Part 3 Guide and Adviser

Approaching Grand Teton

_Grand Teton National Park sits in northwest Wyoming just below Yellowstone National Park. By road Grand Teton is reached from the north via Yellowstone on Routes 89, 191, and 287. From the east, Routes 26 and 287 connect the park with Dubois, Wyoming, via Togwotee Pass. From the south the park is reached through Jackson, Wyoming, via Routes 26, 89, and 191. Routes 191 and 189 link Jackson with Interstate 80 to the south. From the west, Route 22 over Teton Pass links Jackson with Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Interstate 15 west of Idaho Falls._

Buses.

The Jackson-Rock Springs Stage, (307) 733-3133, provides daily summer connections to Greyhound Bus Lines in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The address is 72 S. Glenwood, Jackson, WY 83001. From early June through mid-September the Grand Teton Lodge Company runs regular bus service between Jackson Lake Lodge and Jackson twice daily. The company also meets all incoming flights at the airport (see map) and runs a service to Signal Mountain Lodge, Colter Bay, and Jackson Lake Lodge. The company runs shuttlebuses daily between Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay. Holiday Tours and Gray Line of Jackson Hole offer one-day tours of Yellowstone National Park from Jackson. Individuals may book overnight or longer passage to Old Faithful on Grayline of Jackson Hole tours, but no in-park transportation is available in Yellowstone.

Some useful distances: Denver to Grand Teton, 500 miles; Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, 288 miles; and Idaho Falls to Grand Teton, 105 miles.

Please note that public transportation to and around the park is not always regularly scheduled or frequently available. If you intend to rely on bus service for travel inside the park, plan carefully and be prepared for long waits between bus arrivals and departures in parts of the park. Hitchhiking is illegal in Wyoming.

Taxi and Transportation Services.

Local taxi service is limited, but it is available. The Jackson Hole Transportation Company, (307) 733-3135, provides ground transportation for Teton Village and Jackson to and from the airport, and service to and from Flagg Ranch on the Rockefeller Parkway.

Air Service.

Scheduled airlines serve the Jackson Hole Airport, 7 miles north of Jackson on Highway 26, 89, and 191. Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Idaho Falls, Idaho, all offer connecting flights to Jackson. Flights arrive and depart several times daily in summer; less frequently in the off season. Check with your travel agent for flight schedules as well as ski package rates for winter travel to the Jackson Hole area.

Car Rental Services.

Avis (307) 733-3422, Budget (307) 733-2206, Hertz (307) 733-2272, and National (307) 733-4132 offer car rentals. All but Budget, which provides airport pick-up and delivery, are located at the Jackson airport.

All major park roads are two-lane and paved. Summer months coincide with road repairs and re-surfacing. It is possible to have short delays (up to one hour) while maintenance crews repair old and build new road surfaces.

Many bicyclists ride along the narrow Teton Park Road between Moose and Colter Bay (see map). Traffic is very heavy from mid-June to Labor Day and both cyclists and motorists should be alert to possible hazards.

Useful Addresses and Telephone Numbers

Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012. (307) 733-2880.

Wyoming Travel Commission Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7777.

Jackson Hole Area Chamber of Commerce Box E, Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 733-3316.

Grand Teton Natural History Association PO. Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012 (307) 733-2880.

Map of the Park

Visitor Centers and Museum

To best use your time, make your first stop the Moose Visitor Center (south end) or the Colter Bay Visitor Center (north end). Ask the ranger at the desk about park activities and services. And ask for tips about what you can see and do in the time you have. You may even decide to lengthen your stay in the Tetons.

Moose Visitor Center includes information services, a publications sales outlet, and a backcountry and boating permits office. This building also houses the park headquarters and all administrative offices. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from Labor Day to mid-May 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The visitor center is on the Teton Park Road just west of Moose Junction. Check the map in advance. With such impressive scenery you can easily miss this junction.

Colter Bay Visitor Center includes the Indian Arts Museum, free film showings, a publications sales outlet, and a backcountry and boating permits office for the park’s north end. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from Labor Day to the end of September, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed from October to mid-May. Check the map in advance and watch for the sign that will direct you to the Colter Bay area and its Colter Bay Visitor Center, 6 miles north of Jackson Lake Junction and 17 miles south of Yellowstone National Park. The Indian Arts Museum there houses the extensive David T. Vernon Collection of Native American Arts. Be sure to inquire about museum tours and Indian arts and crafts activities.

