Upcoming construction changes at Taggart Lake Trailhead, Moose-Wilson Road and Teton Park Road

Grand Teton National Park is entering the next phase of several major construction projects, bringing changes to visitor access at Taggart Lake Trailhead and along the Moose-Wilson Road corridor. Visitors should plan ahead for changing conditions, follow posted closures and allow additional time when traveling through construction areas.

“We know construction can change the way people experience some of their favorite places in the park, especially during the busy summer season,” said Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “We appreciate visitors’ patience and cooperation as crews work to improve trails, roads and facilities while protecting the resources that makes this place special.”

Taggart Lake Trailhead area

Construction continues at the Taggart Lake Trailhead and along the Taggart Lake Trail as part of a multi-year project to improve access, address erosion and protect the heavily visited area. As part of the project, Cottonwood Creek picnic area will close for construction in mid-August. Visitors should follow posted signs and stay out of active construction zones.

The Taggart Lake Trailhead and parking lot remain open, but visitors should expect construction activity and changing conditions in the area. The northern portion of the Taggart Lake Trail remains closed for reconstruction. Taggart Lake can still be reached using the southern route, which is longer and steeper—about 4.25 miles roundtrip.

The project will ultimately provide a renewed Taggart Lake Trail and Trailhead, including improved accessibility, a redesigned trailhead with educational signage to encourage responsible recreation, restrooms, a water bottle filling station, and a larger parking lot to accommodate increased use. The project is supported through a partnership between Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Teton Park Road Roundabout bypass

Construction of a bypass for the future Teton Park Road Roundabout near Moose will begin the week of August 24 and is expected to continue for about two weeks.

During construction, vehicle traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by flaggers. Visitors should expect delays of up to 20 minutes, not including wait times at the Moose Entrance Station.

Menors Ferry Road is anticipated to be closed during construction. Pathways cyclists should follow posted signs and expect to use the road shoulder through the construction area, which includes some temporarily unpaved areas.

The bypass is expected to be paved at the end of September.

Moose-Wilson Road between Moose and LSRP closes September 7

The Moose-Wilson Road between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and Moose is currently open to through traffic, with intermittent delays of 45 minutes or longer possible as construction continues.

The road between Moose and the LSRP will close to motor vehicle and bicycle traffic at the end of the day September 7 as construction resumes in the corridor. The closure is scheduled to continue through November 15.

After November 15, the corridor will transition to seasonal winter recreation use as conditions allow. Visitors should check current road and trail conditions before traveling to the area.

Death Canyon Road and Death Canyon Trailhead, accessed from the Moose-Wilson Road, remain closed for construction throughout the 2026 season.

Current road, trail and construction information is available on the park's road construction webpage and current conditions webpage.


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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:

On this date in hiking history: William O. Douglas begins his 22-mile hike to protest an extension of Highway 101

On this date in 1958, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas led a 22-mile trek along the Olympic coast in Washington, just west of Olympic National Park, to protest a proposed extension of Highway 101. This backpacking trip along the rugged coast took three days to complete, but was successful in accomplishing the goal of the roughly 70 participants.

Here’s a pretty cool documentary film of Douglas’s historic hike – both for its historical significance, and the scenery:





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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.

Record of Decision amendment signed for Moose-Wilson Road

The National Park Service has approved an amendment to the Record of Decision for the Moose-Wilson Corridor Comprehensive Management Plan in Grand Teton National Park. Acting Intermountain Regional Director Bert Frost signed the ROD amendment on Aug. 14, 2026.

"We remain committed to providing appropriate recreational opportunities while maintaining the natural and cultural resources that sustain a healthy, functioning ecosystem," said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. "We are balancing visitor access with long-term stewardship."

A 2016 Final Environmental Impact Statement evaluated multiple alternatives for managing the Moose-Wilson Corridor. Following a re-evaluation of that analysis, the NPS determined the effects of the amended decision are similar to those analyzed in the 2016 EIS. The ROD amendment incorporates two elements previously analyzed under Alternative D of the 2016 Final EIS: (1) construction of a separated multiuse pathway along the corridor and (2) realignment of a segment of Moose-Wilson Road between Sawmill Ponds and Death Canyon Road. All other improvements from the 2016 ROD remain unchanged.

