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Grand Teton National Park
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Orientation
The peaks of the Teton Range, standing a sheer 7,000 feet [2,133.6 meters] above the valley floor, make one of the boldest geologic statements in the Rockies. Unencumbered by foothills, they rise through steep coniferous forest into alpine meadows strewn with wildflowers, past blue and white glaciers to naked granite pinnacles. The Grand, Middle, and South Tetons form the heart of the range. But their neighbors, especially Mt. Owen, Teewinot Mountain, and Mt. Moran, are no less spectacular.
A string of jewel-like lakes, fed by mountain streams, are set tightly against the steep foot of the mountains. Beyond them extends the broad valley called Jackson Hole, covered with sagebrush and punctuated by occasional forested hills and groves of aspen trees—excellent habitats for pronghorn, deer, elk, and other animals. The Snake River, having begun its journey in the Teton Wilderness, winds leisurely past the Tetons on its way to Idaho. The braided sections of the river create wetlands that support moose, elk, deer, beavers, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, Canada geese, and all sorts of ducks.
The Tetons are fault-block mountains. About five to nine million years ago, two blocks of the Earth’s crust began to shift along a fault line, one tilting down while the other went up. So far, movement has measured some 30,000 vertical feet [9,144 meters], most of it from the subsidence of Jackson Hole.
Before Europeans arrived, the Teton area was an important plant-gathering and hunting ground for Indians of various tribes. In the early 1800s, mountain men spent time here; it was they who called this flat valley ringed by mountains Jackson’s Hole after the trapper Davey Jackson. (In recent times the name has lost its apostrophe s.) The first settlers were ranchers and farmers. Some of their buildings are historic sites today, although ranching is still done in the vicinity. When the park was established, it included only the mountains. Portions of the valley were added in 1950.
Today the park’s 485 square miles [1,256 kilometers] encompass both the Teton Range and much of Jackson Hole. Park roads, all of which are in the valley, offer an ever changing panorama of the Tetons. For this reason, most visitors never go far from the road. But the Tetons are also popular with hikers; backcountry trails climb high into the mountains—and behind them. Easy trails in the valley lead around lakes and beside wetlands where visitors see moose, elk, deer, and all kinds of birds.
When to Go
Something happens all year in the Tetons. Most people visit during July and August, when it’s sunny and warm, after the snow has melted in the high country. In September and October, the days are pleasant, nights are brisk, the park is less crowded, and the animals are still active. You have a better chance of seeing elk than in summer.
Winter, although spectacular, can be very demanding; snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular. The main park road, US 26/89/191, remains open all year, but snow closes Teton Park Road (the “inner road”) north of Cottonwood Creek from November through April. The Moose-Wilson Road inside the park is also closed. At Teton Village, just south of the park, you’ll find excellent downhill skiing.
Statistics
- Area: 309,590 acres [125,287 hectares]
- Date Established: February 26, 1929
- State: Wyoming
Getting There
By Air
- Fanning Field Airport, Idaho Falls (IDA) 80 miles [128.7 kilometers] from the park
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) 12 miles [19.3 kilometers] from the park
By Car
- From Jackson, take US 26/89/191 north past the National Elk Refuge; Moose Visitor Center and Entrance Station are at Moose. From Dubois, follow US 26 to Moran Junction and turn west to the Moran Entrance Station. From Yellowstone NP, the South Entrance road leads directly into the park. The Jackson Hole Airport is inside the park—to the continuing dismay of environmentalists.
How to Visit
On a 1-day visit take the Teton Park Road from Moose Junction to Jenny Lake for excellent views of the Tetons and short walks or longer hikes. On the second day, go farther north to Signal Mountain and Jackson Lake. For a longer stay, consider floating the Snake River, hiking, canoeing, climbing, or attending a ranger-guided activity.
