Yellowstone National Park recently awarded an approximately $118 million construction contract to replace the structurally deficient Yellowstone River Bridge on the Northeast Entrance Road near Tower Junction. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), this project will preserve year-round public access to and from the park’s Northeast Entrance and communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana.
"As a vital piece of the only road corridor in the park that is plowed for winter use, the Yellowstone River Bridge provides visitors and communities with all-season opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the world's first national park," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "We are grateful for the bipartisan GAOA support that is providing funding necessary to complete large-scale infrastructure upgrades in national parks to improve safety and the visitor experience."
A new 1,285-foot-long, 175-foot-high steel girder bridge upstream will replace the existing 604-foot-long bridge, built in 1963. Additionally, GAOA funding will help construct approximately one mile of new road to line up with the replacement bridge location. New pullouts, paved parking areas, and dedicated pedestrian route across the new bridge will increase access to trails, fishing, and viewpoints. Construction will also enlarge the popular Yellowstone River Picnic Area to accommodate increased visitor use. Once complete, the existing road segment and bridge will be removed, and the area rehabilitated.
“This partnership between the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, will make Yellowstone National Park — an icon of the American outdoors — more accessible for millions of visitors who come to experience the geysers, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges every year,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “That’s not only good for families enjoying the great American outdoors — it’s critical for the economies of local communities neighboring the park.”
“We greatly appreciate the support in getting this major project funded,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly. “This has been one of our highest deferred maintenance priorities for years and will help ensure safe visitor and community access within the northeast corridor.”
The project is scheduled to begin summer 2023 and will be completed fall 2026. Automobile traffic will use the existing bridge while the new bridge is under construction. Occasional traffic delays will be short. Once complete the existing road segment and bridge will be removed and the area will be rehabilitated. Wetlands bisected by the existing road segment will be re-established and the Lost Creek drainage currently occupied by the road segment will be restored to its original alignment.
The Federal Highway Administration awarded the construction contract to HK Contractors, INC of Idaho Falls, Idaho. This project will reduce the park’s deferred maintenance and repair needs associated with this facility by approximately $39 million. In 2022, Yellowstone reported an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance and repairs, more than half of which is related to park roads.
Infrastructure funding from GAOA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of a concerted effort to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA's Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to the National Park Service to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Thursday, March 23, 2023
First grizzly bear sighting of 2023 in the Jackson Hole area
Early in the evening on March 22, the first grizzly bear of 2023 was observed in Grand Teton National Park. As bears become active this spring, Bear Wise Jackson Hole reminds residents and visitors to secure attractants of any kind and be bear aware.
Adult male grizzly bears typically emerge from hibernation in March, while females with young typically appear between April and early May. The first grizzly bear sighting of 2022 in the Jackson Hole area occurred on March 13 in Grand Teton National Park. When bears emerge from their dens, they search for any available foods and often scavenge animals that died during the winter.
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 and people safe. As the grizzly bear population expands within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bears continue to disperse across their historical range but also into more populated areas. All of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat.
Properly storing all attractants to ensure that a bear does not obtain a food reward is crucial to keeping bears wild. Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, risks to the bear and humans increase and management options become limited. Whether you have lived in Teton County for decades or are visiting the area for a day, please do your part to help protect bears.
If you are visiting a national park or national forest:
* Never leave your food unattended unless it is properly secured.
* Keep a clean camp and adhere to all food storage orders. Store all attractants, including coolers, cooking gear, toiletries, and pet food, inside a bear box or a hard-sided vehicle with the windows rolled up.
* Do not eat or cook in your tent, and never keep food or other scented items in your tent.
* Properly store garbage until you can deposit it into a bear-resistant dumpster.
* If you see a bear, please give it space, and always stay at least 100 yards away. If you choose to watch or photograph the bear, use a spotting scope, binoculars, or telephoto lens. Park in designated areas and never block travel lanes. Follow the directions of staff in places where bears are sighted. * Please respect all wildlife closure areas.
If you are exploring the backcountry:
* Be alert and aware of your surroundings.
