Grand Teton
National Park

Towering more than a mile above the valley known as Jackson Hole, the Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet above sea level. Twelve Teton peaks reach above 12,000 feet elevation, high enough to support a dozen mountain glaciers. In contrast to the abrupt eastern face, the west side of the range slopes gently, showing the angle of tilt of the Earth's crust. Youngest of the mountains in the Rocky Mountain system, the Teton Range displays some of the North America's oldest rocks. A publication is available on Geology.

The rise of the Teton Range as well as the erosion caused by eons of glaciation have created the conditions that allow several plant communities to thrive, from ribbons of green riparian plants bordering rivers and streams, to sagebrush flats, lodgepole pine and spruce forests, subalpine meadows and alpine stone fields. The wide range of plant communities create habitat for a wide variety of animals, from the tiniest insects, to fish, birds and large and small mammals. Publications are available on Plants, Mammals and Birds.

Humans have taken advantage of the mountain setting and its abundant resources for approximately 11,000 years. Early residents occupied the valley during the short spring, summer and fall seasons. During the other eight months of the year, they moved to lower elevations and warmer winter climates. Beginning in the late 1800's, homesteaders, ranchers and later dude ranchers moved into the valley, bringing the technologies of irrigation and insulation, to allow them to stay through the long, harsh winter. A publication is available on Human History.

With the establishment of Grand Teton National Park in 1929, and later additions in 1950, culminating in today's park, a wide variety of resources are protected for future generations. Enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the park in safe, resource compatible ways, through the entire year.

VISITATION:

4,100,000 per year, primarily between Memorial Day and September 30.

LOCATION:

Northwestern Wyoming, south of Yellowstone National Park and north of Jackson, Wyoming, in Teton County.

ADDRESS:

Grand Teton National Park
P.O. Drawer 170
Moose, WY 83012

TELEPHONE:

(307) 739-3300

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

The park is open every day, visitor centers are closed on Christmas Day.

Campground opening and closing dates (no reservations are available)-

• Gros Ventre Campground open late April to early October;

• Jenny Lake Campground open late May to late September, fills by 8 a.m.;

• Signal Mountain Campground open early May to mid-October, fills by 10 a.m.;

• Colter Bay Campground open late May to late September;

• Lizard Creek Campground open early June to early September.

Visitor Center seasons and approximate hours of operation -

• Moose Visitor Center: open 8:00 - 5:00 winter, spring and fall; 8:00 - 7:00 summer

• Jenny Lake Visitor Center: open 8:00 - 7:00 June to Labor Day

• Colter Bay Visitor Center: open 8:00 - 5:00 mid-May to June, 8:00-8:00 June to Labor Day, 8:00-5:00 Labor Day to October 1

• Flagg Ranch Information Station: open 9:00-6:00 June to Labor Day.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Long, cold winters. The first heavy snows fall by November 1 and continue through March with snow and frost possible during any month. Summer days in the 70's and 80's with cool nights in the 40's. Summer thunderstorms are common. Mild to cool temperatures through September and October. Raingear recommended during spring, summer and fall. Sub-zero temperatures are common throughout winter and demand multi-layered clothing, hats, mittens and cold weather boots.

DIRECTIONS:

Visitors may travel east and north from Salt Lake City, UT, east from Boise, ID, or south from western Montana, to Idaho Falls, ID, thence to Teton Pass or up the Snake River Canyon to Jackson, WY, thence north 12 miles to the Moose Visitor Center. Visitors may travel west from Riverton, WY, or Casper, WY, over Togwotee Pass and thence into the park's east entrance. Visitors may also travel south from Yellowstone National Park, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway and through Grand Teton's north entrance.

MAP OF GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK (148k)

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: by car via I-70, I-80, I-25, I-15 and State 191; by tour bus on commercial tours only (no public bus service is available to Jackson or Grand Teton); Commercial and charter air service to Jackson Hole Airport with local taxi and rental car service from the airport.

In Park: personal or rental vehicles, personal or rental bicycles, limited shuttle service with park concessioners, hiking.

FEES, COST, RATES:

$20.00 per car entrance fee, good for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. $12.00 per night per site, camping fee. Fees are also charged for watercraft, backcountry reservations (not permits) and snow planes.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Centers:

• Moose Visitor Center features Greater Yellowstone Area and rare and endangered species exhibitry, video room and an extensive book store.

• Jenny Lake Visitor Center features Geology exhibitry, a relief model and book sales.

• Colter Bay Visitor Center features an Indian Arts Museum, an auditorium and a large book store.