At either visitor center pick up a copy of the free park newspaper, _Teewinot_. Turn to the calendar-style activities schedule and look it over at the desk so you can get the ranger’s advice on the best activities for you and your party. _Teewinot_ also lists concession-operated accommodations, services, and facilities. These offer many valuable ways to experience the park. The _Teewinot_ is also available at park entrance stations, campgrounds, and concession facilities.

Wayside Exhibits.

As you drive through the park on the main roads, take your time and stop at the wayside turnouts along the roads. At many turnouts wayside exhibits identify the scene before you and briefly interpret the natural and human history of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range. These turnouts are usually located at excellent scenic viewpoints and provide safe parking areas for viewing and photographing the mountain scene.

Ranger-led Activities

From mid-June through Labor Day, park rangers lead activities several times daily throughout the park. These offer ideal ways to see and understand the many natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources the park offers. These activities are listed in _Teewinot_, the park newspaper, and are posted at each visitor center and campground. The _Teewinot_ listing describes the event and tells you where and when to meet. There are short hikes, short hikes with boat transportation, all-day hikes, wildlife hikes, demonstrations, and campfire programs. Rangers present interpretive programs each night on a variety of subjects throughout the summer at the Gros Ventre, Signal Mountains, and Colter Bay Amphitheaters. All ranger-led activities are free except those requiring modest fees for supplies or transportation.

Self-guiding Trails.

Informative booklets are available at visitor centers or the trailheads to guide you on short-to-modest hikes along established trails that explore the history or nature of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. These walks are great for families and provide exercise for building up to longer hikes. Self-guiding trails include: Menor’s Ferry Historic Trail, Cascade Canyon Trail, Cunningham Cabin Trail, Taggart Lake Trail, Lunch Tree Hill Trail, and Colter Bay Trail.

Camping and Accommodations

The National Park Service operates five campgrounds in the park on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. A nightly fee is charged. South to north (see map) the campgrounds are: Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Colter Bay, and Lizard Creek. All except Jenny Lake (tents only) accommodate tents, trailers, and recreational vehicles. There are no utility hookups. All campgrounds have modern comfort stations. Maximum stay is 7 days at Jenny Lake, 14 days elsewhere. In July and August the campgrounds fill to capacity daily. Jenny Lake fills by 8 a.m.; Signal Mountain and Colter Bay fill between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Lizard Creek fills between 4 and 6 p.m.: and Gros Ventre by early evening. There are trailer dumping stations at Gros Ventre, Signal Mountain, and Colter Bay. Colter Bay has showers, laundry, and propane service.

Additional camping areas are found in nearby national forests and elsewhere outside the park. Camping is not permitted along roadsides or in overlooks or parking areas. Doubling-up in campsites is prohibited. There are no overflow facilities in the park. (Backcountry campers, please see Backcountry Basics.)

Group Camping.

There are 10 group camping sites at Colter Bay and five at Gros Ventre. Sites accommodate between 12 and 40 people. The nightly use fee is $1.00 per person. These are available to youth, religious, educational, and other organized groups. Reservations are required. Make them as soon as possible after January 1, by writing the chief ranger at the park address.

Trailer Villages.

Concessioners operate trailer villages with full hookups, showers, and laundry at Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch (in the Rockefeller Parkway). Reservations are advised. For Colter Bay write the Grand Teton Lodge Company address (listed under Accommodations). Write to Flagg Ranch at Moran, WY 83013.

Accommodations.

The many concessioners within the park offer cabins, lodge facilities, and rooms. Accommodations concessions in the park and the advance reservations telephone number (area code 307) and address are: Colter Bay Cabins, Jackson Lake Lodge, and Jenny Lake Lodge, 543-2855, write to the Grand Teton Lodge Company, Box 240, Moran, WY 83013; Flagg Ranch, 543-2861 or 733-8761, Box 187, Moran, WY 83013; Moose Enterprises, Inc. (prefer monthly rental), (307) 733-3863, Box 331, Moose, WY 83012; Signal Mountain Lodge, 543-2831 or 733-5470, Box 50, Moran, WY 83013: and Triangle X Ranch (weekly, American plan) 733-2183, Box 120T, Moose, WY 83012. Most of these also provide meals to non-guests. Groceries are sold at Colter Bay, Flagg Ranch, Kelly, Jenny Lake, Moose, and Signal Mountain. For information on commercial enterprises outside the park, write to the chamber of commerce address or the Wyoming Travel Commission address.

Post offices.

Post offices are located at Colter Bay (summer only), Moran, Moose, and Kelly.

