Spring Recreation at Grand Teton

While snow continues to periodically fall on the Tetons, Grand Teton National Park has opened the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge to activities such as walking, biking and skating. Visitors are now invited to recreate on approximately 14 miles of the road heading north from the Taggart Lake parking lot to Signal Mountain Lodge. For safety reasons, visitors are reminded to avoid going beyond any barricades marking closures as plowing activities on adjacent roads continue.

Please use caution, as snow and ice may persist on some sections of the road creating slick conditions. Visitors should also be alert for park vehicles and heavy equipment that travel this road as spring opening operations continue.

On nice days in April, the Teton Park Road can be busy with visitors. Use caution as you drive in this area, as children, pedestrians, cyclists, and other users share the section of the road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Cottonwood Picnic Area with vehicles. To avoid riding in traffic with your group, use the 10-minute loading and unloading zone at Cottonwood, located just north of the Taggart parking lot.

Visitors enjoying the Teton Park Road, should consider:

* Entrance fees are required to enter Grand Teton National Park. Fees and passes can be paid at the Moose and Moran entrance stations, or through Recreation.gov. For park fee information, visit go.nps.gov/tetonfees.

* Be watchful and cautious of wildlife, as it is common for animals to use park roads.

* Carry bear spray, have it readily accessible and know how to use it.

* Drivers should slow down and use caution in parking areas.

* Be thoughtful of how music may affect others. Operating an audio device, such as a stereo, Bluetooth speaker, radio, or musical instrument in a manner which is unreasonable and impacts park users is prohibited by law.

* Food and water are not available at the trailhead or along the road.

* Restroom facilities are available at Taggart Lake Trailhead, Cottonwood Picnic Area, and at Signal Mountain Lodge. Portable restrooms are also located along Teton Park Road.

* Leave No Trace and dispose of trash in receptacles located at both ends of the road.

* Dogs are permitted on the Teton Park Road on a leash no longer than six feet. Pet owners are required to clean up after their dogs. Waste disposal bag stations are located at both ends of the road. Bags should be deposited in trash receptacles and not left along the road.

The paved multi-use pathway in the park will open whenever it is predominately free of snow and ice. The pathway is closed from dusk to dawn for wildlife and public safety. Pets are not permitted on the pathway.

For information on park roads, visit go.nps.gov/tetonroads. The Moose-Wilson Road between the Granite Canyon Trailhead parking lot and the turn off to Death Canyon is closed to vehicles until it melts free of snow.

The public is also invited to join park rangers on early-morning tours to observe strutting sage grouse perform their annual mating dance near Mormon Row. Grouse strut programs are a unique opportunity to witness greater sage grouse congregate where the males perform animated mating displays during the spring breeding season. As part of the ritualistic strut, in open areas called “leks,” males use their tail feathers and expandable air sacs under their throats to compete with other males for an optimum position on the lek and to gain the attention of females.

During grouse-strut programs, rangers will provide information about sage grouse and conservation efforts underway for populations that are declining throughout much of the American West. Programs will be offered free of charge, by reservation only, Saturday, April 20, Sunday, April 21, Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Participants will meet at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose at 5:30 a.m. Participants should bring cameras, binoculars, water, warm layers, and comfortable walking shoes. To reserve your spot and for more information, please call 307-739-3399 (Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. MT).

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose will open for the season on May 1. It will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For all other opening and closing dates for facilities and services within the park, please visit go.nps.gov/tetonseasons.

For more tips for enjoying spring in the park, visit go.nps.gov/tetonspring.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Bluebird Lake

Bluebird Lake in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my all-time favorite hikes. The hike offers several attractions along the way, including Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, Ouzel Falls and Ouzel Lake. Bluebird Lake, however, is definitely the star attraction:

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Critical winter range reminder and spring conditions on the forest

The Bridger-Teton National Forest reminds visitors that winter wildlife restrictions remain in effect until May 1, 2024. It is important that all forest users understand the importance of observing critical winter range closures. Winter travel maps are available on the forest’s Maps and Publications webpage. These areas have been designated as essential to the survival of wildlife. When visitors access closed winter range, they cause animals using the area to become stressed or flee to new locations. This causes animals, especially ungulates like deer, elk and moose to use energy they cannot spare at this critical time of year. It can also place these animals in less suitable areas for grazing and/or browsing, preventing them from gathering the food sources necessary for their survival. This leads to a weakened condition, which can have a direct effect on the animals’ ability to defend themselves, making them more susceptible to predation and disease, and can lead to future reproduction problems in individual animals.

