The Salt River Range forms the eastern wall of Star Valley, rising steeply from the valley floor to peaks above 3,000 metres. The range falls within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and a network of trails penetrates from the valley side into high alpine terrain — meadows full of wildflowers in July, rocky ridges with wide views west over the valley and east toward the Wyoming Range.
The Swift Creek Trail leading to the Periodic Spring is the most popular entry point, but there are several other trailheads along US-89 and on forest roads branching east from Afton and the smaller valley towns. Fishing is good in the creeks and small lakes of the high country: the region holds cutthroat and brook trout. The range is also important elk and mule deer habitat, and hunters from around the region come here in autumn for the archery and rifle seasons.