Did You Know : Explore the Area

Grand Teton National Park is surrounded by scenic wonderlands yearround. While you are in the area, you may want to take in some of the region's special offerings by doing day trips from the park or by stopping en route to another destination.

National Elk Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages this 23,754-acre territory on the park's southeastern border as the annual winter range for between 5,000 and 10,000 elk. As winter encroaches on the high plateaus and mountains of the Yellowstone ecosystem, the elk start migrating toward the critical winter range of the refuge. At the end of the winter season, local Boy Scout troops gather and auction the elk antlers that are naturally shed every spring, donating 80 percent of their profits to buy supplemental winter feed for the elk. The top buyers usually come from Asia, where antlers are considered to have medicinal value. For information, please call (307) 733-9212 or write to the Refuge Manager, National Elk Refuge, P.O. Box C, Jackson, WY 83001.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

This 4.4-million-acre woodland was part of the first national forest in the United States, established in 1891. It includes three wilderness areas (where motorized travel is prohibited), 1,300 lakes, seven major glaciers, the Wind River Mountain Range and large wildlife populations. The U.S. Forest Service manages the land for both recreation and commercial use, balancing the interests of hikers, hunters and sightseers with logging and mining activities. For information, please write to the Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest, P.O. Box 1888, Jackson, WY 83001, or call (307) 739-5500.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway

Seven miles of highway separate Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. In 1972, Congress designated the 37 square miles surrounding that road as the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, in recognition of Rockefeller's gifts of land to Grand Teton and other parks throughout the U.S. and Virgin Islands. If you have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, consider a detour onto Grassy Lake Road, which follows the Snake River and travels by wild meadows where army camps, and freight stations were once located during the region's pioneer past. The parkway is administered by Grand Teton National Park, which keeps a ranger station and visitor contact station near Flagg Ranch Resort. The highway is open to Flagg Ranch yearround, but is closed from there to the Yellowstone south gate in winter.

Yellowstone National Park

Your seven-day entrance permit to Grand Teton entitles you to also travel in Yellowstone. Since Yellowstone borders Grand Teton, the two parks make a natural combination destination. Yellowstone's road system forms a rough figure-eight pattern: the 96-mile lower loop makes an easy all-day side trip from Grand Teton and includes Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Norris Geyser Basin, and the Lower, Middle, and Upper Geyser Basin areas (including Old Faithful Geyser); the upper loop adds Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Fall and some great wildlife-viewing. For NPS information about Yellowstone National Park, call (307) 344-7381.

Jackson, Wyoming

This community of more than 8,500 permanent residents is the jumping-off point for year-round outdoor adventure. Jackson and the surrounding area forms the southern gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, and is a popular ski destination in winter, a thriving arts center year-round, and a business base for the regional economy. Contact the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce at (307) 733-3316.

Teton Pass to West Yellowstone

Many early explorers actually first saw the Tetons from the west as they struggled over ancient game trails to cross Teton Pass. You too can enjoy the views of Jackson Hole Valley by driving five miles west from the town of Jackson to Wilson, WY, and following Wyoming Highway 22 (Idaho Highway 33) to Victor, ID.

Views from the top of Teton Pass (elevation 8,431) offer a panorama of the southern Jackson Hole valley and wildflowers in the summer. Early fur trappers knew the western basin as Pierre's Hole and used it for their annual winter quarters. West Yellowstone, MT—one gateway to Yellowstone National Park, and a popular fly-fishing base—lies 125 miles one-way from Wilson. Note that the Teton Pass road is steep, curvy and prone to winter closures; check road conditions before departing.