* 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, Teton County, the Town of Jackson, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue our collective efforts to proactively prevent conflicts between bears and people in the Jackson Hole area. Together, as a community, we made tremendous progress last year. Let’s keep up the great work. By securing attractants and taking appropriate precautions while living in or visiting bear country, we can keep bears wild and people safe.
Bear Wise Jackson Hole was established in 2006 as a local chapter of the Wyoming Bear Wise Community Program and is a partnership between Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation working collaboratively with the Town of Jackson, Teton County, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our objective is to minimize the accessibility of unnatural attractants to bears and educate residents and visitors about bears and conflict prevention.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Adult male grizzly bears typically emerge from hibernation in March, while females with young typically appear between April and early May. The first grizzly bear sighting of 2022 in the Jackson Hole area occurred on March 13 in Grand Teton National Park. When bears emerge from their dens, they search for any available foods and often scavenge animals that died during the winter.
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 and people safe. As the grizzly bear population expands within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bears continue to disperse across their historical range but also into more populated areas. All of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat.
Properly storing all attractants to ensure that a bear does not obtain a food reward is crucial to keeping bears wild. Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, risks to the bear and humans increase and management options become limited. Whether you have lived in Teton County for decades or are visiting the area for a day, please do your part to help protect bears.
If you are visiting a national park or national forest:
* Never leave your food unattended unless it is properly secured.
* Keep a clean camp and adhere to all food storage orders. Store all attractants, including coolers, cooking gear, toiletries, and pet food, inside a bear box or a hard-sided vehicle with the windows rolled up.
* Do not eat or cook in your tent, and never keep food or other scented items in your tent.
* Properly store garbage until you can deposit it into a bear-resistant dumpster.
* If you see a bear, please give it space, and always stay at least 100 yards away. If you choose to watch or photograph the bear, use a spotting scope, binoculars, or telephoto lens. Park in designated areas and never block travel lanes. Follow the directions of staff in places where bears are sighted. * Please respect all wildlife closure areas.
If you are exploring the backcountry:
* Be alert and aware of your surroundings.
* 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, Teton County, the Town of Jackson, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue our collective efforts to proactively prevent conflicts between bears and people in the Jackson Hole area. Together, as a community, we made tremendous progress last year. Let’s keep up the great work. By securing attractants and taking appropriate precautions while living in or visiting bear country, we can keep bears wild and people safe.
Bear Wise Jackson Hole was established in 2006 as a local chapter of the Wyoming Bear Wise Community Program and is a partnership between Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation working collaboratively with the Town of Jackson, Teton County, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our objective is to minimize the accessibility of unnatural attractants to bears and educate residents and visitors about bears and conflict prevention.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Monday, March 20, 2023
Glacier National Park 2023 Construction Updates
Glacier National Park has announced plans for major construction areas during the 2023 summer season. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for traffic delays at the West Entrance and closures in the North Fork due to construction.
Bridge Preservation Project
Glacier National Park is continuing a construction project to rehabilitate 13 bridges throughout the park. The work will take place over the next year. This is the continuation of a two-year project that began last summer.
Due to bridge construction and road conditions, all roads in the North Fork area of the park are expected to be closed to vehicle traffic until May 25, 2023. Early season work is proposed to complete bridge approach excavations in the Spring. All spring work is dependent on weather conditions and site accessibility.
The Bowman, Kintla, Akokala and Ford bridges, located in the North Fork, are anticipated to have short delays May 26 to early September 2023. Kintla, Akokala and Ford bridges will likely be closed to all traffic starting September 5 through mid-November. The Bowman Bridge is expected to be closed to all traffic September 11 through mid-November. The park anticipates visitors will not have access to Bowman and Kintla areas during the construction closures, including campgrounds and trailheads. In addition to the Bridge Preservation Project, the GNP Road Crew will also be grading the last five miles of the road to Kintla Lake July through fall 2023. Visitors need to use caution as there will be heavy truck traffic and minor delays. Roads in the North Fork area typically close at the end of November due to winter conditions.
If early season work is completed in spring, Bowman Creek Bridge will only require a short duration closure in the fall.
The Fish Creek Bridge will be paved in late May before Fish Creek Campground opens for the season. The bridge is anticipated to have limited delays in traffic until its expected closure to motorized, pedestrian, and bicycle access May 1 through May 25, 2023.
The North Fork Bridge, located on the north end of Camas Road, will be resurfaced and the roadway leading up to the bridge will be milled, paved, and graded. Work on the North Fork Bridge is expected to start in April and go through late fall 2023. Visitors should expect short delays when crossing the bridge.
The Lee Creek Bridge, located along Chief Mountain Highway, will have short delays starting September through late fall 2023.
Since the last construction season, work has been substantially completed on the Anaconda, Camas, Dutch Creek, Quartz and Logging Creek bridges located on the Inside North Fork Road.
Improvements to the bridges include bridge deck and approach repairs, timber pile replacement and repairs, timber curb replacement, painting, concrete repair, erosion control measures, and more. The work is being completed to preserve the existing bridges and ensure continued usage by preventing failure which would require full bridge replacement.
Lake McDonald Utilities Project Construction on the Lake McDonald Utilities Project is expected to continue along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground until May 15, 2023; however, the park anticipates visitors will have vehicle and recreational access on Going-to-the-Sun Road up to Lake McDonald Lodge by May 5 at 6 a.m. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation
The west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, from the foot of Lake McDonald to North Lake McDonald Road, will undergo three phases of rehabilitation work. 9.3 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road is expected to be milled and repaved starting May through fall 2023, weather permitting.
“The pavement structure is over 27 years old. Given the edge conditions along the road, we could not add anymore pavement thickness without creating unsafe pavement edge drop offs for vehicles and impacting historic headwalls, drainage chutes, and having negative impacts to vegetation,” said Federal Highway’s Michael Traffalis.
Visitors should anticipate up to a 30-minute wait due to construction on Going-to-the-Sun Road along Lake McDonald starting in May. Entry to Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance before the 6 a.m. reservation period will not be possible due to construction activities. To avoid congestion-related delays, visitors are encouraged to use the St. Mary Entrance to access Going-to-the-Sun Road, including popular attractions such as Logan Pass and Avalanche Lake, when the road fully opens for the season.
All pull-outs in the construction zone along Lake McDonald are anticipated to be closed through late fall 2023. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.
The construction zone is anticipated to be closed nightly until late fall with opportunities to go through at scheduled times. Please check the park website for the latest construction updates.
Upper McDonald Creek Bridge
In early April, bridge replacement will begin on upper McDonald Creek. The bridge provides access to the northwest shore of Lake McDonald including private homes, the Lake McDonald Ranger Station, and trailheads. The new bridge will be built approximately 30 feet upstream of the existing bridge, requiring a realignment of the road approaches.
"The existing bridge is 58 years old. Repairs in recent years have resulted in improvements, but deterioration will continue with the structure's age, continued use, and environmental conditions,” said Traffalis. “If the bridge is not replaced, progressive failure will cause further load restrictions, and the bridge will eventually become unsafe for vehicle access and will need to be closed and/or removed for safety reasons.”
There will be a full closure during construction to North Lake McDonald Road at the intersection with the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There will be no public access, including vehicles, hiking, or biking and no parking at this intersection. Visitors intending on hiking the Johns Lake Loop Trail will need to turn around where trail closed signs are posted. Hikers will not be able to complete the loop.
Bridge construction is expected to go through the entire 2023 construction season and conclude in late 2024.
Outside the Park
Polebridge
Starting July 10, 2023, a portion of Glacier Drive, which is just north of the Polebridge businesses to the bridge entering the park, will be under construction.
Construction within the business area of Polebridge will begin on August 14, 2023. Parking will be restricted to outside the work area until construction is completed.
Visitors to the Polebridge area should expect 30-minute delays before arriving at and departing the park entrance. Updates for the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website. Visitors should know, this 30-minute construction zone will be in addition to construction zones inside the park. Please see the “Bridge Preservation Project” above.
U.S. Highway 2
Paving and chip reseal work will resume in the Marias Pass area of U.S. Highway 2 in spring 2023. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays through summer 2023. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website.
U.S. Highway 89
The section of U.S. Highway 89 immediately east and south of St. Mary, MT will be under construction this summer. This is the continuation of a multi-year project that has been ongoing for the last few summers. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays between Hudson Bay Divide and Kiowa. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Bridge Preservation Project
Glacier National Park is continuing a construction project to rehabilitate 13 bridges throughout the park. The work will take place over the next year. This is the continuation of a two-year project that began last summer.
Due to bridge construction and road conditions, all roads in the North Fork area of the park are expected to be closed to vehicle traffic until May 25, 2023. Early season work is proposed to complete bridge approach excavations in the Spring. All spring work is dependent on weather conditions and site accessibility.
If early season work is completed in spring, Bowman Creek Bridge will only require a short duration closure in the fall.
The Fish Creek Bridge will be paved in late May before Fish Creek Campground opens for the season. The bridge is anticipated to have limited delays in traffic until its expected closure to motorized, pedestrian, and bicycle access May 1 through May 25, 2023.
The North Fork Bridge, located on the north end of Camas Road, will be resurfaced and the roadway leading up to the bridge will be milled, paved, and graded. Work on the North Fork Bridge is expected to start in April and go through late fall 2023. Visitors should expect short delays when crossing the bridge.
The Lee Creek Bridge, located along Chief Mountain Highway, will have short delays starting September through late fall 2023.
Since the last construction season, work has been substantially completed on the Anaconda, Camas, Dutch Creek, Quartz and Logging Creek bridges located on the Inside North Fork Road.
Improvements to the bridges include bridge deck and approach repairs, timber pile replacement and repairs, timber curb replacement, painting, concrete repair, erosion control measures, and more. The work is being completed to preserve the existing bridges and ensure continued usage by preventing failure which would require full bridge replacement.
Lake McDonald Utilities Project Construction on the Lake McDonald Utilities Project is expected to continue along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground until May 15, 2023; however, the park anticipates visitors will have vehicle and recreational access on Going-to-the-Sun Road up to Lake McDonald Lodge by May 5 at 6 a.m. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation
The west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, from the foot of Lake McDonald to North Lake McDonald Road, will undergo three phases of rehabilitation work. 9.3 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road is expected to be milled and repaved starting May through fall 2023, weather permitting.
“The pavement structure is over 27 years old. Given the edge conditions along the road, we could not add anymore pavement thickness without creating unsafe pavement edge drop offs for vehicles and impacting historic headwalls, drainage chutes, and having negative impacts to vegetation,” said Federal Highway’s Michael Traffalis.
Visitors should anticipate up to a 30-minute wait due to construction on Going-to-the-Sun Road along Lake McDonald starting in May. Entry to Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance before the 6 a.m. reservation period will not be possible due to construction activities. To avoid congestion-related delays, visitors are encouraged to use the St. Mary Entrance to access Going-to-the-Sun Road, including popular attractions such as Logan Pass and Avalanche Lake, when the road fully opens for the season.
All pull-outs in the construction zone along Lake McDonald are anticipated to be closed through late fall 2023. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.
The construction zone is anticipated to be closed nightly until late fall with opportunities to go through at scheduled times. Please check the park website for the latest construction updates.
Upper McDonald Creek Bridge
In early April, bridge replacement will begin on upper McDonald Creek. The bridge provides access to the northwest shore of Lake McDonald including private homes, the Lake McDonald Ranger Station, and trailheads. The new bridge will be built approximately 30 feet upstream of the existing bridge, requiring a realignment of the road approaches.
"The existing bridge is 58 years old. Repairs in recent years have resulted in improvements, but deterioration will continue with the structure's age, continued use, and environmental conditions,” said Traffalis. “If the bridge is not replaced, progressive failure will cause further load restrictions, and the bridge will eventually become unsafe for vehicle access and will need to be closed and/or removed for safety reasons.”
There will be a full closure during construction to North Lake McDonald Road at the intersection with the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There will be no public access, including vehicles, hiking, or biking and no parking at this intersection. Visitors intending on hiking the Johns Lake Loop Trail will need to turn around where trail closed signs are posted. Hikers will not be able to complete the loop.
Bridge construction is expected to go through the entire 2023 construction season and conclude in late 2024.
Outside the Park
Polebridge
Starting July 10, 2023, a portion of Glacier Drive, which is just north of the Polebridge businesses to the bridge entering the park, will be under construction.
Construction within the business area of Polebridge will begin on August 14, 2023. Parking will be restricted to outside the work area until construction is completed.
Visitors to the Polebridge area should expect 30-minute delays before arriving at and departing the park entrance. Updates for the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website. Visitors should know, this 30-minute construction zone will be in addition to construction zones inside the park. Please see the “Bridge Preservation Project” above.
U.S. Highway 2
Paving and chip reseal work will resume in the Marias Pass area of U.S. Highway 2 in spring 2023. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays through summer 2023. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website.
U.S. Highway 89
The section of U.S. Highway 89 immediately east and south of St. Mary, MT will be under construction this summer. This is the continuation of a multi-year project that has been ongoing for the last few summers. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays between Hudson Bay Divide and Kiowa. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation's website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Friday, March 17, 2023
Glacier Announces 2022 Visitation Data
Glacier National Park continues to be in the top 10 most visited National Parks in 2022, hosting 2,908,458 recreation visits for the year.
Recreational visits were down 5.6% from 2021, due mostly to a drop in visitation in the months of January, March, April, October, November, and December. Monthly records were set for February and September. Despite these monthly shifts in visitation, Glacier has consistently hosted around 3 million visitors each year for the last 5 years, aside from 2020 due to pandemic related closures.
The list below shows the annual trend for recreation visits over the last several years.
2022- 2,908,458
2021- 3,081,656
2020- 1,698,864 (Park closed March 24 to June 8, east side of the park remained closed)
2019- 3,049,839
2018- 2,965,309
2017- 3,305,512 (Highest on record)
While Glacier remains one of the most visited parks in the nation, park officials confirm the past two years of the vehicle reservation pilot program have successfully spread visitation throughout the day during peak hours on Going-to-the-Sun Road resulting in fewer closures, better traffic management, and a more enjoyable park experience during peak season.
More information about park visitation, including how we calculate these numbers, is available on the NPS Stats website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Recreational visits were down 5.6% from 2021, due mostly to a drop in visitation in the months of January, March, April, October, November, and December. Monthly records were set for February and September. Despite these monthly shifts in visitation, Glacier has consistently hosted around 3 million visitors each year for the last 5 years, aside from 2020 due to pandemic related closures.
The list below shows the annual trend for recreation visits over the last several years.
2022- 2,908,458
2021- 3,081,656
2020- 1,698,864 (Park closed March 24 to June 8, east side of the park remained closed)
2019- 3,049,839
2018- 2,965,309
2017- 3,305,512 (Highest on record)
While Glacier remains one of the most visited parks in the nation, park officials confirm the past two years of the vehicle reservation pilot program have successfully spread visitation throughout the day during peak hours on Going-to-the-Sun Road resulting in fewer closures, better traffic management, and a more enjoyable park experience during peak season.
More information about park visitation, including how we calculate these numbers, is available on the NPS Stats website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Monday, March 13, 2023
Moose-Wilson Road summer construction schedule released
Construction activities will resume on Moose-Wilson Road, south of Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve (LSRP), in early April. The road from the LSRP south to Granite Canyon Entrance will open to through traffic, seven days a week, beginning June 30 at 7 p.m., with possible 20-minute delays. The Moose-Wilson Road project will be completed in phases and will provide for better driving, parking, hiking and accessibility for visitors, preserving the rustic character and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
The National Park Service is working in partnership with the Western Federal Lands Highway Division to ensure that every effort is made to provide as much public access as possible along the Moose-Wilson corridor during the peak visitation season.
Schedule and visitor impacts:
* Expect a full road closure from LSRP to Granite Canyon Entrance Station from April 10—May 26.
* The road will open to weekend traffic only at 7 p.m. May 26—June 30.
* As of 7 p.m. on June 30, the road will open to through traffic, seven days a week, with possible 20-minute delays. * Access to the LSRP will be available from the north via Moose, WY.
* The Granite Canyon Trailhead and parking lot will close during construction and will open to winter recreation in December. Access to the Granite Canyon trail system, including the Valley Trail, will be available from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. Grand Teton is working in partnership with the resort and Teton Village Association to ensure visitor access.
* Speed limit through the construction zone is 20 mph, or as posted.
* Bicycle use is permitted only when the road is open to vehicular traffic. It is unlawful and extremely dangerous for cyclists to ride in a closed construction zone.
Moose-Wilson Road improvements:
* The contractor plans to complete road base preparation in the spring before installing asphalt south of the LSRP. Plans are contingent on weather conditions and snow melt.
* Granite Canyon Trailhead construction will be completed in the fall of this year with parking lot paving, the addition of vault toilets, concrete walks, pavement markings, signs, and site restoration.
* Granite Entrance Station site construction will be completed in the fall with improved entrance and exit lanes, and construction of a bicycle connection to the Teton County pathway. Site restoration and the architectural addition at the entrance station will occur after the road construction is completed.
* Poker Flats will open for equestrian activity in the fall, with an accessible horse mounting area and redesigned trails to better connect with the new parking area.
* Phase I of the Moose-Wilson Road project is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. The GAOA was created to significantly reduce maintenance backlogs in national parks, public lands, and Tribal schools.
* Phase II will begin once funding is secured and includes repair and redesign of the Death Canyon access road and trailhead parking, enhancing the new intersection and bicycle transition and native landscaping on the former roadway.
Grand Teton National Park reminds visitors to plan ahead, especially during the busy spring and summer months. To check the status of the Moose-Wilson Road, visit Grand Teton’s Live Road Status Map at go.nps.gov/tetonroads or call 307-739-3682.
The park will continue to use Twitter to communicate Moose-Wilson Road weekend openings and closings when construction resumes. Follow Grand Teton on Twitter @GrandTetonNPS.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
The National Park Service is working in partnership with the Western Federal Lands Highway Division to ensure that every effort is made to provide as much public access as possible along the Moose-Wilson corridor during the peak visitation season.
Schedule and visitor impacts:
* Expect a full road closure from LSRP to Granite Canyon Entrance Station from April 10—May 26.
* The road will open to weekend traffic only at 7 p.m. May 26—June 30.
* As of 7 p.m. on June 30, the road will open to through traffic, seven days a week, with possible 20-minute delays. * Access to the LSRP will be available from the north via Moose, WY.
* The Granite Canyon Trailhead and parking lot will close during construction and will open to winter recreation in December. Access to the Granite Canyon trail system, including the Valley Trail, will be available from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. Grand Teton is working in partnership with the resort and Teton Village Association to ensure visitor access.
* Speed limit through the construction zone is 20 mph, or as posted.
* Bicycle use is permitted only when the road is open to vehicular traffic. It is unlawful and extremely dangerous for cyclists to ride in a closed construction zone.
Moose-Wilson Road improvements:
* The contractor plans to complete road base preparation in the spring before installing asphalt south of the LSRP. Plans are contingent on weather conditions and snow melt.
* Granite Canyon Trailhead construction will be completed in the fall of this year with parking lot paving, the addition of vault toilets, concrete walks, pavement markings, signs, and site restoration.
* Granite Entrance Station site construction will be completed in the fall with improved entrance and exit lanes, and construction of a bicycle connection to the Teton County pathway. Site restoration and the architectural addition at the entrance station will occur after the road construction is completed.
* Poker Flats will open for equestrian activity in the fall, with an accessible horse mounting area and redesigned trails to better connect with the new parking area.
* Phase I of the Moose-Wilson Road project is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. The GAOA was created to significantly reduce maintenance backlogs in national parks, public lands, and Tribal schools.
* Phase II will begin once funding is secured and includes repair and redesign of the Death Canyon access road and trailhead parking, enhancing the new intersection and bicycle transition and native landscaping on the former roadway.
Grand Teton National Park reminds visitors to plan ahead, especially during the busy spring and summer months. To check the status of the Moose-Wilson Road, visit Grand Teton’s Live Road Status Map at go.nps.gov/tetonroads or call 307-739-3682.
The park will continue to use Twitter to communicate Moose-Wilson Road weekend openings and closings when construction resumes. Follow Grand Teton on Twitter @GrandTetonNPS.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
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