Grand Teton National Park:
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 through the vision and generosus philanthropy of John D Rockefeller, Jr. At nearly 10 million years young, the Tetons are the newest mountains in the Rockies. In fact, they continue to grow today at a pace of about an inch every hundred years. Get an early start for a full day visiting Grand Teton National Park a geological "gold mine" of adventure.
The name Teewinot comes from the Shoshone word meaning "many pinnacles." the name Teewinot probably once applied to the entire Teton Range, rather than just a single peak as it does today. Named by Fritiof Fryxell and Phil Smith when they successfully completed the first ascent of the mountain in the same year the park was establishe, 1929.
The Park has four Visitor Information Centers available throught the park. Be sure to pick up your copy of the "Teewinot" Park news and a map.
The NEW Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center located in Moose 1/2 mile west of Moose Junction. Ph: (307) 739-3399
Colter Bay Visitor Center & Indian Arts Museum located 1/2 mile west of Colter Bay Junction on Highway 89/191/287. Ph: (307) 543-2861
Jenny Lake Visitor Center located 8 miles north of Moose Junction on the Teton Park Road. Ph: (307) 739-3343. Be sure to visit the Jenny Lake area taking the one way drive and enjoy a scenic boat cruise over Jenny Lake and then a half mile hike to Hidden Falls.
Laurance S Rockefeller Preserve Center located 4 miles south of Moose on the Moose-Wilson road. The Preserve Center features unique experiential exhibits that will enhance your visit to the Preserve. Ph: (307) 739-3399
John D Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
The Memorial parkway connects Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The Rockefeller parkway provides a natural link between the two national parks and contains features characteristic of both areas. In the parkway, the northern Teton Range tapers to a gentle slope, while rocks born of Volcanic flows from the north line the Snake River and form outcropping scattered atop hills and ridge.
Choose Route #1 through Idaho or Route #2 through Yellowstone making a round trip back to West Yellowstone.
Route #1: Depart from West Yellowstone on highway 20 into Idaho. Take the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway on Idaho 47 towards Ashton, Idaho. Stop at Upper & Lower Messa Falls. (See trip-two)
This route takes you along the western side of the Teton Range. The mountains sharply contrast with rolling fields of wheat and canola in these agricultural communities as you travel through the backcountry of Idaho to the Teton Scenic By-way on Idaho Highway 32. Distance to Jackson Hole Wyoming from West Yellowstone is 137 miles.
OR
Route #2: If you want early morning photographic opportunites travel throught Yellowstone National Park to the South Entrance to the John D Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway.
The south entrance of Yellowstone National Park to the south boundary of Grand Teton National Park is 56 miles; approximate driving time with stops is 1-1/2 hours. The distance from West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole, Wyoming is 133 miles.