Activities
Free ranger-led activities: wildlife walks
and talks, day and twilight hikes, bicycle tours, slide talks, illustrated campfire
programs, children’s programs, skill development programs, tepee demonstration, wildlife
watches, snowshoe walks. Also, boat cruise, Indian arts workshop, natural history
seminars, wayside exhibits, boating (permit required), river rafting, climbing, bicycling,
horseback riding (stables in park), fishing and ice fishing (license required), snowshoeing,
cross-country skiing, dogsledding, snowmobiling. Ask park
for list of concessioners offering variety of rental and guide services.
Park Information
Headquarters
Post Office Drawer 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012.
Phone +1 307 739 3300. Fax +1 307 739 3438.
Seasons & Accessibility
Main road into park (US 26/89/191) open year-round.
Side roads closed due to snow from about November to May. Call headquarters number
for winter road conditions.
Visitor & Information Centers
Moose Visitor Center at park’s south end,
open daily all year except Christmas. Colter Bay Visitor Center on Jackson Lake,
open mid-May through Sept. Jenny Lake Visitor Center open June through Labor Day.
Call +1 307 739 3399.
Entrance Fee
$20 per car, good for one week at both Grand
Teton and Yellowstone. $40 annual.
Pets
Permitted on leashes except on trails, ranger-led
activities, in backcountry and visitor centers; not permitted on boats on the Snake
River or on lakes other than Jackson Lake.
Facilities for Disabled
Visitor centers, Indian Arts Museum, some
rest rooms, and some ranger-led activities are accessible.
Overnight Backpacking
Permits required. Free, they can be obtained
at visitor centers and Jenny Lake Ranger Station. One-third of permits can be reserved;
the rest are first come, first served. Mail requests to Permits Office c/o park.
Campgrounds
Five campgrounds, Jenny Lake has 7-day
limit, all others 14-day limit. Open generally late May to Oct., except Lizard
Creek, which is open mid-June to early Sept. Reservations required for Colter
Bay Trailer Village; contact Grand Teton Lodge Co., Box 240, Moran, Wyoming 83013.
+1 307 543 2855. All other campgrounds first come, first served. Fees $10 per night;
Trailer Village $17 per night. Showers at Colter Bay. Tent sites only
at Jenny Lake; RV sites only at Colter Bay Trailer Village, with hookups; all
others have tent and trailer sites, no hookups. Two group campgrounds; reservati ons
suggested; contact park headquarters. Food services in park.
Lodging
Hotels, Motels, & Inns
(unless otherwise noted, rates are for
2 persons in a double room, high season)
INSIDE THE PARK:
The following 3 lodges and cabins are operated by
Grand Teton Lodge Co., P.O. Box 250, Moran, Wyoming 83013. 800 628 9988 or +1 307 543 2811.
Colter Bay Village and Marina 208 cabins. $87-$109. Rest. Open mid-May to
Oct. Jackson Lake Lodge (1 mile [1.6 kilometers] N. of Jackson Lake Junct.) 385 units. $99-$175.
Rest., pool. Open mid-May to mid-Oct. Jenny Lake Lodge 37 cabins. $350-$485,
includes 2 meals. Rest. Open late May to early Oct.
Also, Lost Creek Ranch (8 miles [12.9 kilometers] N. of Moose) P.O. Box 95, Moose, Wyoming 83012. +1 307 733 3435. 13 cabins. $4,298 per week, includes meals and activities. Open June
to Nov. Signal Mountain Lodge P.O. Box 50, Moran, Wyoming 83013. 800 672 6012
or +1 307 543 2831. 79 units. Cabins $75-95; rooms $95-$152. Rest. Open mid-May to
mid-Oct. Triangle X Ranch Moose, Wyoming 83012. +1 307 733 2183. 19 cabins. $960
per person, per week, all inclusive. Open May through Oct.
Contact the Jackson, Wyoming, Chamber of Commerce
for a full list of accommodations open year-round. +1 307 733 3316.
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