Spring is also an important time to be aware of hazards that come with the changing season. The forest reminds visitors to exercise caution as snow melts, temperatures rise and precipitation increases during the spring thaw, creating potential for muddy conditions and flooding in low-lying areas. Conditions across the forest are varied this time of year, and visitors should call or visit their local Ranger District Office for the latest updates before heading out for any spring activity. Be sure to let someone know where you are headed and remember that creeks or roads frozen in the morning may become soft and impassable as temperatures rise throughout the day.

Forest users are encouraged to recreate responsibly this spring. Recreating with our four-legged members of our families can be great fun but comes with certain responsibilities. Be aware that many popular trailheads on the Jackson District have leash requirements, and even outside these areas it is imperative that visitors maintain control of their animals through a leash or voice command. This is essential to minimizing impacts on wildlife and improves the experience of other forest users. Bears will soon be coming out of hibernation throughout the area, so be prepared with bear spray and follow food storage orders where applicable on the northern and eastern parts of the forest. All forest users are also encouraged to practice Leave No Trace Principles by having a plan for all waste, as there are limited to no garbage services on the forest and many restrooms are closed or inaccessible due to current conditions.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Ptarmigan Tunnel in 1932

Below are two photos from the historic Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park. The 240-foot tunnel was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1930 so that hikers, horses and early guided park tours could pass between the Belly River and Many Glacier valleys. The tunnel was bored near the top of the arete that divides the two valleys, at an elevation of roughly 7255 feet.

Using two opposing steel jackhammers drilling from either side of the arete, and a series of dynamite charges, workers broke through the mountain in less than three months. The blasted rock was used to build doorway entrances, also known as adits, on either end of the tunnel, as well as retaining walls alongside the trail. In 1975 the National Park Service added steel doors to both ends of the tunnel, which now remain closed between October 1st and the opening of the trail, usually around the middle of July.

From Ptarmigan Tunnel's south entrance hikers will enjoy stunning views of Mt. Wilbur, Ptarmigan Lake and the glacially sculpted, U-shaped valley between the Ptarmigan Wall and Crowfeet Mountain. From the north entance you'll enjoy commanding views of Natoas Peak, Crosley Ridge, Old Sun Glacier on the slopes of Mt. Merritt, and the Belly River as it flows into Elizabeth Lake.

These photos were taken by George Grant in 1932, a year after the tunnel officially opened. The horseback party is looking towards the south in both photos:

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Take "Exploring Glacier National Park" with you on the trail

Are you planning to visit Glacier National Park this summer - or anytime down the road? I wanted to take a brief moment to remind you about the eBook we've published (and recently updated), which provides hikers with access to detailed trail information while hiking in the park.

Exploring Glacier National Park is the mobile version of HikinginGlacier.com, the most comprehensive website on the internet for hiking trail information in Glacier National Park. This book was published to provide readers with convenient access to the information contained on HikinginGlacier.com while in the park, or on the trail, where internet access is most likely unavailable. Additionally, the format of this book will provide a much better experience for smartphone users.

Exploring Glacier National Park covers 68 hikes. Like the website, the book includes driving directions to each trailhead, detailed trail descriptions, key features along the route, difficulty ratings, photographs, maps and elevation profiles, which provide readers with a visual representation of the change in elevation they’ll encounter on each hike. Some hikes will also include historical tidbits related to the trail. Whether you're looking for an easy stroll in the park, or an epic hike deep into Glacier's backcountry, this book provides all the tools you'll need to make your hiking trip as enjoyable as possible.

As with our three websites, this book also contains several directories that will help you choose the best hikes suited to your preferences and abilities. This includes hikes listed by location within the park, hikes listed by key trail feature, and hikes sorted by difficulty rating. I’ve also included lists of our top 10 hikes, the best easy hikes, the top fall hikes, and the top early season hikes.