Hiking

You may think time is fixed but it’s not. Its many speeds here include car time, float time, horseback time, and hiking time. Car time is, well, just car time. Hiking time is Grand Teton time, Jackson Hole time, your time. On great days it’s timeless time. There are more than 225 miles of hiking trails in the park.

The shortest trails are the self-guiding trails 0.5 to 2 miles long. See the list under Ranger-led Activities. The valley trails that run along the base of the Teton Range and take you to the large lakes in front of the mountains are also shorter and less arduous than the mountain trails. The valley trails will pique your interest and help you decide if you wish to hike further into the mountains. You can take a half-day to all-day hike into the canyons between Teton peaks. The walking will be more difficult, requiring some up- and downhill effort, but the rewards—mountain views, wildflowers, and wildlife—are worth it. You can take multiple-day trips over highcountry passes and into the alpine zone. A free backcountry permit is required for all overnight camping.

In the visitor centers you can buy the _Teton Trails_ guide booklet. It offers shaded relief trail maps, lengths and hiking estimates, scenery identification drawings, and photographs on which you can trace your route. Rangers can direct you to interesting hikes and help you assess the level of difficulty. If you plan to travel off trail you must register at Jenny Lake Ranger Station, or at the Moose Visitor Center from October through May. Overnight travel requires a free backcountry use permit (see Backcountry Basics).

Wear comfortable and sturdy footgear no matter how far you hope to travel. Even on shorter hikes, be sure to carry raingear. Afternoon thundershowers are common throughout the hiking season and can occur suddenly. The day may be sunny and warm, but a quick drenching rain can spell big trouble for hikers without raingear. Life-threatening hypothermia occurs most often in the 30 to 40°F temperature range, especially if clothing is wet and there is some wind. Be prepared. Don’t take chances. You will also need to carry water on your hike. At high altitudes the sun is hot and the humidity is low; you get thirsty quickly. Microorganisms in stream water can cause intestinal problems 10-14 days after you drink, so use your canteen. (See Water Warning under Backcountry Basics.) Be sure to carry lunch and some high-energy snacks to munch on while you walk. Add sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and camera, and you will be prepared to enjoy your day on the trail.

Please read Bear Warning under Backcountry Basics. Pets are not permitted on trails or in the backcountry. Most valley trails are open by early June. Highcountry trails may remain closed by snow until mid-July. Please note that horse parties have the right-of-way on trails. Step well off the trail and remain quiet while horses pass.

Backcountry Basics

Most basic is this: _Overnight backcountry use requires a free backcountry use permit._ This written permit can be obtained at Moose Visitor Center, open all year, or at Jenny Lake Ranger Station and Colter Bay Visitor Center in summer, on a first-come, first-served basis. There are more people who want a wilderness experience than there is wilderness in the park, so backcountry user capacities have been established. This means that some people are turned away. Reservations may be made for backcountry camping areas by mail only from January 1 to June 1. These reservations by mail are available for only 30 percent of the backcountry camping sites. From June 1 to October 1, no reservations can be made, and then all unreserved sites are first-come, first-served. Organized groups wishing to backpack overnight should write the Permits Office at the park address for full particulars.

Making a Reservation.

Submit your _final_ itinerary listing the specific sites at which you wish to stay each night (list calendar dates!) and the size of your group (the maximum group size is 12) to the Permits Office at the Park address. See Closed Areas. You must still pick up your permit in person by 10 a.m. of the day your trip begins. A backcountry zone system is used to minimize human impact and to allow you freer choice in camping. The Teton Range above 7,000 feet elevation has been divided into camping zones. You may stay anywhere within a zone if you follow these simple rules: 1. No ground fires are allowed. Small backpacking stoves are recommended for cooking. 2. Camp at least one mile away from any trail junction or patrol cabin. 3. Camp at least 100 feet away from all lakes and streams. 4. Camp out of sight of the trail and other campers. 5. Do not camp in fragile or overused sites that will show signs of your camp having been there (unless told otherwise).

Below the 7,000-foot level there are a few remaining designated lakeside backcountry camping sites. Unless there is a fire danger, wood fires are permitted in the firegrates provided at these designated camping sites.

General Backcountry Regulations.

Pets, firearms, and wheeled vehicles are not permitted. Carry out all refuse and leave no evidence of your stay. Short-cutting on trails is prohibited. Keep stock out of camping areas. Use hitch racks where provided. Do not tie stock to live trees. To prevent pollution, do not wash dishes or laundry in, and do not bathe in, lakes and streams.

Closed Areas.