The amended decision also includes refinement and mitigation measures to reduce impacts to wildlife, wetlands and cultural resources, including locating the pathway as close to the roadway as practicable to minimize disturbance.

In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, the NPS worked with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer, federally recognized Tribes and other consulting parties to develop a Programmatic Agreement. The park also coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate potential impacts on wetlands and prepare a Wetlands Statement of Findings.

With the amended decision now in place, the park will move into implementation by developing a project timeline and initiating topographic surveys within the Moose-Wilson corridor.

The ROD amendment, the Programmatic Agreement, Wetlands Statement of Findings, Biological Opinion and public comments are available on the project 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

On this date in hiking history: The final link in the Appalachian Trail is completed

On this date in 1937, a Civilian Conservation Corps crew finished construction on a two-mile section of the Appalachian Trail between Spaulding and Sugarloaf Mountains in Maine, thus connecting the final link along the entire trail. At that time, the footpath traveled roughly 2025 miles, from Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. However, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website notes that the route is constantly changing, and estimates that 99% of it has been rebuilt or relocated since its initial completion, including the reroute to its current southern terminus at Springer Mountain. As you can see in this photo, women were active in building the trail, especially before the CCC became involved in 1933:

Here’s the Bates Outing Club conducting maintenance work on the Appalachian Trail, circa 1939. According to the video description, “The black liquid they're smearing on their faces and arms at the 42-second mark is probably pine-tar fly dope (nasty stuff!).”





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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.

On this date in hiking history: Two grizzly bear attacks in Glacier National Park

On this date in 1967 the unthinkable occurred. Two women, in separate incidents, were killed by grizzly bears while backpacking in Glacier National Park. The incidents were detailed in the best-selling book, Night of the Grizzlies, by Jack Olsen. Fifty years after the events of that night, PBS broadcast an outstanding documentary with the same name. As a hiker, this can be a little difficult to watch at times:





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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.

On this date in hiking history: The first recorded use of the word “mountaineering"

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

The joint publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798 is widely recognized as the birth of Romanticism in English literature. In addition to being close friends, both poets held nature in the highest regard, and both enjoyed exploring the Lake District on long walking excursions.

In the 1805 version of The Prelude, Wordsworth described himself as a “mountaineer,” a term he didn’t use in the original 1799 version of this unpublished poem. It’s very possible that he may have adopted this expression during the intervening years from his friend and writing partner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. On August 9, 1802, Coleridge sent a letter to Robert Southey, another one of the so-called “Lake Poets,” which described an extended rambling excursion he took in the Lake District. During the outing, Coleridge made the first known ascent of 3163-foot Scafell, the second-highest peak in England. In the letter, he casually remarked that he had "spent the greater part of the next day mountaineering." The Oxford English Dictionary now recognizes this as the first recorded use of the word “mountaineering" to describe this relatively new and emerging sport. Other Romantic poets, such as John Keats and Lord Byron, would also describe themselves as “mountaineers.”



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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.

Little Chief: The Centennial Restoration

Last month, Triple Divide Creative released a documentary on the historic passenger boat that plies the waters of St. Mary Lake on the east side of Glacier National Park. This 21-minute film called "Little Chief: The Centennial Restoration," documents the extensive restoration work that was needed before the boat's 100th anniversary this year.

Originally known as Rising Wolf, the 45-foot carvel planked boat operated on Two Medicine Lake through the 1975 season. During the following year she began operating on St. Mary Lake, and was subsequently rechristened Little Chief, which reflects the name of the mountain that stands prominently above the southern shore of the lake.

This truly is an outstanding film:





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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:

Parks Canada charges hikers after grizzly bear encounter with off-leash dog in Banff National Park

Two hikers with an off-leash dog have been charged after coming close to a grizzly bear in Banff National Park. Parks Canada charged them after a TikTok post generated several million views after being published on July 21.

