Grand Teton National Park
Activities & Programs
SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL ACTIVITIES
No matter what the season, Grand Teton offers something fun and interesting for everyone.
Park Programs
NPS ranger naturalists have a busy summer schedule, packed with guided hikes and talks, including evening campfire programs and Young Naturalist lessons. Most activities take place or start at Moose, Jenny Lake and Colter Bay visitor centers and at Flagg Ranch Information Center. Each campground in the park has a nightly ranger naturalist presentation, including slide shows and storytelling sessions around a campfire. Call Moose Visitor Center at (307) 739-3399, Colter Bay Visitor Center at (307) 739-3594, or check the park newspaper, the Teewinot, for specific schedules.
Field Seminars and Workshops
The Teton Science Schools' in-park campus, located near Kelly, offers various one- to five- day courses for children and adults. Several other organizations offer educational programs based in Jackson Hole; please call (307) 733-4765 for more information on Teton Science Schools or (307) 733-3316 for other organizations. The Grand Teton Lodge Company has a company historian who offers walking history tours of Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village. Please contact the Activities Desk at Jackson Lake Lodge for more information on these tours.
Bus Tours
Half-and full-day bus tours of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, with visits to all major scenic areas and service to Jackson, are available. For schedules and prices, please call (307) 543-2811.
Biking
The Grand Teton and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkways encompass approximately 100 miles of paved roads for cyclists to enjoy, and most roads have marked shoulders for safe bicycling. Bicycles can go anywhere cars are allowed; you may not take bikes off-road or on hiking trails. Pick up a copy of the NPS pamphlet, Bicycling , at any visitor center for more information. Bike rentals are available at Dornan's in Moose; call (307) 733-3307.
Teton Park Road between Moose and Jenny Lake Scenic Drive has wide shoulders and several spectacular scenic turnouts. Be particularly cautious in summer along this well- traveled route. Just off this road is Jenny Lake Scenic Drive; cyclists are permitted to go against traffic on this one-way, three mile road. The Antelope Flats/Kelly area east of Moose has secondary roads which wind through sagebrush flats.
Numerous unpaved roads offer scenic rides for mountain biking and wildlife viewing opportunities. Suggested routes include Two-Ocean Lake Road (three miles), east of Jackson Lake Junction; River Road (15 miles), between Signal Mountain and Cottonwood Creek; and Grassy Lake Road (52 miles), an old freight road between Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.
Boating
Grand Teton Lodge Company operates guided cruises (and offers boating and fishing guides) on Jackson Lake from the Colter Bay Marina. Boat and canoe rentals are also available; all are weather and water level dependent, please call (800) 628-9988 or (307) 543-2811 for more information. Jenny Lake Boating operates a shuttle boat on Jenny Lake, scenic lake cruises and boat rentals; please call (307) 734-9227 for more information. Signal Mountain Lodge offers boat rentals on Jackson Lake; please call (307) 543-2831. For information about using your own watercraft, see "Park Regulations & Safety," on pages 22—23.
Fishing
The lakes and streams below the Tetons feature one of the few remaining populations of wild cutthroat trout, as well as many other game fish. To fish in the park, you need a valid Wyoming state fishing license, available at Dornan's in Moose Village, Signal Mountain Lodge, Colter Bay Marina and Flagg Ranch Resort, as well as in Jackson. Request the NPS pamphlet, Fishing, at any visitor center for complete information. Fishing tackle may be rented at marinas on Jackson Lake and at Dornan's in Moose Village. For more information, please call (307) 733-3316.
Grand Teton Lodge Company offers guided lake and fly fishing packages; please call (307) 543-2811 for details. Signal Mountain Lodge also offers guided lake fishing trips; please call (307) 543-2831 for more details.
Note that Yellowstone National Park requires a separate fishing permit and has different regulations from Grand Teton National Park. Please call (307) 344-7381 for information.
Float Trips
The Snake River offers gentle waters as well as wild rapids. Grand Teton Lodge Company launches morning and afternoon float trips on the Snake River (some trips include lunch or dinner). Call (800) 628-9988 or (307) 543-2811 for details. Several other park concessioners offer scenic float trips. For information on these, as well as white-water trips, see the Teewinot or call (307) 733-3316.
Horseback Riding
Short (approx. one-hour) and Long (approx. two-hours) horse rides are available through the Grand Teton Lodge Company at Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village corrals. Wagon rides are available for those who prefer not to be in the saddle. Trips may include breakfast or dinner. For details, please call (800) 628-9988 or (307) 543-2811. Flagg Ranch and other outfitters also offer horseback riding trips; please call (800) 443-2311 for more information.
Private stock and overnight trips are also allowed in the park. For complete information, request the NPS pamphlet, Saddle and Pack Stock, at any park visitor center; write to the NPS, P.O. Box 170, Moose, WY 83012-0170; or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/grte.
Mountaineering
High-quality rock, easy accessibility and a wide variety of climbing conditions make the Teton Range some of the best mountaineering territory in the nation. From June to mid-September, the Jenny Lake Ranger Station is headquarters for climbing information. Rangers provide current weather and route conditions, and assist with equipment selection, route planning and climbing times. The ranger station also has an extensive library of guidebooks, maps and photos of popular climbs. During the rest of the year, check in at Moose Visitor Center for information.
Although the NPS does not officially require day climbers to register, all climbers are urged to leave their specific destinations and schedules with a responsible person who can assist park staff with information in the event of an emergency. Overnight trips do require a permit and registration of the intended camping site.
The NPS has a fully staffed rescue team in the summer months for your safety, however, you and your party still must be prepared to be self-sufficient in an emergency.
A number of professional guide services and climbing schools operate inside the park. Call Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and Climbing School at (307) 733-4979 or Exum Mountain Guides and School of American Mountaineering at (307) 733-2297. Climber's Ranch/American Alpine Club offers extremely rustic overnight accommodations for climbers only; for information, please call (307) 733-7271.
Grand Teton In Depth
News from the Parks
Ken Burns on Vacation/Location at Glacier National Park
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
Town Government Rejected by Tusayan
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
