John Coulter (c.1774 –1812) was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). Though party to one of the more famous expeditions in American history, Colter is best remembered for explorations he made during the winter of 1807–1808 when he became the first known person of European descent to enter the region now recognized as Yellowstone National Park, as well as the Teton Mountain Range. Colter spent months alone in the wilderness and is widely considered to be the first mountain man.
The original script for director Cornel Wilde’s 1965 movie, The Naked Prey, was largely based on Colter being pursued by Blackfoot Native Americans in Wyoming.
Learn more about John Coulter (aka Colter) and his connection to Wyoming.