Temporary Closures and Compendium Amendments

Temporary Closures on This Page Navigation

 

Map of closure area around North Elk Ranch Flats

Temporary Road Closure - North Elk Ranch.

Closed to all vehicular traffic. The area to be closed: from the junction of Highway 89/191 and Elk Ranch Road (43.830075 N, -110.512804 W) to the first cattle guard/gate on Uhl Hill Rd south from Elk Ranch (43.822056 N, -110.498693 W). Note: The northern portion of Elk Ranch flats is still accessible to the public by vehicle through the Wolff Ranch Rd.

This closure is necessary to protect integrity of this creek crossing while protecting visitors from getting their vehicles stuck here. Beavers have built a dam immediately upstream of the creek crossing and altered the flow of this creek along the western portion of the crossing. This crossing is critical to efficient access to irrigation infrastructure by the irrigation crew. With increased vehicle traffic, this could hasten the degradation of the crossing that would impact irrigation operations and require road reconstruction and/or additional maintenance. The beaver dam is one of three dams in the upstream portion of this spring-fed reach. SRM staff will implement passive monitoring via a remote camera to determine whether beavers are actively tending the dam that is diverting this creek’s flow; pending the results of that monitoring, level of beaver activity, and state of the crossing, SRM may recommend alternative approaches to protect this road if necessary

Updated May 10, 2019.

 

Map of Closure Area between Signal Mountain Lodge and Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Chapel of the Sacred Heart - Signal Mountain Area Closure

The following area has been closed to protect human safety and natural processes while a grizzly bear consumes an ungulate carcass.

Updated May 14, 2019

 

Map of Valley Trail Junction Closure

NPS

Valley Trail Junction Closure

The following area is closed starting on the south shore of Taggart Lake; southeast along lake and creek shore, to the north side of the Valley Trail Junction.

The National Park Service has determined that this closure is necessary for human safety and the protection of natural processes while an ungulate carcass (short yearling female moose) is being consumed by large carnivores and/or scavengers.

Updated May 17, 2019

 

Closure map of the Murie Ranch area.

NPS

Murie Ranch Area Closure

The following area is closed: The south corner of the closure boundary starts 50 meters directly east of the furthest east of the Murie Ranch Bathhouse building. The closure runs northwest for appx. 380 meters to a wet drainage bottom. The northern boundary of the closure follows this drainage to the northeast and then east for appx. 1 kilometer to the closure’s northeast corner. The boundary then heads due south to the Murie Ranch Road. The boundary heads west and south with a 30 meter buffer along the northern road edge. At the Murie Ranch, the boundary follows a 50 meter buffer north of the cabins to meet up with the south corner.

The National Park Service has established this closure as necessary for the protection of Great Gray owls during the nesting and brooding period. Due to limited and vulnerable habitat, the Great Gray owl is considered a Tier II Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Additionally, the Great Gray owl and its nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Updated May 14, 2019

 

Hermitage Point Area Closure

The following area is closed: The northeast corner of the closure boundary starts on the west side of Second Creek. The closure runs south along the west side of Second Creek to Jackson Lake. The southern boundary of the closure follows the shoreline to the west/southwest to Hermitage Point, then continues north along the shoreline to Half Moon Bay. The closure then heads due east to the west side of the Hermitage Point trail; then north along the west side of the Hermitage Point trail to the junction of the Swan Lake loop trail; then east along the southern boundary of the Swan Lake loop trail to the junction of the Hermitage Loop trail; and then due east to the NE corner of the closure at Second Creek. The Swan Lake Loop trail will remain open, but the Hermitage Point trail is closed.

Updated: May 7, 2019

 

Map of the Elk Ranch Reservoir wildlife closure.

NPS

Elk Ranch Reservoir Area Closure

The following area is closed: The northeast corner of the closure boundary starts at the park boundary at UTM 545928, 4851661. The closure runs south along the park’s eastern boundary to Eynon Draw. The southern boundary of the closure follows Eynon Draw to the west along the north side of the creek until joining Cowboy Cabin Road, then follows the road to the northwest to 541644, 4849969 (NAD83). The boundary then heads northeast through the reservoir to the top of hill 7282’, and then due east to the eastern boundary of the park.

Updated: May 7, 2019

 

Willow Flats Area Closure

The following area is closed: Along road from Jackson Lake Dam to Jackson Lake Lodge and then in locations along the closure boundary (see map) where the potential exists for human access of the closed area, including closure signs and closure maps posted in the Colter Bay area.

The National Park Service has determined that this closure is necessary for human safety and the protection of natural processes.

This closure will remain in effect until July 15, 2019.

Updated: May 20, 2019