Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks by Eric Peterson

Author:Eric Peterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Published: 2012-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

Winter Sports & Activities

Park facilities pretty much shut down during the winter, except for a skeleton staff at the Moose Visitor Center, and the park shows no signs of becoming a winter magnet, à la Yellowstone. That may be just as well—you can enjoy some quiet, fun times in the park without the crowds.

WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS Teton Park Road opens to conventional vehicles and RVs around May 1. The Moose-Wilson Road opens to vehicles about the same time. Park roads close on November 1 for the winter season. They are open to snowshoers and cross-country skiers after mid-December.

SPORTING GOODS & EQUIPMENT RENTALS Jackson has enough sporting equipment places to keep everyone in Wyoming outfitted. The Jack Dennis Outdoor Shop, on the south side of Town Square ( 800/570-3270 or 307/733-3270; www.jackdennisoutdoors.com), has all the skis and outdoor clothing you can possibly need. Teton Mountaineering, 170 N. Cache St. ( 800/850-3595; www.tetonmtn.com), is the equipment shop of choice for the knowledgeable and advanced skier or ice climber; Hoback Sports, 520 W. Broadway Ave. ( 307/733-5335; www.hobacksports.com), is another good option. Skinny Skis, at 65 W. Deloney Ave. off the Town Square ( 888/733-7205 or 307/733-6094; www.skinnyskis.com), is a year-round specialty sports shop focusing on Nordic skiing. For a great supply of seconds (same quality of material as “firsts”), stop at Moosely Seconds ( 307/739-1801) in Moose.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING You can ski on flat or steep terrain in Grand Teton; the two things to watch out for are hypothermia and avalanches. As with climbing, know your limitations, and make sure you’re properly equipped. Check with local rangers and guides for trails that match your ability. Among your options is the relatively easy Jenny Lake Trail, starting at the Taggart Lake Parking Area, about 13km (8 miles) of flat and scenic trail that follows Cottonwood Creek. A more difficult ski is the Taggart Lake–Beaver Creek Loop, a 5km (3.1-mile) route that has some steep and icy pitches coming back. About 6.5km (4 miles) of the Moose-Wilson Road—the back way to Teton Village from Moose—is unplowed in the winter and is an easy trip through the woods. You can climb the windy, unplowed road to the top of Signal Mountain—you might encounter snowmobiles—and have some fun skiing down. There is an easy ski trail from the Colter Bay Ranger Station area to Heron Pond—about 4km (2.5 miles), with a great view of the Tetons and Jackson Lake. Get a ski trail map from the visitor centers. Rangers also offer guided snowshoe tours.

SNOWMOBILING Snowmobiling is a popular winter option. Snowmobiling is allowed on the frozen surface of Jackson Lake and in the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest, immediately east of Grand Teton National Park.

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