Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [205]
The Nearest Airport. Inside the southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Airport (☎ 307/ 733-7682) is the most convenient airport. It's served by American, Continental Express, Delta, SkyWest (Delta Connection), and United Express. Most major car-rental companies have outlets here. For toll-free numbers, see the appendix (p. 660).
INFORMATION
To receive park maps and information before your arrival, contact Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012 (☎ 307/739-3600; www.nps.gov/grte).
The Grand Teton Natural History Association, P.O. Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012 (☎ 307/739-3606; www. grandtetonpark.org), provides information about the park through retail book sales at park visitor centers; you can also buy books by mail. The following books are recommended: Teton Trails, by Katy Duffy and Darwin Wile, and Grand Teton National Park, both available from the Grand Teton Natural History Association; A Guide to Exploring Grand Teton National Park, by Linda Olson and Tim Bywater (RNM Press); and An Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, by Lisa Gollin Evans (The Mountaineers).
The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 550, Jackson, WY 83001 (☎ 307/733-3316; www.jacksonhole chamber.com), provides information on just about everything in and around Jackson. Along with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, representatives of the chamber are employed at the informative Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, 532 N. Cache, about 3 blocks north of the town square with a view of the National Elk Refuge. For information on lodging, events, and activities, contact the chamber.
VISITOR CENTERS
Grand Teton National Park has three visitor centers. The Moose Visitor Center, the park headquarters, is a half-mile west of Moose Junction at the southern end of the park. It offers exhibits on geology and natural history, a bookstore, and audiovisual programs. You can pick up maps and permits for boating and backcountry trips.
The Jenny Lake Visitor Center at South Jenny Lake has maps, publications, and a geology exhibit.
The Colter Bay Visitor Center, the northernmost of the park's visitor centers, provides permits, information audiovisual programs, and a bookstore. This is also the home of the Indian Arts Museum.
Finally, there is an information station at the Flagg Ranch complex, which is approximately 5 miles north of the park's northern boundary.
FEES & PERMITS
There are no park gates on U.S. 26/89/191, so the views are free as you pass through the park on that route, but if you want to get off the highway and explore, you'll pay $25 per automobile for a 7-day pass (good for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton). If you expect to visit the parks more than once a year, buy a $40 annual permit.
Fees for camping in Grand Teton are $12 per night at all the park campgrounds. You must have a permit to sleep in the backcountry. See "Exploring the Backcountry," later in this chapter, for more information.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
It is unlawful to approach within 100 yards of a bear or within 25 yards of other wildlife. Feeding any wildlife is illegal.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
A popular song once romanticized "Springtime in the Rockies," but what the rest of the world calls spring is likely to be chilly and spitting snow or rain here. Snow and mud still clog trails. Cold and snow may linger into April and May, though temperatures are generally warming. The average daytime readings are in the 40s and 50s, gradually increasing into the 60s and 70s by early June. A warm jacket, rain gear, and water-resistant walking shoes are advised.
Summer is finally under way in mid-June; wildflowers start to bloom in May in the lower valleys and plains, and in July in the higher elevations. Temperatures are typically 75°F to 90°F (24°C–32°C) in the lower elevations and are especially comfortable because of the lack of