James Eastham, a spokesperson for Parks Canada’s Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit, told the CBC that “Failure to keep your pets leashed in the national parks poses risks to pets and wildlife. Bears and other wildlife may react aggressively toward dogs they view as threats, resulting in their injury or death.”

Canadian law states that people must keep their pets on a leash of three metres or less in national parks. If found guilty, the two hikers could face a fine of up to $25,000!

In other words, it's not illegal to take a dog on a hike in grizzly country in Canada, only that it must be kept on a leash. However, multiple studies and historical analyses by wildlife biologists indicate that the presence of dogs more than doubles the odds of a human-bear conflict, and frequently acts as a catalyst for defensive attacks. Most recently, a "New analysis of more than 300 bear encounters suggests our canine companions often increase odds of conflict and rarely serve as early warning systems many recreationists assume." You can find more statistics here.

In America, dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails in most national parks. However, I've seen several hikers flout this law in places like Glacier, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Here's a CTV News report, which includes the social media video that led to the charges:





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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

On this date in hiking history: Earl Shaffer becomes the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

The following is an excerpt from Ramble On: A History of Hiking. [Note: Amazon is currently offering the book at a 29% discount]

After World War II, many soldiers came home after serving overseas and began heading to the mountains for reasons that were vastly different from previous generations. Many veterans sought the wilderness as a way of escaping or coping with the horrors of war they had experienced. One such individual was Earl Shaffer, the man who would become the first person to thru-hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. In 1941, Shaffer volunteered

with the U.S. Army and served as a forward-area radar technician in the South Pacific. In addition to the horrors he witnessed himself, the Pennsylvania native also suffered the loss of a close childhood friend, who was killed during the invasion of Iwo Jima. A couple of years after the war had ended, Shaffer read an article about a handful of adventurers who had hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in a series of “section hikes,” and decided that he would try to do it himself in one continuous “thru-hike.” The following year, in 1948, he accomplished this goal by hiking the entire route in 124 days. In his trail journal, which eventually became a book, Shaffer wrote that the war had left him “confused and depressed.” He thought that a long-distance hiking trip might provide a remedy, stating that he wanted to “walk the army out of my system, both mentally and physically.” In 1965, Shaffer reprised this historic feat by walking the “long brown path” in just 99 days. On the 50th anniversary of his first thru-hike, Shaffer hit the trail once again. This time, at the age of 79, he completed the 2158-mile trek in 173 days.



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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 Foundation Awards More Than $10 Million to Spark Innovation Across the National Park System

The National Park Foundation is excited to launch dedicated funding for parks and park partners to collaborate on innovative projects that will strengthen parks, expand what is possible, and ensure these extraordinary places endure for generations. The inaugural cohort, announced today, includes 18 grants totaling more than $10 million awarded to support 21 national parks.

National parks are rooted in natural, historic, and cultural wonders, but they originated as a novel idea, and their future depends on continued innovation. Often called "America's best idea," the national park concept set the blueprint for protecting extraordinary places and sharing them with the world.

With the support of generous donors and partners, NPF is helping parks carry that spirit forward by creating more room to innovate, collaborate, and experiment. These grants provide funding directly to those who know parks best, empowering them to test new approaches, implement scalable technologies, and share what they learn so parks are stronger, and visitors can have better experiences.

NPF has received more than 200 proposals for innovation funding so far. Among those submissions, 18 projects were identified for immediate funding, with an initial focus on real-time information and traffic management, connectivity, data-informed decision-making, and more. These first projects include the following:

* Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute will work with Acadia National Park to deploy sensors, predictive analytics, and communication tools that give visitors and park managers real-time information about congestion and wait times along key corridors.

* Grand Canyon Conservancy will expand the ways that visitors can engage with Grand Canyon National Park by increasing connectivity and introducing digitally integrated interpretation of the park, enabling visitors to learn more and go deeper into the story of the iconic landscape.