When you pick up your permit, check on areas that may be closed to backcountry use. No overnight camping is permitted at Lake Solitude, Bradley Lake, Taggart Lake, Laurel Lake, Amphitheater Lake, below the Forks of Cascade Canyon to Jenny Lake, and the lower valley area east of the Valley Trail and the east shore of Jackson Lake. No overnight camping is permitted along the Snake River.

Water Warning.

Surface water is of questionable purity. Carry water from approved public supplies. Backcountry water should be boiled for one minute, three to five minutes at higher altitudes. Water treatment disinfection chemicals are not considered as reliable as boiling to safeguard against _Giardia_ and _Campylobacter_ intestinal disorders. Most water filter mechanisms are not adequate for these organisms. The evening meal is an ideal time to boil water for drinking and brushing teeth and for the next day’s use.

Bear Warning.

Black bears are sometimes seen in the backcountry and in campgrounds. They show little fear of people and may try to get your food. Federal law requires proper food storage in the backcountry and in campgrounds. Suspend food from a tree (or bear pole if provided) or store it out of sight in a vehicle. Your backcountry permit packet includes instructions on hanging your food. A bear brochure is available free at ranger stations and visitor centers. Make sure everyone in your party reads this information before your trip. Report all bear sightings, damage, or injury to a park ranger. Grizzly bears are seen occasionally in northern parts of the park. If a bear should charge you, climb a tree or play dead. Don’t try to run away, however. Running excites the bear, and you cannot outrun one.

Theft from Parked Cars.

Trailhead parking areas are patrolled regularly, but in recent years theft from cars parked overnight has become more common. Leave nothing of value visible in your car and thoroughly lock up the vehicle before leaving on your hike. It’s best to lock valuables in your trunk.

Trip Planning.

Write the Grand Teton Natural History Association at the park address for a list of sales literature and maps to enhance your pre-trip planning and enjoyment.

Horseback Riding.

For short rides with a guide you can rent saddle horses at Jenny Lake, Colter Bay, Flagg Ranch, and Jackson Lake Lodge. Jenny Lake Lodge and the Triangle X Ranch have horses for guests only. A short horseback ride gives you a leisurely look at the park and a sample of Jackson Hole’s Old West flavor. If you’ve never ridden, or have not ridden in years, _make the first ride short_. Your first steps after first riding a horse for an hour or more feel very strange! The concessioners offer a variety of wagon rides and hay-rides to cowboy cookouts. Guided trips of several days can be arranged with park concessioners. Or you can write the chamber of commerce address for information about area outfitters. If you plan to bring your own stock, write the chief ranger at the park address for information on saddle and pack animal use regulations. Also read the Backcountry Basics section. Please note that no grazing is permitted in the park; processed feed must be packed in. Saddle and pack animal facilities are available only at String Lake Parking Area, Whitegrass Ranger Station, and the Granite Canyon, Sheffield Creek, Arizona Creek, and Pilgrim Creek trailheads. Many highcountry trails are blocked by snow until mid-July and are impassable to saddle and pack animals. For this reason many horse parties camp on the adjoining national forests and take day-trips into Grand Teton National Park.

Mountaineering

This is one of the country’s finest areas for general mountaineering. The rock is mostly excellent, snow slopes mostly moderate, and the range unusually accessible. Still, many climbers pack in and set up their camps in a highcountry location. Mountaineering guide service and instruction are available at Jenny Lake. Write to: Exum Guide Service and School of American Mountaineering, Box 56, Moose, WY 83012. Jackson Hole Mountain Guides also offers guide services in the park; write to Box 7477, Jackson, WY 83001. Climbing guidebooks and individual route guides are available by mail from the Grand Teton Natural History Association address or can be purchased at park visitor centers and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.

The Jenny Lake Ranger Station (see map) is the center for climbing information and registration in the park from early June to mid-September. Climbing conditions are the best from mid-July through late September, although afternoon thundershowers are common in these months and an extended period of poor weather with snowfall usually occurs in late August. May and June feature long periods of poor weather with heavy precipitation, some snow, and subfreezing temperatures. Heavy rockfall and some avalanche activity are common. Major storms occur in late September and early October with snowfall and icing conditions on most routes. Winter weather in the Teton Range is severe: heavy snowfall, high winds, and extreme temperatures. Avalanche danger, usually present, is frequently high December to June.

Registration and Information.

