Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park that is located in the Rocky Mountains, in the state of Wyoming. The park is south of Yellowstone National Park and just north of the town of Jackson. Grand Teton National Park is noted for its stunning mountain vistas, its shimmering alpine lakes and its abundant wildlife.

History

In the late 1800s, Colonel S.B.M. Young, the acting Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, suggested the expansion of Yellowstone's park boundaries towards the south. During the following years, various officials introduced a series of proposals to include the Teton mountain range and Jackson Lake in an enlarged Yellowstone. These proposals were met with fierce opposition by local ranchers, who feared that an expanded park would lead to cuts in their grazing areas.

Around this same time, farmers in the region suggested the damming of Two Ocean, Emma Matilda and Jenny Lakes for irrigation purposes. Ranchers became concerned that if the lakes were dammed, it could lead to the destruction of natural resources by way of increased commercial development. This concern led to a key meeting in 1923, when Yellowstone Superintendent Horace Albright and some local residents decided that they could pool private funds to buy up land. This way, they could lock the land away from developers and preserve the natural character of the Jackson Hole region.

Albright was the only person at the meeting who openly supported a national park. The other attendees wanted to make sure that they could continue to use the land for hunting and ranching. As time went by, public support for a national park grew. This support wasn't unanimous, and there were still many holdouts who would not sell their land to the government. Nonetheless, on February 26, 1929, Grand Teton National Park was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. became enamored of the Jackson Hole area and decided to help with Superintendent Albright's plan. Rockefeller created a private company as a front to buy land, using the company to hide both his personal involvement and any links to the federal government. That way, local residents would sell their land to the company, not knowing that it was in fact going to be donated to the National Park Service.

When the true nature of Rockefeller's front company became publicly known, it caused outrage in the area. After many legal battles, this controversy was put to rest with a compromise that allowed limited hunting and grazing within the park, as well as the existence of some privately run guest ranches.

Flora and fauna

Grand Teton National Park has abundant wildlife, but it is most famous for its populations of elk, bison (buffalo), moose and bald eagles.

Grand Teton National Park is a bit curious in that the ranger stations where you pay the entry fees lie fairly deep within the park. This essentially means that sections of the park can be accessed for free, including Jackson Hole airport.

Fees/Permits

All vehicles and individuals entering the park must pay an entrance fee that is valid for seven days. The entrance fee provides entry to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Fees are $20 for non-commercial vehicles, $10 for hikers and cyclists, and $15 for motorcycles. A National Parks Pass ($50 and valid for one year) provides free entrance to all national parks and monuments. From December through mid-April a winter day use pass is also available for $5 per person (Grand Teton National Park only).

Get around

Most visitors to the park drive around, because of the distances involved. Some hardy souls bike or hike.

Lodging

Due to the political deals which made Grand Teton National Park a reality, a mix of concessioner lodging, private guest ranches and camping is available within the park. Apart from the in-park accommodations, Jackson is the closest town with many lodging options.

 • Colter Bay Village, just off U.S. 89/287, (307) 543-2811 or 1-800-628-9988, . Open late May to late September. Facilities range from basic tent cabins to cabins with private baths. Budget to midrange prices.
 • Jackson Lake Lodge, just off U.S. 89/287, (307) 543-2811 or 1-800-628-9988, . Open from late May to early October. Large hotel with on-site restaurants and heated outdoor pool. Many mountain views. Midrange to pricey for this area.
 • Jenny Lake Lodge, accessible via North Jenny Lake Junction off of Teton Park Road, (307) 733-4647 or 1-800-628-9988, . Open early June to early October. Upscale to luxurious cabins and suites with on-site restaurant. Expensive.

Camping

 • Flagg Ranch Campground Located just south of Yellowstone and 5 miles north of Grand Teton National Park on U.S. 89/191/287. 1-800-443-2311. Open May 27-Sep. 30, 2005. 175 sites in the spruce-fir forest. Call for reservations for both trailer sites and tent sites at this concession-operated campground.
 • Lizard Creek Campground 32 miles north of Moose, at the north end of the park. 1-800-672-6012. Open June 3-Sep. 6, 2005. 60 sites, fills by about 2:00 p.m. Vehicle size limited to 30 feet. A less heavily developed campground with sites in the spruce and fir forest. One side of the campground is adjacent to and slightly above Jackson Lake.
 • Colter Bay Campground 25 miles north of Moose, near Jackson Lake. 1-800-628-9988 or  . Open May 27-Sep. 25, 2005. 350 sites, 11 group sites, easier access for campers, trailers & RVs. Trailer dump station, showers, and laundry nearby. Fills about noon.
 • Signal Mountain Campground 16 miles north of Jenny Lake. 1-800-672-6012. Open May 7-Oct. 16, 2005. 81 sites, and a trailer dump station. Fills by about 10 a.m. Signal Mountain offers a mix of spruce and fir trees, hillsides, and lake and mountain views. Adjacent to Signal Mountain Lodge and marina with a camp store and amenities close by. Sites are generally small and intimate. Vehicles size limited to 30 feet.
 • Jenny Lake Campground 8 miles north of Moose. 1-800-628-9988. Open May 15-Sep. 25, 2005. 51 sites, tents only. This is the park's most popular campground and is generally full by 8 a.m. Sites are in among the evergreens and glacial boulders a short distance from Jenny Lake. Only one vehicle, less than 14 feet long, is permitted per site. Trailers are prohibited
 • Gros Ventre Campground 11.5 miles south and east of Moose. 1-800-628-9988. Open May 1-Oct. 15, 2005. 360 sites, 5 group 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.

Backcountry

All backcountry camping requires a permit. These permits are free when applied for in person, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Permits can be obtained at the Moose and Colter Bay visitor centers, and at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. People who wish to climb mountains must apply at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.

Requests for advance reservations are accepted from January 1st to May 15th. Send the request by regular mail, fax, or in person. Include your name, address, phone number, number of people, and preferred campsites and dates. Be sure to include alternatives. Requests are processed in the order received. Requests may be faxed to (307) 739-3438 or mailed to:

Grand Teton National Park

Backcountry Permits

PO Box 170

Moose, Wyoming 83012

A non-refundable service fee of $15 will be charged for each reservation (fee is per trip, not per person). Put credit card information directly on the fax, or mail a check made payable to the National Park Service. If no payment is received with your request, you will be billed. Only one-third of the sites are reserved in advance, leaving two-thirds available for walk-in reservations.

Get out

Yellowstone National Park The world's largest concentration of geysers, hot springs and other geothermal features is a short drive to the north from Grand Teton National Park on U.S. 89/191/287. Yellowstone also has bison, elk, antelope and bears. Admission to Grand Teton also allows entry into Yellowstone, but be prepared to show your pass at the entrance gate.