Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, WY
A great travel destination or possibly just a short stop on an epic road trip, Jackson, WY and the Grand Teton National Park are a must see. Located just south of Yellowstone National Park is the famous Teton Range. Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the Teton Range. The park is near historic Jackson Hole Wyoming. Nestled in an area of reflective alpine lakes that teem with wildlife under the backdrop of rugged mountains which appear to rise straight out of the sage-covered valley Grand Teton NP is breath taking and also historic.
History
Although the title, “Mount Hayden”, was used by at least one expedition prior to the naming of Grand Teton- — Teton won its name from 19th century French trappers who called the range “les trois tetons”, meaning “the three teats”. Some historians believe “Teton” came from the name of the Native American Teton Sioux tribe, and some think that in earlier years the mountain rage was actually called “Teewinot” which translates to “many pinnacles” in the Shoshone language.
Human history in the region is believed to have started more than 11,000 years ago when Nomadic indians first entered the Jackson Hole valley after the ice age glaciers retreated. Fire pits, stone tools, and tipi rings have been discovered dating back to that time period. The Shoshone people were the primary inhabitants when euro-American’s arrived.
John Colter may have been the first euro-American explorer to have entered the area on his return from the Lewis and Clark ‘Corps of Discovery’ expedition in 1806 and traveled through this region in the winter of 1807-1808 but he neglected to record anything about his time there.
Homesteaders didn’t arrive in Jackson Hole until 1884, but over the next decade many more settlers established homesteads. The area although beautiful, was difficult to thrive in. the soil was sandy and rocky, seasons extreme in temperature, and winters unpleasantly long causing homesteaders to struggle with producing food and raising cattle. By 1908 rich easterners came to Jackson Hole to have an authentic “cowboy” experience. These people loved their experience — and word quickly spread of its enjoyment. From then on local ranchers realized economically focusing on the tourism side of the land was more profitable than an agricultural emphasis and relied more on ‘dude ranching’. In the 1920 and 1930 steps were taken to try and preserve the area and slow the tide of development . Today what you have is the result of constant battle of development and preservation.
What’s there to see today:
Jenny Lake: A two mile long, 250-foot-deep lake. Visitors often fish, paddle, swim, or boat in its waters or hike around the trail head. Tourists can easily spend more than a full day here.
Teton Park Road: 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive.
Grand Teton – 13,770-foot peak: About a 14 mile of hiking round trip, but if you visit the paintbrush Canyon-Cascade Loop it is a strenuous 19 mile round trip hike that begins at the String Lake Trail head by Jenny Lake. Ice picks are needed until about July.
Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center: Also called the “Moose Visitor Center”. Features a 30-foot rock climbing wall, a topographic map with laser technology to show visitors the progression of the glaciers and migration of wildlife, and an in house theater that features a park documentary.
Taggart Lake Trail: Great hike one to do if your looking for something easy-to-moderate in difficulty with breath taking views. The distance is about three miles round trip.
Jackson Lake Lodge: One of the historic lodges of the National Park System – in my mind it is a must see. The lodge is a great place to relax on a cool day and just people watch. The dining room will set you back a few bucks but the views and setting are well worth the price.
Boat Tours: Float or rafting trips down the snake river, mini-cruises on Jenny and Jackson Lakes, and opportunities to rent canoes and kayaks for the river and lakes.
Mormon Row Historic Site: Photographers enjoy the preserved homestead and barns that remain from the Mormon ranch settlement in the 1890s. Here is where you will find the Multon barn – some say it’s the most photographed barn in the county.
Jackson, WY: This historic old western town turned tourist hot spot much like Durango, CO or Park City, UT. You will find all essential services and many that are not so essential. There are several national grocery stores in town – stock if you are going to leave and go into Yellowstone for a period of time since this is the last large shopping area. Also gas tends to be cheaper in town than at the gas stations with in the parks. The main square in Jackson is another must stop to get your Facebook photo to prove you were there. Around the square are a number of t-shirt stores with some of the better prices and selection of obligatory t-shirts.
What to do if you have only one day:
Visit the Moose Junction visitor center to get an overview of the park. Drive to Jenny Lake and take the ferry to the other side of the lake then walk/hike back along the shore line for some of the most dramatic alpine lake views in this country – bring you lunch since food services in the area are limited. Next, head deeper into the park by driving to Jackson Lake Lodge for an early dinner in the historic Jackson Lodge dining room. On your return trip to Jackson Hole stop at Mormon Row for the obligatory photo stop at Multon barn just as the sun is starting to set. Finish the evening in Jackson to take in one of the many musical or stage acts or during the summer the rodeo.
Where to stay:
There are a number of commercial RV parks in the Jackson area and even more further into the park. My choice near Jackson is the NPS campground Gros Ventre located just within the parks southern border. This is the closest NPS campground to Jackson and does not require a park service fee to enter. You can almost always get a site since it rarely fills up. The campground has been in need of an update for years and it is starting to be done. There are some sites with electrical hook-ups but you will pay a premium for this service. With 300+ sites and a single two hole dump station just do the math, mid-morning departures can be frustrating so leave before 8am to beat the rush.
Boondocking: One the best free campsites in the country is located near Jackson, WY. With stunning views of the Teton Peaks you can enjoy this site for free for up to 14 days. Located on Shadow MT Road just past the small town of Kelly, WY it is about a quarter mile off the paved road on a gravel and sometimes rutted road. There are 13 sites in the lower area and more up the mountain. I would not venture up the mountain pulling a large RV or in a motor home. We stayed in the lower camp area in a 30 ft travel trailer with no problems.