Because of the hazards and possibility of accidents in mountaineering, the National Park Service requires all climbers to register in person before climbing and to sign out in person after climbing. From early June to mid-September this is done at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. It must be done at Moose Visitor Center the rest of the year. Notes left at the ranger station are not acceptable registration or sign-outs. (Climbers returning after the ranger station is closed may sign out at the Late-Returning Climbers Registration Box on the ranger station porch.) Registration is regulated under the Federal Code of Regulations. The mountaineering rangers on duty provide current information on the nature and condition of climbing routes, equipment and experience requirements, and time factors. Request general mountaineering information from the chief ranger at the park address.

Guidebooks, maps, and photographs of various peaks and routes are available at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station to help you plan climbs. In winter—mid-September through May—information and registration are available at the Moose Visitor Center. Conventional mountaineering equipment is satisfactory for summer climbs. Ice axes are essential and crampons may be desirable for early season climbs and for some routes throughout the season. Climbing helmets are strongly recommended for technical climbs and for climbs exposed to regular rockfall dangers. Climbing equipment and food suitable for backpacking may be purchased in the area. Limited selections of rental equipment may be available. Low cost lodging for registered climbers is available at Grand Teton Climber’s Ranch, an American Alpine Club-operated concession. Write the manager at Moose, WY 83012.

Boating and Floating

Boat trips are offered by concessioners on Jackson and Jenny lakes. These vary from steak fry cruises to lunch excursions, to drop-off and pick-up cruises for hiking trips up Cascade Canyon. On Jackson Lake concessioners operate Colter Bay Marina, Leek’s Marina, and Signal Mountain Marina. Marinas offer fishing guide service, launching, marine supplies and fuel, buoy rentals, and canoe rentals. Teton Boating Company provides cruises, shuttle service, and boat rental on Jenny Lake. Canoe rentals for lake use only are available from Moose Enterprises at the grocery store in Moose.

Floating.

One of the best ways to experience the park’s wildlife and scenery is by floating the Snake River. Numerous concessioners offer guided float trips in inflatable rubber rafts. Outfitters are listed in _Teewinot_, or write to the park address for a complete list. (Please don’t ask National Park Service employees to recommend one over another.) On a float trip you don’t have to watch the trail or mind the horse. You just watch the animals and scenery and listen to the guide’s narrative, wildlife identifications, and local lore. The Teton Range appears to slide by, now peeking above a massive river-cut glacial moraine, now peeking through trees, now disappearing from view. Morning and evening floats are best for seeing wildlife. You may well see bald eagles, ospreys, moose, great blue herons, Canada Geese, beaver, otters, and various ducks. You can float the river in your own craft, but a permit is required. The river is floated in the park from 1,000 feet below Jackson Lake Dam to Moose, a distance of about 25 miles. Do not attempt the river on your own below Pacific Creek (see map) unless you are familiar with your craft—kayaks, inflatables, and canoes are best—and experienced on rivers of similar difficulty and similar hazards. People too often underestimate the power of the Snake. Write the park address for information about hazards, regulations, equipment, and travel times in floating the Snake River in the park. Motorized craft are not permitted on the Snake River.

Fishing

Fishing is regulated in keeping with the park’s overall management objective of maintaining natural systems and scenic values. Most park waters are open in season, subject to Wyoming laws and National Park Service regulations. These regulations are intended to maintain quality waters, protect natural fish populations, and protect the food sources of bald eagles, ospreys, otters, great blue herons, and other native fish-eating wildlife. A Wyoming fishing license is required and may be purchased in the park at the Colter Bay or Moose Tackle Shops, at Signal Mountain, and at Leek’s Marina. Information on fishing laws and on special regulations, including bait restrictions, closed waters, artificial fly fishing waters, and creel limits is available at the visitor centers. You must check on this information before you fish. Fishing guides are available at the lodges.

The park’s waters support one of the last wild inland populations of cutthroat trout. The Snake River cutthroat, a unique race of the cutthroat species, is the only trout native to the park. (See pages 56-57.) The National Park Service encourages you to release small cutthroat carefully so that the opportunity to catch this unusual fish is perpetuated. Other gamefish include rainbow, lake (Mackinaw), brown, and brook trout and the Rocky Mountain whitefish.

The use or possession of fish eggs—real or artificial—or fish as bait in any park waters are prohibited. (Some dead non-game fish are permitted on the shores of Jackson Lake only.) Get specifics at a visitor center or write the chief ranger at the park address for fishing regulations and information.

Winter Activities

Winter activities gear up in mid-December. Just one good storm can turn Jackson Hole into a winter wonderland covered with up to 6 feet of snow in some years. In or near the park you can then crosscountry ski, ice fish, snowshoe, mountaineer, ice skate, snow-mobile, and observe wildlife and scenery. Minor park roads are not plowed in winter. The Teton Park Road (see map) is closed from Cottonwood Creek bridge to Signal Mountain Lodge. There is no direct car access between Moose and Teton Village. Yellowstone National Park roads are not plowed in winter.