* Glacier National Park Conservancy will help Glacier National Park deploy bypass lane transponders and badge readers at park entrances, automate passenger counts on shuttle buses, and install real-time parking displays at visitor centers

* Friends of Virgin Islands National Park will install Starlink satellite internet at seven land sites and five marine sites in the remote Virgin Islands National Park to offer connectivity for visitors and to improve emergency communications.

Funding for the inaugural cohort came from NPF's generous donors and partners, including Lilly Endowment Inc. View the full list of projects here.

NPF first invested $2 million in pilot projects led by the National Park Service and Preservation Maryland to advance technologies and experiment with novel equipment across multiple park sites in support of emergency response, asset management, and more efficient park operations. Interest in the pilot proved the need and potential impact of continued, dedicated investment in innovative technologies and creative solutions.

With growing support from NPF's donors and partners, including Robert and Kitty Brunswick, Mr. Cody J Smith, The Ball Foundation, and Arconic Foundation, NPF will award additional grants to parks and park partners in the coming months to support innovation in other focus areas, including natural resource management and interpretation.

NPF will also facilitate learning groups that bring together grant recipients to share information, ideas, and lessons learned to inform and inspire other parks.



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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

Road work planned on North Park Road starting tomorrow

Grand Teton National Park, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Western Federal Lands Highway Division, will begin a roadway rehabilitation project on North Park Road (U.S. Route 89/191/287) starting in early August. The project is expected to take about two months to complete.

A series of landslides have caused ongoing damage to North Park Road about seven miles north of Colter Bay and 11 miles south of the Yellowstone National Park boundary. Ground movement has created uneven rises and dips in the road surface, requiring patching nearly every year and posing a safety concern for drivers.

"North Park Road is an important travel corridor for visitors and local communities, connecting Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks," said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. "This project will create a smoother driving experience through an area that required frequent repairs. We appreciate visitors' patience as crews complete the work."

This summer's project will dig out and rebuild a roughly 500-foot section of the road to stabilize the slide area and smooth out the road surface. Additional drainage, guardrail, and signage improvements are also planned. The result will be a safer road that requires less ongoing maintenance.

Travelers driving the popular corridor between Jackson and Yellowstone on U.S. Route 89/191/287 will pass through this work zone and should plan accordingly. Additionally, Jackson Lake Overlook and Mudflats Overlook may be closed during construction to safely stage equipment and materials.

What to expect:

Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zone. On Monday, August 3, expect daytime (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) delays of up to 15 minutes. Starting the week of August 10, nighttime (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) delays of up to one hour are possible during active construction. Most work will be conducted at night to minimize daytime impacts on visitors.

Visitors are encouraged to plan extra travel time when using North Park Road. For the latest road conditions and construction updates, 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

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Two Medicine projects impact trails

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media today:

Watch out! We're getting some work done in Two Medicine this summer, so access to the North Shore Trail is a little different. There is a re-route that crosses the creek to access both the North Shore Trail and the trail toward Old Man Lake and Pitamakin Pass. If you want to stay dry, stick to the South Shore Trail and destinations accessible from there. Stay safe and please respect the construction closure.

This construction project includes replacement of the full water distribution system in the Two Medicine developed area and campground. To facilitate construction, Two Medicine Road will be closed at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead beginning September 8, 2026.

Last fall, Two Medicine Road was closed as part of a large, multi-year project which includes full rehabilitation of the Two Medicine Road from the MT-49 intersection all the way to the Two Medicine parking lot. The work includes ditch re-establishment, road repair, parking lot construction, replacement of entrance station buildings, and paving. This road work is scheduled to resume this fall and be completed in late 2027, but may continue into 2028.

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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:

Trail Closures in Bob Marshall Wilderness due to Silvertip Fire

The Flathead National Forest is issuing a trail closure for public and firefighter safety in the Silvertip Fire area in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The following trails are closed to public use due to wildfire activity associated with the Silvertip Fire:

1.Sergeant Creek–Corporal Creek Trail (Trail 88)
Closed from Spotted Bear River to its junction with Trail 584 (Harrison Creek Trail).

2.Harrison Creek Trail (Trail 584)
Closed from its junction with Corporal Creek Trail 88 to its junction with Trail 103 and Trail89.

3.Trail 103
Closed from its junction with Trail 524 to its junction with Trails 89 and 584.

4.Silvertip Trail (Trail 89)
Closed in its entirety.

5.Spotted Bear River Trail (Trail 83)
Closed from its junction with Silvertip Trail 89 to its junction with Wall Creek Trail 90.

6.Wall Creek Trail (Trail 90)
Closed from its junction with Trail 83 to its junction with Trail 229.

7.West Fork Wall Creek Trail (Trail 229)
Closed in its entirety.

For more information about the impacted area, review the closure order and map or contact the Spotted Bear Ranger District office at 406-758-5376



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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

Amazon is offering "Ramble On" at a 29% discount right now

FYI: Amazon is currently selling Ramble On: A History of Hiking for just $11.99. That's 29% off the regular price!

It's not clear how long they will offer this discount, but it's usually only for a limited time.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the rich history of the world's greatest outdoor activity! You can also impress your friends with your knowledge of hiking the next time you're on the trail with them!

Final report on grizzly bear attack on Mount Brown Lookout trail released

Back on May 3rd, Anthony Pollio, a 33-year-old Florida man, died while hiking the Mount Brown Lookout trail in Glacier National Park. An Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Board of Review has recently released their report, in which they concluded:

Mr. Pollio, while hiking alone, surprised an adult male grizzly bear on the Mt. Brown Lookout trail. He was most likely descending the trail in darkness. Darkness and deadfall on the trail would have prevented the bear and Mr. Pollio from seeing each other until they were very close. During the initial assault, Mr. Pollio managed to discharge his bear spray, but it is unknown if and where the spray contacted the bear. Mr. Pollio tumbled down slope, probably while the bear continued its attack, for 93 ft. We surmise that the bear broke off the attack at that time allowing Mr. Pollio to climb upslope approximately 18 ft at which point the bear re-engaged and killed Mr. Pollio with crushing bites to the head. The attack was likely brief and intense and not prolonged. There was no consumption or caching of the victim by the bear. There was no evidence that Mr. Pollio was fighting back. After the attack, the bear left the area. Mr. Pollio appears to have been the victim of a defensive attack by a surprised grizzly bear.

You can read the full report 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

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Hiker walks 10 miles after being impaled by trekking pole

A Billings, Montana man was impaled by a trekking pole on Granite Peak last week. The freak accident occurred roughly 2 miles below the summit. After assesing his injuries, David Cifaldi, a nurse, determined that he could walk back to the trailhead on his own power. That trip covered nearly 10 miles and took roughly six and a half hours to complete.

KCENNews in Texas provided a full report on the story. Warning: some of the images may be a little disturbing:





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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

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

Volunteer Stewardship Day at Delta Lake: July 25, 2026

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

Volunteer Stewardship Day at Delta Lake: July 25, 2026

Access Fund and Teton Climbers' Coalition are hosting a volunteer stewardship day at Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park, and they're looking for helping hands! Grand Teton National Park Foundation is proud to be supporting the trail stabilization near Delta Lake, and we're excited to see this work come to life with the help of volunteers like you.

Join in for a day of trail work and conservation in the shadow of the Tetons. Whether you're a climber, hiker, or just love this park, it's a great way to give back to the landscape we all share.

📅 Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
📍 Meet: 8:00 AM at the Park's Trail Shop, 200 Pine Marten Dr, Moose, WY 83012 (shuttle to Lupine Meadows Trailhead from there)
🕒 Wrap-up: ~3:00 PM

No park pass? No problem—volunteers receive free park admission for the day. Email stewardship@accessfund.org to coordinate details.

Register for this opportunity here.

