Grand Teton National Park

At less than 10 million years old, Teton Range is the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. The Tetons continue to rise at a rate of about 4.5 inches every 100 years. Just as it is growing in size, I only expect it to grow in popularity as well. One of my favorite experiences within this mountain range took place in Grand Teton National Park this year.

I entered Teton National Park from the south entrance this past May. US191 took me through the beautiful, quaint, resort town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming and then it was just a short drive north to the entrance of the park. To my amazement, I was greeted by a grizzly bear about 100 yards off 191 not but a quarter of a mile into the park.  I had never seen one so close before and out of all the ways to see a grizzly, this was one of the safest. There were 4 park rangers, most of which with riffles in their cars in case anything went wrong. We were all very aware of the big beautiful creature, but it didn’t seem to mind or acknowledge the fact that we were there at all. The bear wondered and grazed for little berries and for every nonchalant step he took towards the crowd, the park rangers would push us back too, keeping all spectators at a minimum of a 100 yard range. This was a great first impression of Grand Teton National Park; an impression that was solidified the entire journey into Yellowstone National Park.

The parks are connected by a 27-mile-long parkway named after John D. Rockefeller Jr. The parkway stretches 24,000-acre acting as an extension to Grand Teton. Grand Teton is nearly a tenth of the size of Yellowstone, which at 2.2 million acres is almost impossible to explore in a single visit. From hiking to climbing to kayaking to wildlife viewing, Grand Teton and the parkway are an ideal destination for sightseers and adventurers.

The highest peak of Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet which beckons world-class climbers. With more than 20 miles of paved pathways, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, fantastic fishing opportunities and more than 1,000 front-country campsites, Grand Teton appeals to casual vacationers as well as hard-core thrill seekers.

Jackie Skaggs, who is now the park’s public affairs officer, arrived in 1976 to work for one of the park’s concessionaires and never left. Jackie says “The rugged Teton Range is the Swiss Alps of North America, We have charismatic wildlife that range from something like a little pika in the talus slopes in the Teton canyons to the large bison, elk and grizzly bears on the sagebrush flats.”

“What makes Grand Teton special is the relative ease in which you can lose crowds and experience the wonderment and solitude of the wilderness on a trail” stated a couple when asked about their experience at Grand Teton.

Grand Teton National Park ; live it, explore it, love it.