Fire danger raised to high

Teton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to “high” for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge.

While the landscape may still appear green, heavy dead and down timber and fuels are what drive fire activity. A high fire danger means wildfires can start easily and spread quickly. Fire managers consider things like fuel moisture (how dry grasses, shrubs, and trees are), forecasted temperatures and wind, how fast fires can grow, and whether firefighting resources are available nationwide.

For the latest fire updates, safety tips, and current restrictions, visit TetonFires.com.

To report smoke or a fire, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307-739-3630.



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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:

Going-to-the-Sun Road Projected to Open Monday, June 22

The full length of Going-to-the-Sun Road is expected to open to motorized vehicles on Monday, June 22, for the 2026 summer season. Rockfalls or other natural events may delay this opening, as conditions can change quickly.

Glacier National Park is reminding visitors about important changes taking effect for the 2026 season. These changes, first announced in February, include that the park will not have vehicle reservations in 2026, will introduce three-hour parking limits at Logan Pass, and will replace the Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle service with a ticketed Logan Pass Shuttle for hikers of the Highline Trail and visitors who want a longer stay at Logan Pass.

Both the Logan Pass Shuttle system and the three-hour timed parking at Logan Pass will begin on July 1, 2026.

Complete information on the Logan Pass Shuttle and the limited three-hour parking at Logan Pass can be found online at Visiting Logan Pass in 2026.

Visitor information services and the Glacier National Park Conservancy bookstore will be available at the Logan Pass Visitor Center starting June 22. Visitors are reminded to pack water and snacks as food and water are not available for purchase at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. There is a water bottle filling station and restrooms will be open.

Parking at Avalanche, Apgar Village, and other areas may be congested or temporarily unavailable.



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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:

Moose-Wilson Road to reopen to traffic June 19

Grand Teton National Park will reopen the northern section of Moose-Wilson Road between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and Moose to through traffic on June 19, marking a major milestone in the park’s 2026 construction season.

Beginning June 19, visitors may travel the full length of Moose-Wilson Road between the Granite Canyon Entrance Station and Moose. While the road will be open, visitors should expect intermittent delays of up to 45 minutes or longer through Labor Day as construction vehicles and equipment move along the narrow roadway.

Visitors should also be aware that the section of Moose-Wilson Road between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and the Death Canyon Road junction remains an unpaved gravel surface as construction continues. There is no roadside parking or stopping in the construction zone. Drivers should reduce speed, watch for loose gravel, be prepared for delays, and follow instructions from flaggers. Cyclists should follow the same instructions as vehicles.

Current construction activity on the Moose-Wilson Road project includes improvements to Death Canyon Road and the development of a new Death Canyon Trailhead. As a result, Death Canyon Road and the Death Canyon Trailhead will remain closed to all use throughout the 2026 season.

Other construction projects this season: In addition to Moose-Wilson Road and Death Canyon Road, visitors can expect construction activity in several other areas of the park this season, including:

* Taggart Lake Trail and Trailhead
* Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area
* Mormon Row
* North Park Road between Leeks Marina and Lizard Creek Campground

Visitors should be prepared for periodic delays, temporary closures, and changing traffic patterns in construction areas. As summer visitation increases, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and use available trip-planning resources to help navigate construction impacts throughout the park.

For current construction updates, maps, and trip-planning information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/road-construction.htm



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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:

The first trail guide published in the United States

The following is an adaptation from Ramble On: A History of Hiking.

In 1882, William Pickering published Walking Guide to the Mt. Washington Range, which is arguably the first hiking trail guide to be published in America. The book also contained a topographical trail map, which is likely the first published trail map for the White Mountains.

Though there were a handful of other guides that preceded his book, I would argue that Pickering’s volume is the first modern trail guide. And while the guides published before 1882 provided excursion information for peaks in the White Mountains, they devoted very little ink to route descriptions or any other information that modern hikers normally consider important. These older books functioned more as travel guides that included generic hiking information, and focused heavily on descriptions of the scenery one could see from the various mountaintops. Pickering’s book, on the other hand, provided fairly detailed route descriptions, mileage, elevation data, estimated times to complete each hike, water sources or lack thereof, as well as potential hazards and obstacles that hikers might need to be aware of.

Pickering’s guide preceded the Appalachian Mountain Club’s authoritative White Mountain Guide by 25 years.



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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: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.

We’ve Got the Perfect Gift for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is rapidly approaching! Do you know what you’re getting “dear old dad?” If I had to guess, I bet he loves history. And if your dad’s a hiker, or simply loves the outdoors, I bet he would absolutely love to read Ramble On: A History of Hiking!

Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time for Amazon to ship a copy to you or directly to your dad.

Here are a couple of reviews of the first edition of the book:

"Doran's book is a treasure: a well-written, entertaining, knowledgeable, and exactingly researched book on the roots of hiking and hiking clubs, the history of trail-making, the evolution of hiking gear and clothing, and the future of hiking on overcrowded trails. Doran weaves the social, cultural, industrial, and political milieu into this fascinating history. Amusing, astonishing, and sometimes alarming anecdotes, along with photos, footnotes, and an extensive bibliography, make this a fascinating and significant account of the history of hiking."

- Appalachian Footnotes, Delaware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club

Others:

* National Parks Traveler

* MAZAMA Magazine

* Hiking For Her



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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: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.