NPS Photo/Danielle Lehle
Grassy Lake Road is the east-west artery through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. From this road, you can access the major hiking trails, primitive campsites, and lodging and facilities.
Polecat Creek - NPS Photo/Danielle Lehle
This road is also called the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Rd on some mapping applications (websites? Devices? Definitely google-maps.) Your GPS may tell you that this is the easiest way to cut across to Idaho. Don't believe it. As the crow flies, it is definitely the shortest route from Flagg Ranch to Ashton. As the car drives… well, that's another thing altogether. The first mile of the road is paved, and after that, it is 36 miles of gravel road - sometimes washboarded, sometimes rutted, often windy, always narrow - and 12 more miles to Ashton, ID. Travel time from Flagg Ranch to Ashton by this route usually takes a minimum of 3 hours.
NPS Photo/Danielle Lehle
Trailheads Along the Grassy Lake Road
The trailheads for Polecat Creek Loop, Flagg Canyon, and Glade Creek Trails are located inside the Parkway.
The trailheads for Beula Lake, Cascade Creek, and Union Falls are found in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest just west of the JODR. These hikes continue into Yellowstone National Park.
NPS Photo/Danielle Lehle
Camping Along the Grassy Lake Road
Headwaters Campground and RV sites at Flagg Ranch: 175 sites in a conifer forest, full hook-up RV sites (20 and 50 amp electric), and camper cabins. Services include dump station, showers, and laundry. Call 800-443-2311 for reservations.
Grassy Lake Road campsites: twenty primitive campsites along a gravel road passable to all vehicles with picnic tables, pit toilets, trash cans, and food storage boxes. No water. Free of charge - first come, first served. Some sites are suitable for small RVs.
NPS Photo/Danielle Lehle