Registration and information on oversnow travel are available at the Moose Visitor Center. Off-season camping is available at Colter Bay across from the visitor center, which provides restrooms and water. Lodging is available in winter at Flagg Ranch in Rockefeller Parkway and at Triangle X Ranch in the park. Nearby Jackson offers full tourist services year round. Write the chamber of commerce address for information.

But you must prepare for the weather. An average 4-foot base of snow in the valley is much deeper in the mountains. Daytime temperatures range from -25° to +50°F. Severe winter storms and blizzards can occur throughout the season. All oversnow travel is prohibited in the Snake River bottom between Moose and Moran as well as in the Willow Flats at Jackson Lake Lodge. Check at the Moose Visitor Center for exact boundaries on these closed areas.

Management Concerns and Safety

Many management concerns and safety tips are given under specific subjects in this handbook. Here are other things to consider. Camp only in designated sites. Obtain a backcountry use permit for all overnight backcountry use, including in winter. Register at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station in summer or park headquarters in winter before starting any off-trail hike or climb. Boat permits are required for the use of any watercraft on park waters. Fishing requires a Wyoming license, and please check park regulations at a visitor center. Obtain an oversnow vehicle permit at Moose Visitor Center and check the regulations before operating a snow-mobile or snowplane in the park. Bicycles are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry. Pets must be leashed and under physical restraint at all times. They are not permitted on trails, in buildings, or in the backcountry. Kennels are found in Jackson; check with the chamber of commerce. All natural features are protected; leave all rocks and plants in their natural setting. All park animals, including bears, are wild and protected by law. Do not feed or molest them. Please read the Bear Warning under Backcountry Basics.

Driving Tips.

Drive carefully and defensively, especially at dawn, dusk, and at night. Every season large animals are killed and vehicles are mangled. Slow down, and ask passengers to help spot animals in the road. When stopping to view wildlife, stop in turnouts, be careful to stop your vehicle in the safest position possible, with all doors shut. Consider traffic flow problems and their potential hazard. Be a responsible driver. Keep motor vehicles off bikeways. Report all accidents to a park ranger. Observe posted speed limits.

Respect Wildlife.

Keep a respectful distance from all animals to avoid disturbing their natural routine, especially when taking pictures. Larger animals are quick, powerful, and unpredictable. Getting too close can result in serious injury. Take special care to avoid encounters with bears and to help maintain their natural fear of humans. Many small mammals can carry diseases and should never be touched or handled. All animals are part of the natural processes protected within the park. Allow them to find their own food. Their natural diet insures their health and survival. _Feeding wild animals is prohibited no matter how convincingly they beg._

Fire Management.

The park is zoned for the management of natural fire. In some parts of the park lightning-caused fires are monitored and allowed to burn, because we have learned that natural fire often plays a vital role in an ecosystem. Some plant species require fire to thrive, and several animal species benefit from fire. Natural fires that threaten developed areas will be extinguished to protect human life and property. Report fires to a park ranger. Human-caused fires will be extinguished. Please be careful with fire yourself.

Nearby Attractions

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway joins Grand Teton National Park with Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is world famous as the first national park. Its geysers and mudpots, canyons and waterfalls, and wildlife and wilderness are spectacular. For information write or call the Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. (307) 344-7381.

Teton National Forest, Teton Wilderness, and Targhee National Forest adjoin the park boundary. For information about hunting, fishing, backpacking, and campgrounds write or call the Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Box 1888, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-2752, or Forest Supervisor, Targhee National Forest, Box 208, St. Anthony, ID 83445, (208) 624-3151.

National Elk Refuge headquarters is just east of Jackson (see map). Christmas through April 1 you can ride a horsedrawn sleigh into North America’s largest elk herd. In summer you can drive on the refuge road into the sagebrush and buttes landscape. For information write or call the Refuge Manager, National Elk Refuge, Box C, Jackson WY 83001, (307) 733-9212.

_The park abuts other expanses of wild country._

Jackson National Fish Hatchery Visitor Center lies across the highway from the southernmost park boundary (see map). This hatchery raises trout. Anglers can go stark raving mad over the seething masses of trout in the hatchery ponds. For information write or call the Hatchery Manager, Jackson National Fish Hatchery, Box 1845, Jackson WY 83001, (307) 733-2510.