The guide is available on Amazon.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Coyote Valley Trail

The Coyote Valley Trail is another great introductory hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located roughly 5.5 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance on the west side of the park, the trail explores the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley, and offers hikers a great chance of spotting a wide variety of wildlife, including elk, moose, deer, coyotes, beaver, golden eagles, ospreys, kingfishers and maybe even river otter near the Colorado River.

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The epic one-way hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead

As a result of Rocky Mountain National Park's excellent shuttle system, hikers have the option of taking the epic one-way hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead in the Moraine Park area. Along the way you'll visit four magnificent lakes, a 60-foot waterfall, plus you'll make the descent into the spectacular Odessa Gorge. Here's a photo of Lake Helene, one of the lakes you'll visit on this hike:

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park increases protection for bears and visitor safety by implementing changes to two bear management areas

To protect bears and increase visitor safety, Yellowstone National Park will create a new bear management area (BMA) in Hayden Valley, which will prohibit off-trail travel July 15-Sept. 15. The park also decommissioned an existing BMA in the Firehole River area.

Yellowstone is implementing a new 16,453-acre Hayden Valley BMA, located on the west side of the Grand Loop Road in Hayden Valley in the central part of the park. In this BMA, Mary Mountain Trail will remain open for recreational travel; however, off-trail travel will not be allowed from July 15-Sept. 15 each year.

Hayden Valley provides prime habitat for grizzly bears, especially during the summer when high concentrations of bears can be found scavenging on bison carcasses. Park biologists observed as many as 23 individual grizzly bears on a single bison carcass. Since 1970, eight of the last 10 grizzly bear-inflicted human injuries (bites to fatalities) in Hayden Valley occurred in the area that will be the Hayden Valley BMA.

To provide recreational opportunities, Yellowstone decommissioned the 20,670-acre Firehole BMA, located in the west side of the park, due to fewer ungulate carcasses and wildlife conflicts occurring in this area. By decommissioning the Firehole BMA, the public will have access to Midway Geyser Basin Overlook, Fairy Falls, and Mystic Falls trails, which were previously closed to all recreational access between March 10 and the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.

Yellowstone wildlife biologists establish BMA’s in locations where grizzly bears are known to seasonally concentrate because of a high density of elk and bison carcasses. In these areas, certain recreational activities may be limited at specific times of year to reduce encounters between bears and humans. Learn more about BMA’s at Bear Management.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Lawn Lake Flood

In 1903 a 26-foot high earthen dam was built at Lawn Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to enhance the natural lake from 16.4 acres to 48 acres. This was done to help with crop irrigation in the Loveland area. Nearly 80 years later, on July 15, 1982, the dam catastrophically failed, which released more than 300 million gallons of water down the Roaring River valley. Some witnesses claim the failure created a wall of water 25 to 30 feet high! As the water ripped through the landscape it created the Alluvial Fan near the confluence with Fall River in Horseshoe Park. After killing three campers the water rushed down Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park (see photos below) before stopping at Lake Estes. In all, damages to the area totaled roughly $31 million. Even today sections of the Roaring River's high gully walls remain unstable and prone to sudden collapse. The dam failure led to the removal of three other man-made dams within the park, including Pear Lake, Sandbeach Lake and Bluebird Lake.

Evidence of some of the destruction from the infamous Lawn Lake Flood are still on display along the Lawn Lake Trail, but the lake itself appears to have fully recovered. In my opinion, Lawn Lake is one of the more scenic lakes in the park.

Photos courtesy of the Denver and Coloradoan Libraries.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Grand Teton National Park Foundation announces Mormon Row preservation project matching donation

The Grand Teton National Park Foundation recently announced that a donor will match all donations up to $300,000 for the Mormon Row preservation project. In a recent email, the Foundation stated:

As we near the conclusion of a multiyear campaign to renew the Mormon Row Historic District, we are excited to announce that a long-time friend of the park, John L. Nau, III, is offering a challenge grant to help us reach our goal:

Every dollar given to preserve Mormon Row will be matched up to $300,000.

This the largest cultural preservation project in Grand Teton's history. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help us ensure that the park's most popular historic district continues to inspire visitors for generations to come!

As noted, this is a multiyear campaign. In 2024, the GTNPF will be restoring the Roy Chambers Homestead:

What's Next in 2024
The next phase of work for our Renewing Mormon Row initiative is to continue restoring the Roy Chambers Homestead with the rehabilitation of the buildings and the installation of modern utilities. Once complete, the structures will be ready to house additional seasonal park staff.

Visitor experience improvement planning is moving forward this year with design development. This process will lay out plans for new, accessible pathways connecting the historic homesteads and inviting visitors to explore each site. The plan will also focus on the district's rich history through much-improved wayfinding and interpretive media.

For more information, and to donate, please click here.

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Lion Lake No. 1

For whatever reason, I never took the chance to hike to Lion Lake No. 1 until just a few years ago. Wow! What was I waiting for? The rugged subalpine landscape that surrounds this lake offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Rocky Mountain National Park, while also arguably making it the most scenic lake in Wild Basin:

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Pierce Brosnan fined for foot travel in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park

Pierce Brosnan, 70, of Malibu, California, was fined $500, and required to pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee, and a $10 special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 14, in Mammoth, Wyoming.

Mr. Brosnan pleaded guilty to foot travel in a thermal area. According to court documents, on or about Nov. 1, 2023, Brosnan uploaded pictures to his Instagram page of himself standing on a Yellowstone National Park thermal feature at Mammoth Hot Springs. There are signs posted in the area that warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails.

The United States Attorney’s Office asked the court to sentence Brosnan to 2 years’ probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.

The National Park Service (NPS) reminds Yellowstone visitors that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and scalding water is just below the surface. Therefore, trespassing on thermal features is dangerous and can harm delicate natural resources within the park. Additionally, the park was established primarily to protect these hydrothermal areas. NPS encourages visitors to exercise extreme caution around thermal features by staying on boardwalks and trails.

NPS also urges people to protect themselves and the fragile environment by taking the Yellowstone Pledge: act responsibly and safely and set a good example for others. If you see someone, in person or online, whose behavior might hurt them, others, or the park, tell a ranger. If you’re in the park, dial 911.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

USDA invests nearly $66M to improve roads, trails, and water quality

Earlier this week the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced nearly $66 million to improve water quality, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitat on national forests and grasslands nationwide.

With more than 160,000 miles of trails, 7,200 trail bridges, 6,700 road bridges, and 370,000 miles of roads in national forests, this investment will support urgently needed maintenance and repairs on roads and trails, including road decommissioning, and removal of barriers to fish passage, increasing resiliency on our forest lands across the country.

National forests are also home to more than 400,000 miles of streams and 3 million acres of lakes. Approximately 80 million people rely on clean drinking water sources that originate on national forests and grasslands. These investments will protect infrastructure and support healthy watersheds in national forests so that they can continue to provide clean drinking water to the people and communities that depend on them.

Of the total funding, $37.5 million will be invested in the Legacy Roads and Trails Program, which improves water quality, restores habitat for threatened and endangered fish or wildlife, and maintains access for visitors, businesses and wildland firefighters on national forests and grasslands.

$28.1 million will be invested through the Collaborative Aquatic Restoration Program to support a second round of projects to improve water quality, prevent the spread of E. coli, restore fish passage for threatened, endangered, and other aquatic species, increase landscape resiliency, and eliminate high sediment loads in drinking water systems.

For a complete list of projects being funding in fiscal year 2024, visit Legacy Roads and Trails and Collaborative Aquatic Landscape Restoration.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

National Park Foundation and National Park Service Announce $40 Million Gift to Meet Urgent Need for Employee Housing at Yellowstone National Park

The National Park Foundation (NPF) and National Park Service (NPS) today announced a $40 million gift to expand and improve NPS employee housing at Yellowstone, America’s first national park. The new investment made possible by donors who wish to remain anonymous will fund more than 70 new modular units to address the critical shortage of employee housing at the park.

Affordable housing for employees in and near national parks is increasingly scarce and expensive, reflecting a trend impacting communities across the country, forcing park employees to commute long distances between work and home and making it difficult for NPS to recruit and retain employees.

National parks across the country are grappling with the challenge of providing quality housing for the people who care for parks.

National park employees include rangers, resource specialists, maintenance staff, and many other employees that make parks amazing places to visit, all dedicated to protecting parks and providing world class visitor experience to an increasing number of park visitors – 325.5 million last year alone. The care of America’s national parks and the quality of visitor experience depend on recruiting and retaining talented and devoted NPS employees and on the availability of affordable housing.

The need is not isolated to Yellowstone.

NPS employs 20,000 people who support operations at 429 parks located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. In all, there are more than 5,600 housing facilities in over 200 parks, ranging from 100-year-old cabins to modern dormitories and duplexes in urban and rural communities as well as remote areas. More than 15,600 people rely on these homes, including 2,800 permanent and 5,000 seasonal employees, as well as volunteers, and employees of concessionaires and park partner organizations.

The current shortage of employee housing is the result of a combination of factors, including rising property values in communities surrounding parks and increasing demand for vacation rentals near national parks. The NPS invests tens of millions annually to address housing operation, maintenance, repair, and construction, and to offset leased housing in nearby communities when in-park housing is not available. The $40 million donation is significant because it will allow Yellowstone National Park to construct entirely new housing.

A National Park Foundation assessment of NPS housing needs at three national parks, Acadia, Yosemite, and Grand Teton, found that in total, those parks require more than $115 million in funding to add over 200 new employee housing units.

Private philanthropy is well-positioned to accelerate the pace of change across the National Park System. The $40 million gift will bridge the funding gap at Yellowstone National Park to meet the current need for employees housing in the park and provide a funding model to accelerate construction of employee housing at national parks across the country.

Work on the new units in Yellowstone National Park is set to begin later this year.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Park Saddle Tour at Dawson Pass

Sitting along the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7598 feet, Dawson Pass forms the saddle between 8538-foot Mt. Helen towards the south, and 9225-foot Flinsch Peak to the north. The pass is named for Thomas Dawson, the son of Andrew Dawson, who was an official for the American Fur Company at Fort Benton. His mother was a Blackfoot Indian. Dawson's Blackfoot name was Little Chief, or Inuxina. The pass, therefore, is called Inuxina ozitamisohpi in the Blackfeet language. Dawson also acted as a guide during the early days of Glacier National Park.

If you've ever had the chance to dine at Serrano's Mexican Restaurant in East Glacier Park, you actually stepped foot in Tom Dawson's home. Built in 1909, the converted building is now the oldest house in East Glacier Park.

From its inception as a national park, Dawson Pass has been a popular destination in the Two Medicine area. This photo was taken from the pass in the 1930s, and is likely a group from a Park Saddle Horse tour:

The photo below is also likely that of a Park Saddle Horse tour near Dawson Pass from the 1920s or 30s:

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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Yellowstone National Park visitation in 2023 was the second busiest on record

On Feb. 22, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022.

Yellowstone National Park hosted 4,501,382 recreation visits in 2023, up 37% over 2022 (3,290,242 recreation visits). Lower visitation numbers in 2022 were likely due to an historic flood event that closed the park from June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22 and two remained closed until October.

In 2023, visitation was the second busiest on record. The busiest year was 2021 with 4,860,242 recreational visits. More than half of these visits for both years occurred in June, July and August. Visitors looking to travel to Yellowstone in the summer must plan a visit well in advance.

Visitation figures and trends guide how the NPS manages parks to ensure the best experience possible for park visitors. The Visitation Statistics Dashboard provides recreational visit statistics for every park in the US for 2023 and also for previous years, dating back to 1979 for some parks. There are 429 parks in the National Park System, and 400 parks counted visitors in 2023. For the first time, there are now parks reporting their visitation numbers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four US territories. Five national parks began reporting in 2023, and this is the first year a park from Delaware is included.

Though not nearly as comprehensive as we do for Grand Teton National Park, TetonHikingTrails.com does cover several hikes in Yellowstone National Park.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The "CCY Route"

For those willing to take on the challenge, climbing the trifecta of 12,454-foot Mt. Chapin, 13,069-foot Mt. Chiquita and 13,514-foot Ypsilon Mountain is likely to be the highlight of anyone's trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. The amazing panoramic views from the three peaks along the "CCY Route" are some of the best in the park.

Here's a view of the three mountains from Trail Ridge Road:

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Bear Lake Lodge

Below is a photo of the old Bear Lake Lodge along the eastern shore of Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. The first building on this property was constructed in 1915. After additional cabins were added in subsequent years, the resort was able to accommodate up to 75 guests per day during its heyday.

In 1919, Roger Toll, then Superintendent of Rocky Mountain, published Mountaineering in the Rocky Mountain National Park. In the book he noted that accommodations at the lodge cost $20.00 per week. Apparently inflation was kept to a minimum in the years that followed (especially during the Great Depression). A park pamphlet from 1937 stated:

"Bear Lake Lodge, located on Bear Lake, offers cabin accommodations, ranging in price from $2.50 to $3.50 a day and $15 to $20 a week. Meals: Breakfast, a la carte; luncheon, 65 cents to $1; dinner, $1 to $1.50."

The lodge remained in business until 1958; however, within two years, the National Park Service had razed all of the buildings on the property. They eventually restored portions of the area back to its natural state, and converted another portion into the current parking area.

Today, the landscape around Bear Lake looks much different when compared to the early 1900s. In addition to the commercial development around the lake, this area was also badly burned during the "Big Fire" of 1900, which was started by picnickers. According to the park website, the fire "raged for two months". Most visitors who hike around Bear Lake today are likely unaware of the rich history that took place here during the first half of the 20th Century.

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world:

325.5 million visits to national parks in 2023, 3.4 million visits at Grand Teton

The National Park Service recently announced that 400 national park units reported a total of 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022.

Grand Teton National Park hosted 3,417,106 recreation visits in 2023, a 22% increase from 2022. In recent years, Grand Teton has experienced changing visitation trends. Recreation visits in 2023 are most similar to the number of visits in 2019. While 2019 and 2023 had similar overall numbers in visitation, how that visitation occurred throughout the year was different. In 2019, Grand Teton had higher levels of visitation in the summer, with peak months being June, July, and August; while in 2023 the peak months shifted later in the year to July, August, and September (see graph below).

As part of ongoing monitoring in the park, data was collected from eight trail counters at key summer destinations, which cumulatively showed an estimated 34% increase in trail use over the last 10 years. This increase indicates a higher proportion of visitors using the park’s trail system. Learn more about visitation statistics in Grand Teton and other National Park Service sites at irma.nps.gov/STATS/.

The National Park Service continues to learn more about visitors and visitation at Grand Teton. A Socioeconomic Research Study of Grand Teton National Park was conducted to help develop a better understanding of who visits Grand Teton and what they do during their visit. Results from the study indicate that Grand Teton welcomed visitors from nearly all 50 states during the summer sampling period, with only 5% of visitors being permanent residents of the local area. Respondents reported the most important reasons for their visit to Grand Teton as viewing wildlife and natural scenery (52%) and spending time with family and friends (26%). Nearly all respondents reported viewing scenery, natural features, etc., (98%) as an activity they participated in during their visit, while a majority reported viewing wildlife (87%), driving for pleasure and hiking (66%). Learn more about the study and visitor use and experience in Grand Teton at go.nps.gov/TetonVUE.

In addition to the study, park staff also conducted broader civic engagement to ask the general public for their input on how they visit the park and what their experiences have been. The park received 446 comments from 45 different states and 4 different countries. Important experiences in the park were varied, from recreation to nature experiences. Some important experiences mentioned many times by commenters were similar to what respondents of the socioeconomic study reported and included: wildlife viewing, hiking, the peace and quiet of the park, scenic views including the mountain range itself, and solitude. When prompted about any challenging parts of visiting Grand Teton, some points mentioned by commentors included: finding lodging that is not too expensive, the park was too crowded, long lines at entrance stations, and not enough parking at trailheads and in the park in general. Park staff will reach out to the public again this summer regarding desired future conditions for visitor use and experience at the park.

Visitors planning to experience the stunning beauty of Grand Teton National Park in 2024 are encouraged to make a #GrandPlan and learn how to plan like a park ranger by visiting our list of the top 10 tips you should know before visiting the park at go.nps.gov/TetonTop10. Plan ahead, recreate responsibly, help preserve this landscape for generations to come, and become a steward for this iconic place.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park