Monday, September 29, 2025

Reminder: Two Medicine Road will close Oct. 1 for culvert replacement

On October 1, 2025, Two Medicine Road will be closed to vehicles to facilitate replacement of a deep culvert. It is expected to reopen late November 2025. Depending on the weather, it may reopen for non-motorized use only.



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Thursday, September 25, 2025

Volunteers Across the Country Take Part in National Public Lands Day

This Saturday, September 27, an estimated tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join together for the 32nd annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD), which supports and celebrates America's public lands through activities like trail maintenance, tree planting, beach clean-ups, and more. NPLD is a fee-free day that not only supports conservation efforts but invites participants to experience and appreciate the beauty of America's public lands.

“For over three decades, National Public Lands Day has been integral to our goal of promoting the many benefits of America’s public lands,” said Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF. “This year’s theme for NPLD, ‘Our Home Outdoors,’ reminds us that public lands are not just physical spaces, but where we come together, feel rooted, and develop a sense of place.”

National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it connects communities, provides meaningful outdoor experiences for attendees, and showcases the educational, recreational, and health benefits of public lands. The excitement surrounding NPLD also provides a boost in volunteer recruitment for federal, state, and local public land managers. Last year, over 52,000 volunteers participated in more than 750 events across the US, representing $10.5 million in volunteer service.

To find interesting NPLD events happening near you, please visit https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.



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Monday, September 22, 2025

Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Grand Teton National Park celebrate completion of the Snake River Gateways project

Grand Teton National Park, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park Foundation, is proud to announce the completion of a multi-year effort to transform three of the most popular access points along the Snake River: Moose Landing, Pacific Creek Landing, and Jackson Lake Dam.

Launched in 2020, the Snake River Gateways project addressed outdated facilities, environmental damage, and rising visitation at these cherished river entryways. Together, the Foundation and Grand Teton National Park reimagined and rebuilt the sites to ensure they remain safe and accessible, with preservation of the critical riparian habitat at the forefront.

On Thursday September 18, community members gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Moose Landing, the final of the three sites to be completed. The celebration highlighted new educational signage and interpretive elements, improved boat launches, shaded gathering areas, native plant revegetation, and critical riverbank restoration work. Remarks were shared by Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins, Foundation President Leslie Mattson, and Triangle X owner and longtime fishing guide John Turner.

“The Snake River is one of the park’s most treasured resources, offering both adventure and quiet reflection,” said Jenkins. “Through this project, we’ve improved safety and access for visitors while restoring the health of the riverbanks and protecting habitat for wildlife. It’s a powerful example of what we can accomplish together to care for this extraordinary place.”

In keeping with the character of the Snake River, all work was guided by the Wild and Scenic Snake River Management Plan, ensuring that improvements honor the river’s special designation, preserving its free-flowing conditions and water quality, while enhancing opportunities for visitors to connect meaningfully with this remarkable resource.

These achievements were made possible by Grand Teton National Park Foundation, which raised $8 million in private, philanthropic support, leveraging an additional $5.3 million in federal funding. The project builds on nearly three decades of partnership between the Foundation and the park, a collaboration that has transformed iconic destinations across the landscape.

The Snake River is a defining feature of Grand Teton National Park, beloved by floaters, anglers, wildlife watchers, and photographers alike. With these enhancements now complete, the Foundation and Grand Teton National Park look forward to welcoming all visitors to experience this extraordinary resource with renewed ease, safety, and connection.

Thanks to park project partners Blue Trident, Bland Hoke, EDX, Jorgensen Engineering, Lost Art Stone Masonry, Otak, and Southern Customs Exhibits for the vision and dedication they brought to this effort.

To learn more about The Snake River Gateways project, visit https://www.gtnpf.org/initiatives/snake-river-gateways/



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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:


Saturday, September 20, 2025

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Hosting Science and History Days September 24 and September 29, 2025

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park invites the public to join its 22nd Annual Science and History Day in two separate events this September.

Glacier National Park will host its event on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 9:30 am-3:30 pm at the West Glacier Community Building. Visitors are reminded of construction and paving activities that may disrupt typical parking access. Attendees should look for signage and flaggers for directions to alternate parking.

Waterton Lakes National Park will host its event on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 9:45 am-2:45 pm at the Waterton Lakes Visitor Center, 404 Cameron Falls Drive. Visitors traveling from the United States are reminded to bring their passport.

This celebrated annual event brings together scientists, historians, and park experts for an inside look at the latest research, historical insights, and collaborative projects shaping the Peace Park. Themes for this year’s presentations include water, wildlife, and park history. Admission to both events is free, and all are welcome to attend this day of discovery, storytelling, and shared stewardship.

Registration is not required, simply show up ready to learn. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy, there will be a one-hour midday break. Glacier and Waterton’s events will each feature a different lineup of speakers.



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Thursday, September 18, 2025

Fire danger reduced to HIGH in Yellowstone National Park

The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH and Stage 1 fire restrictions that went into effect August 12 have been lifted. At this time, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park.

Currently, there are no uncontrolled wildland fires in the park.

Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat.

The Greater Yellowstone area is a fire-adapted ecosystem. Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation.

Stay informed about current fire activity in Yellowstone.


Also, stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted lifted for the Teton Interagency area:

Teton Interagency Fire managers have lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. Recent precipitation, cooler temperatures, and higher relative humidities have lessened the threat of wildfire. However, all public land users, and particularly campers and hunters, are advised to remain vigilant and use caution when building and maintaining a campfire to prevent unwanted human-caused fires.



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Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Solo hiker injured by bear in Yellowstone National Park

On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 16, a male, age 29, sustained injuries from a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake. The incident occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area.

The male was hiking alone when he encountered the bear near Turbid Lake. The hiker began to deploy bear spray when the bear made contact, and he sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm. National Park Service medics responded to the incident and walked out with the hiker. Once arriving to the trailhead, NPS transported the hiker in a park ambulance to the Lake Medical Clinic. He was then flown to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The hiker thought the bear was a black bear; however, the location, size, and behavior of the described bear suggest it might have been a grizzly bear. Bear management staff will attempt to confirm the species through DNA analysis, if possible.

The Turbid Lake Trail is closed until further notice. Bear management staff are sweeping the trail to ensure no other hikers are on the trail. Visit Backcountry Conditions for status and conditions of park trails. This incident remains under investigation and there are no further details to share at this time.

This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2025. The last incident was in May 2021 when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker on the Beaver Ponds Trail in Mammoth Hot Springs.



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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:


Monday, September 15, 2025

Grand Teton seeks volunteers for Jenny Lake boat dock project

National Public Lands Day is a great way to give back to the parks we love! Angela Timby, the Grand Teton National Park Volunteer Coordinator, recently posted an event to help preserve handrails on the West Jenny Lake Boat Dock. The project is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025. Here are some details for the project:
Come Join us at 9am for a scenic hike-in to our lakeside project on beautiful Jenny Lake. The hike will be just over a mile from Moose Ponds parking area over the Chasm bridge to the West Jenny Lake Boat Dock near Inspiration Point to oil handrails.

We use a natural linseed oil and pine tar mixture to protect our beautiful structures from sun, rain, and snow. Please consider wearing clothes that are comfortable for hiking but are OK to get a little oil/tar on. The day will include light to moderate physical activity. All ages and skills are welcome. Tools, materials, and gloves provided. There is no running water or bathroom facilities on this side of the lake so please come prepared. Don't forget to bring water, snacks, hats, and sunscreen!

Please call or email Angela Timby with any questions or to RSVP for this event. We welcome questions about accessibility to join our event if you need more information. Your RSVP allows us to best prepare for the number of people and can also let us know if we need an additional project! There is lots to do, so invite your friends and family to come join us in celebrating our public lands through community service.
For more information, please visit: https://www.neefusa.org/npld/west-jenny-lake-boat-dock/national-public-lands-day



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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Glacier Utility Projects Update

Glacier National Park reminds visitors of the Two Medicine Road closure that begins this fall and announces updates on other construction projects happening throughout the park.

Two Medicine
The 2025 Two Medicine Road closure will begin on October 1, 2025. The closure is in place to facilitate replacement of a deep culvert. The road will remain closed to vehicles during the culvert replacement. When the road reopens by late November 2025 it may be for vehicle access or for non-motorized use only, depending on the weather. The road normally closes to vehicles at the first significant snowfall.

The culvert work is part of a larger, multi-year Two Medicine Road Rehabilitation and Utility Replacement project, which is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2027. The project includes a full water system replacement, ditch re-establishment, road repair, parking lot construction, replacement of entrance station buildings, and paving.

The Two Medicine utility replacement project is planned to begin in April 2026. Construction for this phase of the project will require spring and fall closures in the Two Medicine developed area and full closure of the campground in 2026. Closures in the Two Medicine developed area will occur outside of concession operating dates (May 22-September 8) and concessioner operated boat tours and the Two Medicine Campstore will remain open. The park will maintain access to hiking trails as feasible, but access to some trails may be limited.

St. Mary
Additional utility replacement is planned to begin at the St. Mary Campground, the administrative area, and around the Visitor Center in 2026. The St. Mary Campground will be temporarily closed for construction of the new water system during the winter and possibly the spring of 2026 but will reopen by July 1, 2026. The St. Mary Visitor Center will maintain its normal seasonal schedule.

Many Glacier
In 2025, Many Glacier Campground was closed due to the Swiftcurrent area water system replacement and utility project. The Many Glacier Campground is expected to reopen mid-May 2026. The Swiftcurrent area closure began in September 2024.

Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier, and Granite Park Chalet
Design is underway on additional utility system replacement projects at Lake McDonald Lodge Developed Area, Many Glacier Hotel Developed Area, and Granite Park Chalet. These projects are currently in design with construction planned to begin in the fall of 2026 or spring 2027.  Please check the Road Construction and Infrastructure Project Work page on the park website for more information on construction in the park.



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Monday, September 8, 2025

Public Input Requested on Improving Visitor Services in National Parks

The National Park Service is seeking public input to help identify ways to improve visitor services in national parks, including more efficient methods for delivering and managing those services.

This request for information supports Executive Order 14314, Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks, which directs the Secretary of the Interior to take steps to enhance services for United States residents visiting national parks.

"We’re inviting those who know our parks best, the visitors, to share their experiences,” said the Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Kevin Lilly. “Your perspective serves a vital role in improving visitor services and helping us enhance operations across the National Park System.”

Comments and suggestions will be accepted from September 9 until October 9, 2025. For more details, including how to submit input, please visit 2025-17293.pdf. Respondents are encouraged to provide specific examples from their park experiences to assist NPS in evaluating and implementing improvements.

IMHO, we need more trails to disperse visitors across greater areas of the most popular parks.



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Thursday, September 4, 2025

Speed runner found guilty of cutting a switchback in Grand Teton National Park

Under the file, "excessive punishment," a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming found a speed runner guilty of cutting a switchback in Grand Teton National Park on Tuesday. The runner, Michelino Sunseri, could be fined up to $5,000 or serve six months in jail.

According to the Pacific Legal Foundation, a group that fights government overreach and is currently representing the defendant:
On September 2, 2024, Michelino Sunseri made history, ascending and descending Grand Teton in 2 hours, 50 minutes, and 50 seconds, beating the previous record by almost 3 minutes.

Less than a week after completing the run, he learned that the National Park Service was pursuing criminal charges against him for running on a “restricted” trail.

Michelino chose to take a “social trail,” a commonly used path that is not formally designated as a trail. This decision was not uncommon. Many of the previous FKT record holders used this same trail, but no action was taken against them. Nevertheless, local national park employees chose to pursue criminal charges against Michelino, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wyoming agreed to bring the case.
The federal judge presiding over criminal cases in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick, published her decision late Tuesday, stating that "The Defendant is adjudged GUILTY ... for leaving the Garnet Canyon Trail to use the shortcut of the Old Climber’s Trail"

Cutting a switchback is a misdemeanor that comes with a fine of up to $5,000 or six months in jail.

Without a doubt, cutting switchbacks is a no-no anywhere, but the potential punishment for this "crime" is quite excessive.

According to Sunseri's page on change.org
Michelino Sunseri is a professional mountain runner, Teton Valley resident and bartender at Grand Targhee’s Trap Bar. Multiple offers by Michelino for a reasonable resolution, proposing community service in Grand Teton National Park to improve signage, til the soil and revegitate have been rebuffed. The federal prosecutor's best offer is a misdemeanor plea, and multi-year ban effectively forcing him out of town.
The same website also notes that:
Meanwhile, within a mile of the old climber’s trail, tens of thousands of tourists venture off-trail to Delta Lake every summer, legally causing 100 times the impact of 100 runners on the old climber’s trail. The NPS explicitly condones off-trail travel to Delta Lake, having installed a sign five-times larger than the old climber’s trail signs.

That particular inconsistency—combined with off-trail travel being broadly allowed throughout Grand Teton National Park (GTNP)—makes it difficult to understand the impact caused by Michelino's use of the old climber’s trail and the motivation for criminal charges.
For more details on Sunseri's ascent and descent into the history books, please click here.



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Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Fall on Highline Trail Results in Fatality

Last Wednesday, August 27, a woman hiking in a group on the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, tripped and sustained fatal injuries from a fall. She has been identified as 73-year-old, Diane Bunker of Muscatine, Iowa.

At approximately 11 am park staff were alerted of a female who had fallen off the Highline Trail. While hiking with a large group, Bunker tripped and fell off the edge of the trail, out of sight from her hiking party. The fall occurred between Big Bend and Triple Arches.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed from Logan Pass to Big Bend for about an hour to conduct the recovery. Two Bear Air was dispatched to search for the fallen hiker. Two Bear Air located and recovered her below the trail. She sustained traumatic injuries after falling roughly 450 feet. She was brought to the Apgar horse corrals and transferred to the Flathead County coroner. An investigation is ongoing.

Glacier National Park officials would like to thank Two Bear Air Rescue, Flathead County Sheriff’s Department and NPS staff.

Glacier National Park staff would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and ask that the public respect their privacy.



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Backcountry Hiker Injured by Bear in Glacier

A 34-year-old, female hiker was injured by a brown colored bear last Wednesday, at approximately 3:15 pm at Lake Janet in Glacier National Park.

The hiking party of two was hiking westbound near Lake Janet when a medium brown colored bear with two cubs charged out of the brush, toward the woman. The woman dove off the trail, while covering her head. The bear swiped at her, injuring her shoulder and arm. As this was happening, her hiking partner deployed bear spray, causing the bear to immediately run away. The entire incident lasted fewer than 30 seconds. The hiking party continued toward the Lake Janet Wilderness Campground where they found other hikers with an InReach device, which they used to send an SOS to park dispatch.

At approximately 3:42 pm park dispatch received the SOS for a female who had an encounter with a brown colored sow. Park staff and ALERT were dispatched. ALERT quickly got to the patient, finding her in stable condition. ALERT transported the woman to Logan Health in Kalispell.

No action will be taken against the bear at this time, the encounter was a surprise to a sow with two cubs that reacted defensively. The area of the trail the hiking party was on is confined by the lake and dense brush, which the bear came out of. The species of the bear could not be positively identified.

The Lake Janet Wilderness Campground was temporarily closed and will reopen when deemed appropriate by park staff. For information on trail closures in the park, visit the park’s trail status webpage.

Visitors are reminded that the fall season is when bears are more likely to be active due to hyperphagia. As bears prepare for the long winter, during which they will hibernate, they need to eat as much as they can to prepare to go months without food. For more information about recreating in bear country, please visit the park’s bear safety webpage.



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Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Plumbed bathrooms at Logan Pass close for the year

As stated previously, Glacier National Park is experiencing low water levels at Logan Pass. Due to ongoing water shortages, the park will close all plumbed bathrooms at Logan Pass earlier than scheduled for the 2025 season.

The park initially began closing the bathrooms at 5:00 pm to 8:30 am to help mitigate the water usage. Although these efforts have lengthened the use of the plumbed bathrooms, there is still significant water usage. With the recent low water levels the water tank has not been able to refill, even with nightly closures of the plumbed bathrooms. As a result, plumbed bathrooms at Logan Pass will be closed the evening of August 29, 2025. The planned date to close the plumbed bathrooms at Logan Pass was September 7, 2025.

In lieu of plumbed bathrooms there are currently 17 portable bathrooms, and 5 vault toilets that will be operational until the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the 2025 season.

Visitors should be prepared and bring their own potable water, as bottled water is not available to purchase at the Logan Pass Visitor Center.



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