Grand Tetons National Park P.O. Box 170 Moose, WY 83012 (307) 733-2880

Grand Teton National Park is located in Northwest Wyoming just north of Jackson Hole and South of Yellowstone National Park. The park's highest peak, the Grand Teton, soars to 13770ft.

Rocky Mountain scenery offers dramatic vistas but few more impressive than the Teton skyline. As Teton Range rose through sporadic earthquake-producing jolts, the valley called Jackson Hole subsided. Because of the way the mountains formed, no foot hills hide jagged peaks and broad canyons. At the base of the range, large lakes mirror the mountains on calm summer days, doubling their prominence.

In addition to this great displacement along the Teton fault, the central peaks were thrust even higher, along fault zones within the range. Wind, water, ice, and glaciers long ago stripped sedimentary layers off the central peaks, uncovering basement rock nearly as old as the Earth itself. Resistant granite, sculpted into the Grand Teton and adjacent peaks, towers as the central range's exposed core.

The geologic forces and natural systems that interact to produce inspiring scenery also nurture a remarkable diversity of animals. Despite a short growing season, the ecosystem supports the largest elk herd remaining in the world. A small herd of buffalo also summers in the park and winters in the National Elk Refuge on the south end of the park.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes the Teton Range and Jackson Hole, remains as the largest essentially intact natural area in the contiguous United States. Evergreen forests and wild rivers abound.

In 1929, much of the Teton Range received protection through the establishment of the park. After years of debate Congress added the Jackson Hole portion in 1950.

CAMPING: Five campgrounds are available on a first-come first-served basis within the park:

Gros Ventre campground, south of Moose, with 360 sites and a trailer dump station. It generally fills in the evening, if at all. The campground lies along the Gros Ventre River with a mix of sites in sagebrush, beneath cottonwoods and adjacent to but a short distance from the river.

Jenny Lake campground, north of Moose, with 49 sites and is restricted to tents. The park's most popular campground is generally full by 8 a.m. In among the evergreens and glacial boulders a short distance from Jenny Lake.

Signal Mountain campground, north of Jenny Lake, has 86 sites and a trailer dump station and generally fills by about 10 a.m. Signal Mountain offers a mix of spruce and fir trees, hillsides and lake and montain views. Adjacent to Signal Mountain Lodge and marina with a campstore and amenities close by. Sites are generally small and intimate.

Colter Bay campground, north of Jackson Lake Junction, with 310 sites also has showers, a laundry and a trailer dump station, fills about noon. Colter Bay is a wooded campground with larger sites and easier access if you are travelling with a camper, trailer or RV. Close to Jackson Lake with plenty of stuff to do close by.

Lizard Creek campground, at the north end of Grand Teton National Park, has 60 sites and fills by about 2:00 p.m. A less heavily developed campground with sites in the spruce and fir forest. One side of the campgound is adjacent to and slightly above Jackson Lake.

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Last updated July 18, 2000