Armchair Explorations

The nonprofit Grand Teton Natural History Association, Moose, WY 83012 sells books, maps, and other publications in support of the interpretive and management programs of the national park. These items are displayed at the visitor centers, or can be purchased by mail. Write for a free list. The following selected book list may also be of interest.

Betts, Robert B. _Along the Ramparts of the Tetons: The Saga of Jackson Hole_, Colorado Associated University Press, 1978.

Clark, Tim W. _Ecology of Jackson Hole_, Jackson, Wyo., 1981.

Crandall, Hugh. _Grand Teton: The Story Behind the Scenery_, KC Publications.

Fryxell, Fritiof. _Mountaineering in the Tetons_, The Teton Bookshop, 1978.

Harry, Bryan. _Teton Trails_, Grand Teton Natural History Association, 1961.

Harry, Bryan. _Wildlife of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks_, Wheelwright Press Ltd., 1972.

Hayden, Elizabeth Wied. _From Trapper to Tourist in Jackson Hole_, Grand Teton Natural History Association, 1981.

Love, J.D. et al. _Geologic Block Diagram_, Grand Teton Natural History Association/U.S. Geological Survey, 1973.

Love, J.D. and John C. Reed, Jr. _Creation of the Teton Landscape_, Grand Teton Natural History Association, 1968.

Murie, Olaus J. _Elk of North America_, Teton Bookshop, 1979.

Righter, Robert W. _Crucible for Conservation: The Creation of Grand Teton National Park_, Colorado Associated University Press, 1982.

Saylor David, J. _Jackson Hole Wyoming: In the Shadow of the Tetons_, University of Oklahoma Press, 1971.

Schreier, Carl. _Explorer’s Guide to Grand Teton National Park_, Homestead Publishing, 1982.

Schullery, Paul. _The Bears of Yellowstone_, Yellowstone Library and Museum Association, 1980.

Shaw, Richard J. _Plants of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks_, Utah State University Press, 1976.

Yandell, Michael D. _National Parkways: Grand Teton National Parkways_, Worldwide Research and Publishing Co.

Index

_Numbers in italics refer to photographs, illustrations, or maps._

A Absaroka Mountains 14 Albright, Horace 7 Alpine environment 25-27, _36-37_, 62, 63 Animals 26, 36, _37_, 59-63 Antelope. _See_ Pronghorn Aquatic life 50. _See also_ Fish Aspen _38_, 63

B Beadwork, Indian _77_ Bear 59, _65_, _82_, 83, 92 Beaver 33, 59, _65_ Birds 26, _36_, 50, 62-63, _66-67_, 89 Bobcat 59, _64_ Bridger, Jim 52, 53 Buffalo River 14 Burt, Struthers 7, 20

C Caddisfly 50 Carncross, Horace 7 Carson, Kit 52 Christian Pond 62 Clymer, John 53 Codsiogo _34_ Colter, John 39, 52, 53 Colter Bay 86, 90 Coyote 59, _64_

D Doane, Gustavus 53

E Elk _22-23_, _44-45_, 59, _64_, _93_ Eynon, John L. 7

F Falcon, prairie _36_, 63, _66_ Fishing 33, _89_ Float trips & boating 86-87 Flowers. _See_ Plants Fox, red 59 Fryxell, Fritiof 12, 14, 94 Furtrading 15, 39, 46, 52

G Geology 25-31, 39, 43; _diagram_, _30-31_ Glaciation 14, 25, 27, 30-31, 32-33 Grand Teton _covers_, 27, _28-29_, _35_ Grand Teton National Park 20,43; accommodations 79, 90; activities 76-78; camping 79, 81, 82-83, 90; Colter Bay Visitor Center _76_, 82; fishing 56-57, 86, _89_; founding 7, 12, 15; health & safety 81,83, 92; hiking 78, _80_, 81; horseback riding 83-_84_; Indian Arts Museum 76, 78; Jenny Lake Ranger Station 82, 85, 86; location 72; map, _74-75_; Moose Visitor Center, _76_, 82, 86, _90_; mountain climbing 85-86, _91_; regulations 82-83, 85-86, 87, 89, 92; transportation 72-73; winter sports _90_, _91_; Grand Teton Natural History Association 76, 83, 94 Gros Ventre Mountains 14 Gros Ventre River 14 Grouse, sage 62, 63, 66

H Hayden, Ferdinand V. 53 Hedrick Pond 62 Hells Canyon 49 Hoback Range 14 Hoback River 49