• Flagg Ranch Information Station features information about John D. Rockefeller and the Greater Yellowstone area and book sales.
  

Visitor Centers are located along main park roads and are indicated on the park map. The Moose Visitor Center is 12 miles north of Jackson on Highway 89-191-287and 1/2 mile west of Moose Junction on the Teton Park Road. The Jenny Lake Visitor Center is 8 miles north of the Moose Visitor Center on the Teton Park Road. The Colter Bay Visitor Center is 42 miles north of Jackson on Highway 89-191-287 and 1/2 mile west of Colter Bay Junction. The Flagg Ranch Information Station is 16 miles north of Colter Bay Junction on Highway 89-191-287. Driving south from Yellowstone National Park's south entrance, mileages are 2.5 miles to Flagg Ranch, 16 miles to Colter Bay, 33 miles to Jenny Lake, 48.5 miles to Moose and 60 miles to the town of Jackson.

Always consider driving time and distance to your next destination before setting out. During the summer season all lodging and camping facilities throughout Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks fill by early afternoon, including overnight lodging in Jackson, WY. Many dining establishments recommend or require reservations during summer. Waiting lists often exceed one hour.

Trails, Roads:

There are approximately 100 miles of park roads and 200 miles of trails throughout the park. Most park trails are rough rock or dirt and are not accessible to visitors with disabilities. There are many asphalt trails in the Jenny Lake area, some of which are accessible. Some trails may begin as asphalt and change to dirt or gravel shortly thereafter. Publications are available on Day Hikes and Hiking Maps.

Programs/Activities:

Summer walks, talks, and evening campfire programs. Inquire at park visitor centers and ranger stations for schedules.

Lodging and camping facilities:

Lodging within the park is available through park concessioners: Flagg Ranch, Box 187, Moran, WY 83013, 1-800-443-2311; Grand Teton Lodge Co., Box 240, Moran, WY 83013, (307) 543-2811; Signal Mountain Lodge Co., Box 50, Moran, WY 83013, (307) 543-2831; and through Dornan's Spur Ranch Cabins, Box 39, Moose, WY 83012, (307) 733-2415.

Five National Park Service campgrounds are available on a first-come first-served basis within the park:

• Gros Ventre campground, south of Moose, with 360 sites and a trailer dump station generally fills in the evening, if at all. The campground lies along the Gros Ventre River with a mix of sites in sagebrush, beneath cottonwoods and adjacent to but a short distance from the river. If you are arriving in the afternoon of a busy day, just pull-in. Seek a better site the next morning.

• Jenny Lake campground, north of Moose, with 49 sites and is restricted to tents. The park's most popular campground is generally full by 8 a.m. In among the evergreens and glacial boulders a short distance from Jenny Lake.

• Signal Mountain campground, north of Jenny Lake, has 86 sites and a trailer dump station and generally fills by about 10 a.m. Signal Mountain offers a mix of spruce and fir trees, hillsides and lake and montain views. Adjacent to Signal Mountain Lodge and marina with a campstore and amenities close by. Sites are generally small and intimate.

• Colter Bay campground, north of Jackson Lake Junction, with 310 sites also has showers, a laundry and a trailer dump station, fills about noon. Colter Bay is a wooded campground with larger sites and easier access if you are travelling with a camper, trailer or RV. Close to Jackson Lake with plenty of stuff to do close by.

• Lizard Creek campground, at the north end of Grand Teton National Park, has 60 sites and fills by about 2:00 p.m. A less heavily developed campground with sites in the spruce and fir forest. One side of the campgound is adjacent to and slightly above Jackson Lake.

A concessioner operated campground is available at Flagg Ranch in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, just south of Yellowstone National Park. Concessioner operated trailer villages are available at Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch. Reservations may be made for all three.

Other commercial campgrounds and trailer villages are available in Jackson, WY, south of the park and east of the park's east boundary.

Food/supplies:

There are several restaurants inside the park that offer a variety of fare, from modest buffet and counter service, to family dining to full service elegant dining. Restaurants are located at the Jenny Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge and Flagg Ranch. Buffet and snack bar service are available at Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch. Dornan's offers either full meal service or, in the main season, a soup and sandwich delicatessen or outdoor barbecue.

Camper stores are available at Dornan's, South Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch. For major shopping, super markets are located in Jackson, as well as a full range of mountaineering, fishing, skiing, general hardware and auto parts stores.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and

Opportunities:

Please take a look at our Commercial Services Plan.

In addition to camping, lodging and dining opportunities, park concessioners and operators provide the following services at these locations:

Gros Ventre Slide In (May 1 - Sept. 15) Snacks, gift shop and a housekeeping unit.

