National Parks and Forests near Jackson Hole

 Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park will leave you in awe of the immense, granite peaks which rise up over 7,000 vertical feet from the valley floor. The Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet. All views of the range are unique, but be sure to check out the 'Cathedral View' near Jenny Lake. A boat ride across Jenny Lake and a hike up Cascade Canyon will give you a better feel for the vast size of the Teton Range. Gazing over Jackson Lake at the beauty of Mt. Moran with it's distinctive flat top is a memory to keep - especially at sunset. Grand Teton National Park is certain to be one of your favorites.

Grand Teton National Park Road Openings:
The outer road is open year round. The inner road between the Bradley-Taggart Trailhead and the Jackson Lake Dam will open to vehicular traffic around May 1st. It will be open to pedestrian and bike traffic by April 1st.  Opening of the Moose-Wilson Road (from Teton Village) is weather dependant, but should be open also open in early May.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world, and served as a model for the whole National Parks concept. Sitting atop an ancient volcano, the combination of water and geothermal heating make for some exceedingly diverse sights. The geysers are one of the highlights of the park. The only other places to have geysers are Siberia, New Zealand and Iceland; however, Yellowstone has more geysers than all three of those areas combined. Yellowstone also boasts the world's 2nd largest high-altitude lake and a deep canyon with 2 magnificent waterfalls. Oh, and the wildlife cannot be forgotten: bison, elk, wolves, and grizzly bears, just to name a few!

Take you time exploring and enjoying this immense, diverse ecosystem.

Yellowstone National Park's Southern entrance (closest to Jackson Hole) is expected to open mid-May.
Note: be sure to check on Yellowstone's road closures report.
Find opening dates for specific Yellowstone facilities.

Lodging in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

National Elk Refuge

The National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole was established in 1912 after the photography of Stephen Leek inspired public interest in preserving a part of the traditional winter range of the area elk population.

Today almost 10,000 elk winter in the refuge, which is located just north of the town of Jackson. The elk begin their migration out of the high meadows in the fall, usually after the first snow storm. They stay in the refuge through the spring, when food becomes more abundant. The refuge covers about 25,000 acres of open fields, streams, ponds, and marshes. In addition to elk, the refuge is home to at least 46 other mammal species and nearly 175 bird species.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

The Bridger-Teton National Forest offers more than 3.4 million acres of public land for your outdoor recreation enjoyment. With its pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife and immense wildlands, the Bridger-Teton National Forest comprises a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 United States. Offering nearly 1.2 million acres of designated Wilderness, over 3,000 miles of road and trail and thousands of miles of unspoiled rivers and streams, the Bridger-Teton offers something for everyone. We encourage you to visit this beautiful landscape and experience this unique piece of American Heritage.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest, at the request of Senator John Barrasso, is leading the State of Wyoming in the delivery of the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2010. The Capitol Christmas Tree will grace the west front lawn of the U.S. Capitol in December, 2010.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is an official permitee of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Other Resources

The National Park Service's Official Grand Teton Site
The National Park Service's Official Yellowstone Site
US Fish & Wildlife Official National Elk Refuge Site
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Great Outdoor Recreation Page (GORP) Grand Teton Site
Great Outdoor Recreation Page (GORP)Yellowstone Site