I Indians 44, _52-53_, _54-55_, 59 Insects 26, 50

J Jackson, David 15, 52 Jackson Hole 12, 14-15, 39, 43, 46-47, 49, 52-53 Jackson Hole National Monument 7, 12 Jackson Lake _32-33_, 86 Jackson Lake Dam 49, 50 Jackson National Fish Hatchery Visitor Center 93 Jenny Lake 86 Jones, J.R. 7

L Lakes 14, _32-33_, 53 Langford, Nathaniel 35 Lewis & Clark Expedition 39, 49, 52 Lichen 26-27 Love, John D. 43 Lucas, Geraldine 35 Lynx 59

M Map _51_, _74-75_ Marmot, yellow-bellied _37_, 63, _64_ Menor’s Ferry 47, _78_ Moose _8-9_, 59, _64_ Moran, Mount _24_, 30, 39 Mountain climbing _34_, _35_, 85-86, _91_ Mule deer _58_, 59, _65_ Murie, Margaret (Mardy) E. _15_, _42_ Murie, Olaus J. 15, 20, _42_, 94

N National Elk Refuge 44, 45, 62, _93_ Noble, Maude 7

O Osprey _56_ Owen, Mount 27 Owen, W.O. 35

P Pacific Creek 14 Plants 25-26, _36-37_, 59, _60-61_, _68-69_ Pronghorn 62, 63, _65_

R Rabbit 63, _64_ Raynolds, William F. 53 Rockefeller, John D. 7, 12 Rockefeller, Jr. John D. _42_ Rockefeller, Jr. Parkway, John D. 93

S Settlement 15, 39, 43, 46-47, 52-53 Sheep, bighorn _37_, 59 Sheep Mountain 43 Shoshone Falls 49 Skillet Glacier _24_ Smith, Jedediah 52 Snake River, 14, 29, 33, 39, 49, 86, 89; _illustrations_, _16-17_, _40-41_, _48_, _51_, _70-71_ Snake River Range 14 Stevenson, James 35 Sublette, William 15, 52 Swan, trumpeter _13_, 62

T Targhee National Forest _93_ Timbered Island 43 Teton Glacier 27 Teton National Forest 15, 93 Teton Range _4-5_, _10-11_, 14, _28-31_, 39, 43, 85 Teton River 29 Teton Science School 47 Teton Wilderness 93 Trees _38_, 62-63 Trout, cutthroat _56-57_, 89

W Washakie Mountains 14 Weasel 59, _64_ Weather 90 Winger, Richard 7

Y Yellowstone National Park 76, _93_ Yellowstone Plateau 14

Handbook 122

The National Park Service expresses its appreciation to all those persons who made the preparation and production of this handbook possible. The Service also thanks the Grand Teton Natural History Association for its financial support of this project. All photos and artwork not credited below come from the files of Grand Teton National Park.

Greg Beaumont 13, 30 photo, 36 photos, 58, 60-61, 66-67 yellowthroat, towhee, goose, crane, jay, owl, killdeer, snipe, 68-69 columbine, dandelion, sugarbowl, lily, gentian, flax, geranium, phlox, paintbrush, 64-65 weasel, pika, marmots, mouse Erwin and Peggy Bauer 70-71, 82 top and middle, 87 middle, 88, 93 top P. Billing 15 Bridger-Teton National Forest 93 middle Franz J. Camenzind 56 inset John Clymer 52-53 John Dawson 36-37 paintings Denver Public Library 54 inset Jim Elder 78 campers, 87 bottom Jeff Foott 66-77 goshawk, grouse, eagle, 68-69 orchid, violet, 64-65 elk Jackie Gilmore 44 inset, 64-65 moose, beaver, squirrel High Country Flies 89 Jerry D. Jacka 77 top and bottom Frances Judge 47 inset Stephen J. Krasemann 64-65 bear, hare, bobcat Russell Lamb covers, 4-5, 16-17, 24, 40-41 Wayne Lankinen 64-65 deer David Muench 6, 18-19, 22-23, 32-33, 48 National Elk Refuge 93 bottom National Geographic (David Alan Harvey) 10-11, 44-45 Boyd Norton 34 Leigh Ortenburer 35 diagram Jaime Quintero 28-29 Smithsonian Institution (William H. Jackson) 55 inset Teton County Library 46-47 Triangle X Ranch, 42 top

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S. administration.

Transcriber’s Notes

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

—Compared Table of Contents with actual headings; tweaked two entries to match.

—Relocated all image captions to be immediately under the corresponding images, removing redundant references like ”preceding page”.

—Silently corrected a few palpable typos.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.