Dornans Gift shop, service station, spirits, sports equipment rental, fly shop.

South Jenny Lake Boat shuttle, cruises and rental, and mountaineering guide service.

Flagg Ranch Gift shop, service station, float trips, spirits and snowmobiling and snowcoach tours in the winter.

Leek's Marina Pizza restaurant and marina.

Accessibility:

Facilities for visitors with disabilities include restrooms, picnic tables and a limited number of campsites. Detailed accessibility information is also available.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway offer a variety of activities from traditional mountain park hiking, walking, wildlife viewing, photography, backpacking, camping, climbing and fishing to swimming, boating, floating, canoeing, biking and skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. Some activities such as overnight backpacking, boating, floating, canoeing, fishing and snowmobiling require fee permits, licenses or registration. Special regulations may also apply, so take the time to become informed at any visitor center or ranger station. Free printed publications are available for Backcountry Camping, Hiking, Mountaineering, Fishing, Boating, Floating, Bicycling, Skiing and Snowmobiling.

Here are some suggestions for activities for the summer visitor season, listed in a north to south order, beginning at Yellowstone National Park's south boundary and proceeding south through Grand Teton National Park. The distance from Yellowstone's south boundary to Grand Teton's south boundary is 56 miles; approximate driving time with no stops is 1 1/2 hours. Reference to the attached map will also be helpful.

HALF DAY ACTIVITIES

Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum - Visit the museum to view art created by native peoples and gain a glimpse of 19th century American Indian life. American Indian and wildlife videotapes and a park orientation slide program are shown throughout the day. Ranger-led activities include museum tours, park orientation talks, natural history hikes and evening amphitheater programs.

Signal Mountain Summit Road - This 5-mile drive starts one mile south of Signal Mountain Lodge and Campground. The road winds to the top of Signal Mountain, 800 feet above the valley. Summit overlooks provide panoramic views of the entire Teton Range, Jackson Lake and most of Jackson Hole. The road is narrow and parking at overlooks is limited, so no trailers or large motorhomes, please.

Jenny Lake Scenic Drive - Turn at North Jenny Lake and drive southwest. Stop at the Cathedral Group Turnout for a spectacular view of the Grand Teton (13,770'), Teewinot and Mt. Owen. The road is two-way as far as String Lake and Jenny Lake Lodge. South of String Lake, the road becomes one-way and provides a relaxed lakeshore drive with views of Jenny Lake. Rejoin the Teton Park Road near South Jenny Lake.

Menor's Ferry and the Chapel of the Transfiguration - Turn off the Teton Park Road 1/2 mile north of Moose. The Menor's Ferry Trail, less than 1/2-mile long, affords a look at homesteading and pioneer life in Jackson Hole. Visit Bill Menor's cabin and country store. Ride a replica of the ferry that crossed the Snake River at the turn of the century (the ferry is launched after high water in the spring - usually after the 4th of July). The altar window of the Chapel of the Transfiguration frames the tallest Teton peaks. Please be respectful, the chapel is a house of worship.

WHOLE DAY ACTIVITIES

Add the following stops to those suggested for half day visits.

Willow Flats - Stop at the Willow Flats Turnout, 6 miles south of Colter Bay, for a view of an extensive freshwater marsh that provides excellent habitat for birds, beavers and moose. Jackson Lake and the Teton Range for the backdrop.

Oxbow Bend - Located one mile east of Jackson Lake Junction, this cut-off meander of the Snake River attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Mount Moran, the most massive peak in the Teton Range, dominates the background.

Jackson Lake Dam Overlook - Jackson Lake Dam, one mile west of Jackson Lake Junction on the Teton Park Road, raises the level of Jackson Lake a maximum of 39 feet. In addition to being a reservoir, Jackson Lake is also a natural lake formed by an immense glacier that once flowed from Yellowstone National Park. Park on the southwest side of the dam and take a short walk for a peaceful view of Jackson Lake and Mount Moran.

South Jenny Lake - Park at South Jenny Lake and take a short walk to view glacially-carved Jenny Lake nestled at the base of the tallest Teton peaks. A 6-mile hiking trail encircles Jenny Lake. Shuttle boats (early June through late September, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., fee charged) provide easy access to the west shore of the lake and trails to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon. Parking is limited and the trail becomes crowded, so plan to arrive early or late in the day. A midday arrival will be frustrating.

Antelope Flats - Kelly Loop - At Gros Ventre Junction, 5 miles south of the Moose Junction on Highway 26-89-191, turn east. Follow the road to the small town of Kelly. To see the Gros Ventre Slide, turn at the sign marked "national forest access." The Gros Ventre Slide occurred in 1925 when earthquakes and rain caused the north end of Sheep Mountain to break off and dam the Gros Ventre River, forming Lower Slide Lake. Follow the Antelope Flats Road along hayfields and ranches to rejoin Highway 26-89-121.

ONE DAY OR MORE

In addition to the suggestions listed previously, try some of these:

Ranger-led Activities - Join a ranger for a visitor center talk, museum tour, stroll, hike or evening program. From early June to Labor Day a full schedule of activities is conducted daily. Consult a park newspaper, available at visitor centers and entrance stations, or various bulletin boards in the park. Attend the activities of your choice and learn more about the natural and human history of the park and parkway.

Take a Hike - Over 200 miles of hiking trails in the park and parkway range from level and easy trails on the valley floor to steep, arduous trails into the mountains. At visitor centers, ask a ranger for recommended hikes and look at or purchase maps and trail guides. Parking areas at popular trail heads fill as early as 11:00 a.m., from late June to early September.

Raft Trips on the Snake River - Park and parkway concessioners and operators provide a variety of floating and fishing trips on the Snake River. Equipment is also available for rent in Jackson from several sources.

Ride a Bike - The Teton Park Road has wide shoulders and superb views of the Tetons. The Antelope Flats-Kelly Loop provides riding opportunities on secondary roads. Ride bikes only where cars can legally go; bicycles are not allowed on trails nor in the backcountry. Equipment is available at Dornan's and in Jackson from several sources.

Mountaineering - The Teton Range offers many opportunities for climbers and mountaineers. The Jenny Lake Ranger Station is the center for climbing information and climbers are encouraged to stop in and obtain information on routes, conditions and regulations. Registration for day climbs is not required, while all overnight stays require a backcountry permit. The Jenny Lake Ranger Station is open from early June to mid-September, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Horseback Riding - Park concessioners offer horseback rides at Colter Bay and Jackson Lake Lodge. A publication is available for Saddle and Pack Stock

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Reservations may be made from January 1 to May 15 for group campsites. Overnight stays in the backcountry require a free backcountry permit available at the Moose or Colter Bay Visitor Centers and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Reservations may be made for backcountry campsites between January 1and May 15, or up to 24 hours ahead of your first night's stay. There is a $15 per trip fee for making a backcountry reservation. Permits are required for motorized and non-motorized watercraft, and are available at Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations. A fee is charged. A Wyoming fishing license is required for fishing in the park and non-resident licenses are available. Licenses may be purchased in fishing stores in Jackson, Dornan's and at park marinas.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

An enjoyable visit to this heavily visited park requires some measure of planning and timing. Some basic services such as rental cars, rental equipment and lodging are sold-out every day. Reservations should be considered essential for main season visits. Campgrounds are frequently filled by noon, with the possible exception of Gros Ventre Campground near the park's south boundary. Arrive early, plan carefully and seek information at park visitor centers and ranger stations.

Pets are permitted in Grand Teton National Park with certain restrictions. A good rule is a pet may go anywhere a car may go: roads and road shoulders, campgrounds and picnic areas, parking lots, etc. Pets must be on a leash and under physical restraint. Pets are not permitted on any park trails or in the park backcountry. Pets are not considered pack animals

The Grand Teton Natural History Association, a not-for-profit organization that supports the National Park Service's educational, interpretive and research programs can provide approximately 900 separate book titles, maps, posters and other interpretive literature that can help you plan a visit and will add richness to your visit. These materials are available by telephone at: (307) 739-3403 for mail orders or to receive a catalog of selected titles. The Executive Director is available at (307) 739-3406 and P.O. Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012.

A Student Bibliography is available for students working on reports or projects. Many of these same references can enhance your visit to Grand Teton National Park by providing valuable background informaiton. A Student Bibliography is available

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

No park events are scheduled though events occur in Teton County and Jackson throughout the summer.

We have additional publications with detailed information on employment, internships, and a list of concession operations.

 

The Draft Winter Use Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is available for public review and comment. The complete document may be reviewed on the Internet at: www.nps.gov/yell/technical/planning Printed copies of the Draft Winter Use Plan EIS (approximately 500 pages in length) and the Executive Summary are available by sending a postcard to: Winter Use Plan, Planning Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

 

EMAIL:

For information not found on this website: grte_info@nps.gov

Last Update: Friday, 03-Sep-99 12:51:00
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