platte or Yellowstone and refers to ten days travel by the Indians.

Source: Annals 15(1)

Creek, Washakie County, Wyo., formed by the junction of West Tensleep and East Tensleep Creeks  ...  flows southwesternly to empty into No Wood Creek ... .

Source: Decisions, 1890-1932

Other Names: 

Alternative Spellings: Ten Sleep Creek

History:

A sparkling, clear mountain stream and one of Wyoming's finest sources of trout fishing. The banks of the stream are heavily wooded and the highway nearby runs through a section of dense wild chokecherry thickets.

Source: WPA

Stories: 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Old Maid Gulch

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More Information: 

Pictures: