Bridger-Teton National Forest Road Updates for May 1st

The Bridger-Teton National Forest’s Jackson District announced updates on conditions visitors should expect to find on roads and trails as wildlife winter range areas open on the Forest May 1, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. The lower elevations are snow-free, and hillsides are beginning to show hints of green, however lingering snow remains on some roads.

Road access: Beginning May 1, 2025, at 6:00 a.m., the gate at Atherton Creek will open, giving people access to the Gros Ventre drainage up to Slate Creek. In the Flat Creek drainage, people will be able to park either at the Sheep Mountain trailhead or at the Forest kiosk trailhead. In Curtis Canyon, visitors will be able to drive to the overlook. In the Hoback area, the Poison Creek gate will open at 6:00 a.m. Non-motorized use is permitted on these roads beyond the closures. Other National Forest roads on the Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts remain closed due to persisting snow including Fall Creek, Shadow Mountain, Ditch Creek, and Toppings Lake roads. The upper portions of the Granite Creek Road remain snow covered, but the lower road will open in time for the weekend, giving partial motorized access to the drainage.

Safety: North-facing and shaded slopes still hold snow, so be prepared with snowshoes if you plan to explore these areas. Trying to post-hole through soft snow will quickly result in exhaustion and potential injury. Grizzly bears have emerged in Jackson Hole, so carry and know how to use bear spray. All coolers, food, and garbage must be stored within a hard-sided vehicle. For folks exploring hillsides and canyons off-trail, be aware to give any wildlife plenty of space - a minimum of 100 yards away from bears and 25 yards from all ungulates such as bighorn sheep, moose, and elk. Keep dogs near you and in voice control to protect both you and your pet.

Law enforcement personnel are actively patrolling areas and Forest Service personnel will be checking road conditions regularly. Jackson District Ranger Todd Stiles said people can help out by reporting conditions they encounter while recreating on the Forest.

Free travel maps are available at the Forest Supervisor’s Office or the Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, both located on N. Cache in Jackson, Wyoming. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Bridger-Teton National Forest at 307-739-5400 or by visiting the Bridger-Teton National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/r04/bridger-teton.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Agencies Call Upon the Public to Help Keep Bears Wild and People Safe on Togwotee Pass

In recent weeks, significant bear jams and poor wildlife viewing ethics have been observed along Togwotee Pass. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and U.S. Forest Service staff are patrolling the area daily to minimize traffic jams and prioritize public safety. As a reminder: stopping, parking, or standing on or along the road is illegal and poses significant risks to other motorists and grizzly bears, whose behavior can be unpredictable, particularly with offspring. Bear Wise Jackson Hole, which includes Bridger-Teton National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, Teton County, and the Town of Jackson, asks that everyone be responsible stewards of wildlife. Please do not contribute to roadside bears becoming exceedingly habituated to human presence. This could result in a bear being needlessly injured or killed, as many other bears have. A photograph is not worth risking a human's or a bear's life.

Keep yourself and bears safe and adhere to ethical wildlife viewing and photography practices:

* Never approach bears. Stay in your vehicle and always maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other wildlife.
* Do not stop your vehicle in the Togwotee Pass area, unless in designated, paved pull outs. This supports ongoing safety efforts.
* Do not feed or make food accessible to wildlife.
* Respect all signs, laws, and regulations – including no stopping, standing, or parking on or along the highway per Wyoming Title 31 (31-5-504(a)/(i)/(J), 31-5-102(a)(vii), 31-1-101(a)(viii), and 31-5-102(a)(xl)).
* Cooperate and follow direction from law enforcement and wildlife officials.
* Slow down and be vigilant while driving. Wildlife have been killed along Togwotee Pass due to collisions with vehicles.

“Traffic jams along Togwotee Pass can cause significant public safety issues,” said Blackrock District Ranger Jason Wilmot. “Bear Wise Jackson Hole and our interagency partners are calling upon the public, photographers, and wildlife tour groups to lead by example. Please follow direction of staff in the area; never stop your vehicle in or along the road, except in designated, paved areas; and observe all ethical wildlife viewing and photography practices to help us keep bears wild and people safe.”

While partner agencies acknowledge the awe of seeing a grizzly bear, adhering to ethical wildlife viewing and photography guidelines while obeying traffic laws is crucial to maintain the wildness of bears and ensure human safety. Approaching, encircling, or blocking a bear's path impedes its ability to move freely across the landscape and creates opportunities for dangerous conflicts. These behaviors also overly habituate bears to human presence and road traffic, further escalating the risk of a vehicle strike, a human-bear conflict, and a dangerous encounter.

Wildlife managers have invested significant time and resources to prevent conflicts and keep bears away from roadside habitats. Prior efforts have included intensive hazing, using trained Karelian bear dogs, various forms of signage, and staff monitoring the highway from dawn to dusk. Managing people stopping in the Togwotee Pass area remains a significant challenge for wildlife managers and law enforcement agencies. Continued unethical viewing practices or conflicts may require further management actions.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Antlers in and around Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park posted this on their social media today - FYI:

🦌 Elk and other ungulates are currently shedding their antlers in and around Grand Teton. While it might be tempting to snag a shed as a souvenir, it’s important to remember:

👉 It’s illegal to take, collect, retrieve, possess, or transport any natural product, including shed antlers, from Grand Teton National Park at any time of year. Why the rule?

Those fallen antlers aren’t just cool finds for people; they’re a valuable resource for the ecosystem. Animals like rodents, porcupines, and other small mammals rely on shed antlers as a natural source of calcium, minerals, and nutrients, especially during the long, harsh winters. Leaving antlers where they fall helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem and supports the health of wildlife populations.

Interested in shed hunting?
There are designated public lands outside the park where shed hunting is permitted under specific rules and regulations. To learn about legal areas, opening dates, and important restrictions, check the Wyoming Game & Fish website.

Respect the land. Respect the wildlife. Know before you go. 🦌🏔️

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Recreational Trails Program seeks public comment on 2025 conditional awards

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks seeks public comments on recommended Recreational Trails Program (RTP) awards for the current 2025 grant cycle. Public comment on the recommended awards is open through April 30.

FWP administers RTP, a federally funded program that provides funding for trail and trail-related projects across the state. Eligible projects include development and rehabilitation work on urban, rural, and backcountry trails; planning and construction of community trails; snowmobile and cross-country ski trail maintenance and grooming operations; and a variety of trail stewardship and safety education programs.

This year, FWP received 38 RTP applications requesting over $2.5 million. The conditional awards total $1,520,210.46.

A complete list of recommended awards is available online at: fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/grant-programs/recreational-trails, under “2025 Proposed Awards & Public Comment.”

Public comments must be received by 5 p.m. on April 30. Emailed comments can be sent to FWPFACB@mt.gov; written comments can be sent to Stephanie Clemen, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Select Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads open to public April 18

Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2025, select entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the summer season, weather permitting, as part of the annual spring opening.

Entrances Open on April 18:

North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana)
West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana)

From either entrance, visitors may access the following destinations:

Mammoth Hot Springs
Lamar Valley
Norris Geyser Basin
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Old Faithful
Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana

Additional roads within the park will open throughout May, weather permitting. Specific routes and directions can be found at Park Roads.

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

A Town on the Edge

The small community of West Glacier has recently launched a website that highlights the rich history of the area. Called, “A Town on the Edge: The past, present, and future of West Glacier,” this new website brings this local history to life. To explore the Story Map, please click here.



                *******************************************************************************

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:

Spring recreation begins at Grand Teton National Park

It’s officially spring at Grand Teton National Park! The 14-mile section of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge is cleared of snow and now open to walking, running, biking and skating.

On nice days in April, the Teton Park Road can be busy. 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.

Spring opening operations and plowing are ongoing throughout the park. Visitors should be alert for park vehicles and heavy equipment on all park roads, including the Teton Park Road. Respect any road or wildlife closures marked by signs or barricades and use caution, as snow and ice may persist on some road sections. Please stay at least 100 feet away from snow removal operations so operators can see approaching pedestrians or cyclists.

The Teton Park Road will open to vehicles on Thursday, May 1, weather depending. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose will also open for the season on May 1. It will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The paved multi-use pathway will open when it is mostly free of snow and ice. Other roads, facilities, and services will open later in the spring and early summer.

The NPS reminds visitors that antler collection is prohibited in all areas of Grand Teton National Park. Legal antler collection takes place on public lands outside the national park. Use of a mapping app can help ensure you are outside the park’s boundaries.

Here are more tips and reminders to help visitors prepare for spring at Grand Teton National Park:

* Check for road information and weather conditions before you visit. Temporary road and wildlife closures may affect where you can go in the park. Spring weather is unpredictable and can change within hours from sunny and warm to stormy and cold.

* Entrance fees are required to enter the park. Fees and passes can be paid at the Moose and Moran entrance stations, or at Recreation.gov.

* Be watchful and cautious of wildlife on park roads. This is an important time of year for ungulate migrations. Animals like bison and elk may travel on park roads.

* Bears are active in the park. The best way to stay safe in bear country is to come prepared. Carry bear spray, have it readily accessible and know how to use it. Stay at least 100 yards away from any bear.

* Drive responsibly. Slow down and use caution in parking areas. The road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Cottonwood picnic area can be busy with pedestrians and bikers.

* Pack plenty of food and water. Food and water are not available at Taggart Lake Trailhead or along the Teton Park Road.

* Go before you go. Restroom facilities are available at Taggart Lake Trailhead, Cottonwood Picnic Area, and at Signal Mountain Lodge.

* Leave No Trace and dispose of trash in receptacles.

* Dogs are allowed on the Teton Park Road on a leash no longer than six feet. Pet owners must clean up after their dogs. Deposit dog waste bags in trash receptacles.



                *******************************************************************************

Rising more than 7000 feet above Jackson Hole, the majestic mountains of Grand Teton National Park provide one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With more than 240 miles of trails meandering throughout this park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Grand Teton 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 Grand Teton: