A Guide to Hiking at Grand Teton National Park
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Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is part of a huge protected natural area, a virtually untouched ecosystem that amounts to almost 18 million acres (7.28 million hectares) when you include the nearby Yellowstone National Park and larger Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Grand Teton itself is more than 300,000 acres (121,405 hectares) in size and contains part of the Teton Range and Jackson Hole [source: National Park Service].
The Teton Range is part of the Rocky Mountains; in fact, the name supposedly comes from French explorers who likened the mountains to breasts. (“Grand Teton” means “large breast” in French.) The tallest, most impressive mountains of the range, known as the Cathedral Group, are all within the National Park. Grand Teton is the tallest peak; at 13,770 feet (4.2. kilometers) — along with the other peaks in the Cathedral Group — it dominates the scenery in Grand Teton National Park. Virtually every hiking trail in the park has panoramic views of the stunning, snow-capped crags jutting from the landscape.
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There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the park. There are day hikes that take you out to breathtaking views. There are trails that circle lakes, climb peaks, stick to the valleys, skirt the Teton Range, or take long, looping paths across the entire park. Hardcore hikers can spend a week on the trail. Families can pack a lunch and still enjoy the scenery and Rocky Mountain air in an afternoon.
If you’re planning a hike in Grand Teton National Park, this article will provide a good launching point. We’ll direct you to trail maps, point out safety hazards, and mention some of the best hiking trails in the park.
Grand Teton National Park is such a huge area criss-crossed by so many different hiking trails that you really need a map. Wandering into the park without a map isn’t just foolish, it could be dangerous; take the wrong trail and you might find yourself on a much longer hike than you’re prepared for.
Luckily for you, it’s easy to find excellent trail maps. The official National Park Service website has trail maps for shorter hikes in several different areas of the park, with topographic details and notations for camping areas and distances [source: National Park Service].
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If you’re looking for more detailed maps, or want to plan a longer backcountry hike, you should look to the Grand Teton Association. The association was created to provide information to park visitors, and the materials they provide are approved by the park service. You can purchase their maps and guidebooks within Grand Teton National Park. To plan ahead, visit their Web site and order the trail maps you need. They’ve got a wide selection, including some produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Using your trail map, you can plan your entire hike. Find where the trailhead is, and where you’ll find nearby parking. Note that popular trailheads will be jammed in the summer months, so if you don’t get an early start you’ll have a hard time finding parking. If you’re backpacking, plan to cover about two miles per hour. Each elevation change of 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) should add an hour to your trip [source: National Park Service]. If you’re traveling light for a day hike, you might be able to move a bit faster, but stay conservative with your planning.
Don’t forget to take a close look at the elevations on the trail map. If your hike will carry you into higher elevations, the temperature will be quite cool even in the summer, and even colder in the spring months. Overnight temperatures can approach the freezing point, so gear up accordingly.
Next, we’ll explore some of the most popular day hikes at Grand Teton National Park.
There are plenty of opportunities to see the grandeur of Grand Teton National Park on a day hike. Keep in mind that these popular hikes are…well, really popular, especially during the peak tourist season. If you’re looking to experience the quiet solitude of nature, you’re going to have to head a bit deeper into the back country. But for a quick journey to stunning vistas, here are some of your best bets:
Up next, some tips for hiking and camping in Grand Teton National Park.
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If you’re planning a longer hike — one that will require you to camp for one or more nights in the back country — you’ll need to know some additional park regulations. You can reserve a permit ahead of time for a $25 fee, but the National Park Service has a clear policy on backcountry camping:
“All backcountry camping requires a permit. Backcountry camping permits are issued free of charge to walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits can be obtained at the Colter Bay and Craig Thomas Discovery and visitor centers, and at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Permits involving overnight camping while climbing or mountaineering may only be obtained at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station during the summer.”
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Wildlife is a major draw at Grand Teton. However, it can also be a serious safety issue. There are more than 50 grizzly bears and a few hundred black bears within Grand Teton National Park, as well as a dozen wolf packs that range from a single adult pair to 12 adults and their pups. You can also find hundreds of moose and bison and thousands of elk, and these animals can be very dangerous if proper care isn’t taken [source: Grand Teton Association]. The National Park Service requires that all backcountry campers take bear-proof containers with them. The park can provide bear-proof canisters if you don’t have your own.
In addition to other regulations common to wilderness areas (bury human waste properly, carry out all trash, etc.), Grand Teton does not allow pets on trails.
Finally, be aware that the Tetons make for rugged country, susceptible to dramatic shifts in weather, unexpected snow storms, frequent rain, and very cold nights. Particularly at higher elevations, snow doesn’t fully melt until late spring or even early summer. Be prepared with the gear and clothing to deal with a lot of variables [source: National Park Service].
For more information on hiking trails, explore the links on the next page.
It would be tough to go wrong at Grand Teton. There’s just so much amazing scenery and wildlife around that pretty much any trail will take you to great photo ops (and memories). I’d love to spend a week on the trail some time, and get to some of the really secluded areas of the park.
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A Guide to Hiking at Grand Teton National Park
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