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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:

On this date in hiking history: Mazamas established atop Mt. Hood

In 1894, the Mazamas held their inaugural meeting atop Mt. Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. To become a charter member of the prospective club, hikers were required to attend this meeting.

On June 12, 1894, organizers published an advertisement in the Morning Oregonian announcing the forthcoming meeting, which was to include a “typical mountain banquet.” On July 17th, more than 300 people responded to the advertisement by arriving at one of two staging areas along the flanks of the 11,249-foot mountain. Two days later, a total of 193 climbers (155 men and 38 women) reached the snow-capped summit, of which 105 would become charter members. Before descending the peak, the newly minted organization released three homing pigeons with notes announcing to friends in Portland that the club had been successfully established.

Today, the Mazamas are one of the largest hiking and mountaineering clubs in America.

Here’s a photo of prospective members climbing the Cooper Spur on Mt. Hood to take part in the inaugural meeting atop the mountain:

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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.

Glacier National Park to plug historic oil well near Kintla Lake - will impact hikers and campers

Glacier National Park will begin work in late July to plug the historic Butte Oil Well at Kintla Lake. The well, which predates the establishment of the park, was selected for plugging after monitoring detected leaking gases. Work is expected to continue for several weeks and be completed in fall 2026.

The project will temporarily affect trail and camping access in the Kintla Lake area. The Kintla Lake Wilderness Campground is expected to be closed during helicopter operations and active construction, beginning July 27 and continuing through late August. Visitors should check Recreation.gov for current availability before planning overnight trips in the area.

The Kintla-Boulder Pass Trail along Kintla Lake will close intermittently during four days of helicopter operations. Initial flights are scheduled for July 27 and 28 between approximately 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Two additional days of helicopter operations will occur near the end of the project to remove equipment and materials that cannot be transported by boat. Those dates will be announced when available.

The frontcountry campground at Kintla Lake will be open for first-come, first-served camping during construction.

Visitors should also expect increased construction traffic along the Inside North Fork Road between Polebridge and Kintla Lake. Construction equipment and activities may temporarily affect views and natural sounds around the lake.

The project is being completed through the National Park Service’s Abandoned Mineral Lands program, which addresses historic mining sites and oil and gas well established before lands became part of the National Park System.

For information about the project and history of the Butte Oil Well, visit the park’s story map.



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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:

Temporary two-day closure scheduled for portion of Moose-Wilson Road

Grand Teton National Park will temporarily close a section of Moose-Wilson Road on Tuesday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 22, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow crews to safely complete a critical phase of ongoing road construction.

The closure will be in effect between Murie Ranch Road and the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve (LSRP) entrance to both vehicles and cyclists. The road will reopen to traffic each evening from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Since Moose-Wilson Road reopened to through traffic on June 19, visitors have experienced extended delays through the construction zone and near the LSRP entrance. Flagging operations, combined with high visitation and limited parking at the LSRP, have resulted in significant congestion for visitors traveling through the corridor.

The temporary closure will provide construction crews with a dedicated work window to install road base material safely and efficiently without vehicle traffic. Completing this work now will allow the contractor to advance construction north of the LSRP entrance more quickly and resume pilot-car operations that better accommodate access to the LSRP and along the Moose-Wilson Road.

During the closure:

* The closure will extend from Murie Ranch Road to the LSRP entrance.

* LSRP will be open and accessible from the south only during closure hours.

* Murie Ranch and destinations north of the closure will not be accessible from the Granite Canyon Entrance Station or Teton Village/Wilson via Moose-Wilson Road during closure hours.

* Visitors traveling between Moose and Wilson should use U.S. Highway 26/89/191 and Wyoming Highway 22 as an alternate route.

* The road will reopen nightly from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m.

Construction on Moose-Wilson Road remains on schedule. Following the two-day closure, the park expects to resume traffic control with flaggers while continuing improvements to the roadway. Visitors should continue to expect delays of up to 45 minutes or longer through Labor Day and should follow directions from construction personnel.

For current construction updates, maps, and trip-planning information, visit the park's road construction webpage.



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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: