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.
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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:
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
FWP releases final Montana Wolf Management Plan
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the 2025 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan today, wrapping up an extensive public process to capture updates to wolf management strategies and research into a new plan.
The final 2025 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (2025 Wolf Plan) incorporates updates in wolf-related research, more than 20 years of management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social perspectives, and public input.
“The former wolf plan served us well, but it was time to make sure our management plan contained the evolutions we’ve made in wolf research, monitoring, conflict management, and the changes to the legal framework we operate under today,” said FWP Director Christy Clark.
The 2025 Wolf Plan builds on a foundation of FWP wolf management: monitoring populations, tracking harvest, effective conflict management, and flexibility to integrate evolutions in science.
The 2025 Wolf Plan shifts a key counting metric from the number of breeding pairs to the number of wolves representing at least 15 breeding pairs. The final plan establishes that 450 wolves would ensure 15 breeding pairs. Population estimates will continue to be determined by the peer-reviewed Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling method, or iPOM. The final plan also reflects the current depredation prevention and response program.
“Wolf management discussions continue to draw a lot of attention from people in Montana and around the world,” Clark said. “The 2025 Wolf Plan will ensure those conversations can be grounded in current science and the research FWP is doing every day.”
To see the final plan, click here.
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Check out our online trail guides:
The final 2025 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (2025 Wolf Plan) incorporates updates in wolf-related research, more than 20 years of management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social perspectives, and public input.
“The former wolf plan served us well, but it was time to make sure our management plan contained the evolutions we’ve made in wolf research, monitoring, conflict management, and the changes to the legal framework we operate under today,” said FWP Director Christy Clark.
The 2025 Wolf Plan builds on a foundation of FWP wolf management: monitoring populations, tracking harvest, effective conflict management, and flexibility to integrate evolutions in science.
The 2025 Wolf Plan shifts a key counting metric from the number of breeding pairs to the number of wolves representing at least 15 breeding pairs. The final plan establishes that 450 wolves would ensure 15 breeding pairs. Population estimates will continue to be determined by the peer-reviewed Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling method, or iPOM. The final plan also reflects the current depredation prevention and response program.
“Wolf management discussions continue to draw a lot of attention from people in Montana and around the world,” Clark said. “The 2025 Wolf Plan will ensure those conversations can be grounded in current science and the research FWP is doing every day.”
To see the final plan, click here.
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Check out our online trail guides:
- Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com
- Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com
- Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Friday, March 28, 2025
The 2025 bear season begins in Grand Teton
Bears across Teton County are becoming active with the spring transition. Adult male grizzly bears begin emerging from their winter dens in March, while females with young generally emerge between April and early May. March 19 marked the first confirmed grizzly bear sighting of the 2025 season in Grand Teton National Park. Bear Wise Jackson Hole reminds residents and visitors to secure attractants of any kind and be bear aware.
Seeing a bear in its natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience. However, living and recreating in bear country requires awareness and actions on our part to keep bears wild and people safe. As the grizzly bear population expanded within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bears dispersed across their historical range but also in proximity to more populated areas. All of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat.
2024 was a challenging year for the human-bear interface in Jackson Hole. Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff responded to a minimum of 168 human-bear conflicts in Teton County and the Town of Jackson, which is twice the long-term average. Grand Teton National Park experienced a surge of incidents involving black bears, particularly around lakeshore areas, resulting in an above-average year of management actions. Similarly, the Bridger-Teton National Forest saw an increase in black bear activity around the Teton Pass trail system outside of Wilson. Wyoming Game and Fish Department and National Park Service staff lethally removed 9 bears in this corner of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem last year, in addition to conducting numerous relocations and intensive hazing operations. Unsecured garbage in residential areas and unattended backpacks in the park remain the overwhelming cause of these conflicts.
Bears can be attracted to anything associated with human or domestic animal foods, including coolers, cooking equipment, bird feeders, and pet dishes, when they are easily accessible. By properly storing these attractants, people can help to ensure that a bear does not obtain a food reward. Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, the bear is likely to exhibit increasingly bold behavior, which increases risks to the bear and humans and limits management options. Whether you have lived in Teton County for decades or are visiting for a day, please do your part to help prevent human-bear conflicts.
If you are exploring the backcountry:
* Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Avoid wearing earbuds.
* Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g., near streams or when it is windy).
* Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it readily accessible.
* Hike in groups of three or more people.
* Do not run. Back away slowly if you encounter a bear.
As interagency partners, Bear Wise Jackson Hole will continue our collective efforts to proactively prevent conflicts between bears and people across Teton County. Together, as a community, we have made tremendous progress. Let’s keep up the great work. By properly securing attractants and taking appropriate precautions while living in or visiting bear country, we can keep bears wild and people safe. Learn more about how you can help protect bears by visiting our website: Bear Wise Jackson Hole. Interested in a bear presentation at your next HOA meeting or a bear spray demonstration for your organization? Bear Wise Jackson Hole would be happy to meet with your group. See our website for contact information.
Bear Wise Jackson Hole is a partnership between the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Teton County, and Town of Jackson. Established in 2006, our mission is to ‘keep bears wild and people safe’ by minimizing bears’ access to unnatural attractants and educating residents and visitors about human-bear conflict prevention.
************************************************************************************
Check out our online trail guides:
Seeing a bear in its natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience. However, living and recreating in bear country requires awareness and actions on our part to keep bears wild and people safe. As the grizzly bear population expanded within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bears dispersed across their historical range but also in proximity to more populated areas. All of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat.
2024 was a challenging year for the human-bear interface in Jackson Hole. Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff responded to a minimum of 168 human-bear conflicts in Teton County and the Town of Jackson, which is twice the long-term average. Grand Teton National Park experienced a surge of incidents involving black bears, particularly around lakeshore areas, resulting in an above-average year of management actions. Similarly, the Bridger-Teton National Forest saw an increase in black bear activity around the Teton Pass trail system outside of Wilson. Wyoming Game and Fish Department and National Park Service staff lethally removed 9 bears in this corner of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem last year, in addition to conducting numerous relocations and intensive hazing operations. Unsecured garbage in residential areas and unattended backpacks in the park remain the overwhelming cause of these conflicts.
Bears can be attracted to anything associated with human or domestic animal foods, including coolers, cooking equipment, bird feeders, and pet dishes, when they are easily accessible. By properly storing these attractants, people can help to ensure that a bear does not obtain a food reward. Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, the bear is likely to exhibit increasingly bold behavior, which increases risks to the bear and humans and limits management options. Whether you have lived in Teton County for decades or are visiting for a day, please do your part to help prevent human-bear conflicts.
If you are exploring the backcountry:
* Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Avoid wearing earbuds.
* Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g., near streams or when it is windy).
* Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it readily accessible.
* Hike in groups of three or more people.
* Do not run. Back away slowly if you encounter a bear.
As interagency partners, Bear Wise Jackson Hole will continue our collective efforts to proactively prevent conflicts between bears and people across Teton County. Together, as a community, we have made tremendous progress. Let’s keep up the great work. By properly securing attractants and taking appropriate precautions while living in or visiting bear country, we can keep bears wild and people safe. Learn more about how you can help protect bears by visiting our website: Bear Wise Jackson Hole. Interested in a bear presentation at your next HOA meeting or a bear spray demonstration for your organization? Bear Wise Jackson Hole would be happy to meet with your group. See our website for contact information.
Bear Wise Jackson Hole is a partnership between the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Teton County, and Town of Jackson. Established in 2006, our mission is to ‘keep bears wild and people safe’ by minimizing bears’ access to unnatural attractants and educating residents and visitors about human-bear conflict prevention.
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Check out our online trail guides:
- Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com
- Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com
- Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Reminder: Leave baby animals alone, and be mindful of diseases
Each spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks receives calls from people who have picked up baby wildlife they’ve found in town, their yards, or in the wild. It’s often done out of concern for the animal, but almost always does more harm than good. Remember, if you care, leave them there.
Wildlife care for their young much differently than humans. They have strategies to provide the highest chance of survival for their young and those strategies frequently involve leaving them alone for periods of time. This is common with deer and rabbits – two animals also common in towns around Montana.
As an example, fawns are born with very little scent, excellent camouflage and an instinct to stay put. Their mothers feed away from their fawns to avoid attracting the attention of predators. Humans can attract the interest of predators just by lingering around baby animals, revealing their hiding spots.
Wild animals thrive better in the wild where they have plenty of natural habitat (food, water, shelter, space). Additionally, it’s safer for humans to leave wild animals alone. Baby ground squirrels, racoons and rabbits can carry zoonotic diseases, which means diseases that are infectious for humans. Examples include plague, hemorrhagic diseases and tularemia.
If you see a baby animal, whether a duckling or a fawn, keep your distance and leave it alone.
What can you do?
* Leave It There. It’s natural for deer and elk to leave their young alone for extended periods of time.
* Control Your Dog. Keep your dog under control, especially in the spring when newborn wildlife is most vulnerable. Pet owners can be cited and dogs that harass or kill wildlife may by law have to be destroyed.
* Keep in Mind. It is illegal to possess and care for a live animal taken from the wild.
Should someone bring a deer or elk to FWP, they'll be asked to take the animal back to the site where it was found. If the animal can't be returned, it may need to be humanely euthanized.
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Check out our online trail guides:
Wildlife care for their young much differently than humans. They have strategies to provide the highest chance of survival for their young and those strategies frequently involve leaving them alone for periods of time. This is common with deer and rabbits – two animals also common in towns around Montana.
As an example, fawns are born with very little scent, excellent camouflage and an instinct to stay put. Their mothers feed away from their fawns to avoid attracting the attention of predators. Humans can attract the interest of predators just by lingering around baby animals, revealing their hiding spots.
Wild animals thrive better in the wild where they have plenty of natural habitat (food, water, shelter, space). Additionally, it’s safer for humans to leave wild animals alone. Baby ground squirrels, racoons and rabbits can carry zoonotic diseases, which means diseases that are infectious for humans. Examples include plague, hemorrhagic diseases and tularemia.
If you see a baby animal, whether a duckling or a fawn, keep your distance and leave it alone.
What can you do?
* Leave It There. It’s natural for deer and elk to leave their young alone for extended periods of time.
* Control Your Dog. Keep your dog under control, especially in the spring when newborn wildlife is most vulnerable. Pet owners can be cited and dogs that harass or kill wildlife may by law have to be destroyed.
* Keep in Mind. It is illegal to possess and care for a live animal taken from the wild.
Should someone bring a deer or elk to FWP, they'll be asked to take the animal back to the site where it was found. If the animal can't be returned, it may need to be humanely euthanized.
************************************************************************************
Check out our online trail guides:
- Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com
- Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com
- Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Monday, March 24, 2025
Caribou-Targhee National Forest releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Grand Targhee Resort Expansion Proposal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service published the Grand Targhee Resort Master Development Proposal draft environmental impact statement in the Federal Register which will start a 90-day public comment period.
“The draft environmental impact statement outlines potential effects of the proposal. Ultimately, the Forest Supervisor will select the alternative that best meets the public’s interests and environmental considerations,” said Teton Basin District Ranger Jay Pence. “We encourage the public to share their input on this important process.”
Full details for each of the following alternatives can be found on the Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/home. For a more interactive experience you can also access the Story Map at https://grandtargheeresorteis.org
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest welcomes substantive comments to help refine the final environmental impact statement. Substantive comments provide specific information about the proposal, suggest corrections, or identify new information.
The Forest Service will host an in-person open house on April 10, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. at the Driggs Community Center, 60 S Main Street, Suite 200, Driggs, ID 83422. The purpose for the open house is to provide information on the project and to gather public information.
In addition to the meeting, the public can submit comments electronically via https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58258 or by mail: Mel Bolling, Forest Supervisor, c/o Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401; or by e-mail to: jay.pence@usda.gov (please include “Grand Targhee Master Development Plan Projects” in the subject line).
In the summer, you can hike to the top of Fred’s Mountain in the resort, which offers a nice view of Grand Teton.
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Check out our online trail guides:
“The draft environmental impact statement outlines potential effects of the proposal. Ultimately, the Forest Supervisor will select the alternative that best meets the public’s interests and environmental considerations,” said Teton Basin District Ranger Jay Pence. “We encourage the public to share their input on this important process.”
Full details for each of the following alternatives can be found on the Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/home. For a more interactive experience you can also access the Story Map at https://grandtargheeresorteis.org
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest welcomes substantive comments to help refine the final environmental impact statement. Substantive comments provide specific information about the proposal, suggest corrections, or identify new information.
The Forest Service will host an in-person open house on April 10, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. at the Driggs Community Center, 60 S Main Street, Suite 200, Driggs, ID 83422. The purpose for the open house is to provide information on the project and to gather public information.
In addition to the meeting, the public can submit comments electronically via https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58258 or by mail: Mel Bolling, Forest Supervisor, c/o Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401; or by e-mail to: jay.pence@usda.gov (please include “Grand Targhee Master Development Plan Projects” in the subject line).
In the summer, you can hike to the top of Fred’s Mountain in the resort, which offers a nice view of Grand Teton.
************************************************************************************
Check out our online trail guides:
- Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com
- Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com
- Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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