Construction Work on US Highway 26/89/191 near Moran to begin in October

Grand Teton National Park and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are taking both short- and long-term action to address accelerating erosion along the confluence of the Snake River and Buffalo Fork near U.S. Highway 26/89/191 at Moran Junction.

The highway is a critical year-round transportation link, carrying approximately 900,000 vehicles annually between Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, and communities throughout Wyoming. Erosion along the Snake River has brought the river channel increasingly closer to the highway, creating a significant risk to the road and the regional transportation network.

“Protecting this highway is about more than protecting a road,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “This is an essential transportation route for residents, visitors, businesses and communities throughout the region. We need to address the immediate threat while also developing a long-term solution that protects the highway and restores a healthy river corridor.”

FHWA’s Western Federal Lands Highway Division will complete emergency roadwork during the fall 2026 low-flow period. The project is intended to slow riverbank erosion and protect the highway ahead of spring 2027 runoff.

Construction is expected to take approximately 12 weeks, with most work occurring between October and December. The schedule will depend on river flows, weather and site access. During construction, the road will be reduced to one lane. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic lights and flaggers. Travelers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes.

Grand Teton National Park and FHWA are also working together to identify a long-term solution that addresses river erosion, protects the highway and improves the ecological health of the Snake River corridor.

Additional information about construction activities, traffic impacts and the long-term project will be shared on the park website.



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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:

Tips for using a Satellite SOS

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media a couple weeks ago. If you have a satellite-enabled smartphone, you may want to read this before heading out on your next backcountry adventure:

Satellite SOS Can Save Your Life. The Glacier National Park dispatch team is here to help you know how to use it before you need it!

Satellite-enabled smartphones have become an important safety tool for visitors during real emergencies. But an SOS activation is exactly that: an emergency activation.🚨

In Glacier, approximately 50–70% of phone-generated SOS and crash alerts are ultimately determined to be accidental or non-emergencies. Every activation must still be evaluated. If dispatchers cannot confirm your safety, many personnel, from law enforcement to search-and-rescue resources, may need to respond. Some tips:

😵‍💫Know what can trigger Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, and other emergency functions on your device. Keep your phone secured so you don’t accidentally trigger an emergency activation.

📱Practice before your trip. Some smartphones allow you to practice connecting to a satellite to see how the system works without contacting emergency services. Practice ahead of time so you won't be learning the process during an actual emergency.

🆘Read the screen carefully. Make sure the information you select accurately describes what is happening. If you accidentally activate SOS, don't just turn off your phone. Stay connected and tell the emergency responder that the activation was accidental. Closing the loop can prevent an unnecessary emergency response.

🛰️You can also check in with family on supported phones by sending messages via satellite. This is separate from Emergency SOS.

If you really do need help — use SOS. Provide accurate information, remain available for follow-up questions, and follow the instructions on your device.

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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

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Meet America's first extreme hiker

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

In all likelihood, Norwich, Vermont native Alden Partridge is America’s first avid hiker. Although he’s probably best known as the fifth superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he also established a series of private military academies. According

to A History of Norwich, Vermont, Captain Partridge was also “a noted pedestrian, on several occasions walking sixty miles a day, and once pacing off seventy miles within that limit.” As an example of his endurance, strength and tenacity, in 1818 he undertook an extended excursion that included ascents of both Mt. Mansfield and the Camel’s Hump, the highest and third-highest peaks in Vermont. The entire trip, which covered roughly 200 miles, was made within a week, much of it in cold, drenching rain that involved tough, challenging bushwhacks up both mountains. In 1830, at the age of 45, Captain Partridge trekked to Massachusetts and back, a roundtrip hike that covered roughly 300 miles and ended with a grueling 64-mile march on the last day. During his fairly long life, the indefatigable military instructor recorded numerous extended treks across the Northeast, as well as ascents of several prominent peaks, including Mt. Washington, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Equinox, Mt. Ascutney, Killington Peak, Grand Monadnock and Mt. Moosilauke. In an article published on the Norwich University website, journalist and historian Mark Bushnell proclaimed Partridge to be “the first extreme hiker.” According to Bushnell, Partridge also “wrote widely circulated newspaper columns about his wilderness treks and in so doing helped popularize the sport of hiking.”

Learn more about Alden Partridge and the other pioneers of hiking in Ramble On: A History of Hiking.



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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.

National Park Service finds no significant environmental impact for North Entrance Road reconstruction project in Yellowstone National Park

The National Park Service (NPS) signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and associated Wetlands/Floodplains Statement of Findings (SOF) to reconstruct the North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, and Gardiner, Montana, in Yellowstone National Park.

In January 2026, NPS, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands (FHWA-WFL), prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to assess potential impacts for proposed reconstruction of the North Entrance Road. The FONSI, approved by the NPS Regional Director, describes the selected action and establishes that there will be no significant impact on the environment. The preferred Alternative 2: Center Alignment was selected.

The purpose of the project is to provide reliable and essential long-term access for park visitors, staff, emergency responders, commercial users and residents of gateway communities.

Yellowstone experienced a 500-year flood event on June 13, 2022. The flood destroyed infrastructure in the northern portion of the park, including several sections of the North Entrance Road, and segments of the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana. Both roads are open year-round and serve as the only winter vehicle access in and out of the park. After briefly closing the park to regular visitor traffic on June 13, 2022, a temporary North Entrance Road was constructed between Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner using the historic Old Gardiner Road (OGR) wagon trail, which opened to the public Oct. 30, 2022. Although this temporary road has successfully provided visitor access to the park, it was not engineered for the long-term. The selected alternative will turn the OGR into a multi-use recreation trail and most of the damaged road, located in the Gardner Canyon, will be reclaimed.

The FONSI and other project materials can be viewed and downloaded from the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website.



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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

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

National Public Lands Day 2026

This Saturday, September 26, an estimated tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join together for the 33rd 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.

This year's theme, "Caring for our Shared America," calls on all of us to show up for the parks, trails, forests, and waterways we hold in common. Hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day is a collective act of care that brings communities together and strengthens our shared American story.

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, or visit the National Parks event page.



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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: