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A map of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The park is shown primarily in a saturated green color; within the park, its mountain peaks are depicted in snowy white; its lowlands in a yellowish-beige; its interspersed lakes in blue; and its major roads and highways in red.

Extended Description

Grand Teton National Park is a large, irregularly-shaped area that runs primarily north-to-south; its jagged western boundary is almost entirely defined by the ridgelines of the Teton Range, while its eastern flank consists of staircasing straight lines that taper out a bit from the park’s center. Within the park are dozens of peaks, lakes, roads, trails, and points of interest. This description will begin by discussing the major features of the Teton Range; then follow the park’s major roadways and waterways to describe its many visitor sites and amenities; go over the other major sites and areas surrounding the park; and finally provide a transcription of the map legend.

The Teton Range

The western third of Grand Teton National Park is defined by the vast and jagged Teton Range, whose linear, north-to-south orientation acts as the spine of the park. Starting at the park’s northern tip, a network of trails winds through a series of canyons around unnamed peaks; along the park boundary itself, this area includes Survey Peak and Moose Mountain. Heading further south, Ranger Peak, at 11,360 feet (3,463 meters) and Eagles Rest Peak, at 11,263 feet (3433 meters), loom prominently over Jackson Lake, the park’s most prominent body of water.

Continuing south are Bivouac Peak and Mount Moran, whose peak sits at 12,160 feet (3,844 meters) and is surrounded by a series of small glaciers. Beyond this, Rockchuck Peak and Mount St John are separated from Mount Moran by another series of canyons and lie northwest of Jenny Lake. These two peaks are encircled by a long trail loop that travels through the surrounding canyons, and an additional spur trail leads southwest to another trail network outside the park.

South of Mount St John, a cluster of peaks surround the park’s namesake summit of Grand Teton, which rises to 13,775 feet (4,199 meters) and is the highest point in the park. Around Grand Teton, in clockwise order and starting at 12 o’clock, are Mount Owen at 12,933 feet (3,942 meters); at 2 o’clock, Teewinot Mountain at 12,330 feet (3,758 meters); at 6 o’clock, Nez Perce; at 7 o’clock, Middle Teton at 12,809 feet (3,904 meters); also at 7 o’clock, South Teton, at 12,519 feet (3,816 meters), but about twice the distance from Grand Teton as Middle Teton; and, on the park boundary at 9 o’clock, Table Mountain. Two glaciers, Teton Glacier and Middle Teton Glacier, also lie to the east and south, respectively, of Grand Teton.

Beyond the Grand Teton cluster of peaks, the Teton Range continues to the south and then southwest before heading out of the park’s southern boundary. From north to south, peaks along this stretch include Mount Wister; Buck Mountain at 11,943 feet (3,640 meters); and Static Peak. Then, heading southwest, are Prospectors Mountain; Mount Hunt; and Rendezvous Mountain at 10,455 feet (3,187 meters). This final summit is connected via the southeast-running Aerial Tramway to Teton Village and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, both of which lie outside the park boundary. Also here is the Rendezvous Mountain (Tram) Trailhead, which has hiking and connects to a weblike network of trails running in and out of the southwest portion of the park, among which include the Teton Crest Trail near the park’s western boundary.

Jackson Lake

Back at the northern tip of the park, the eastern two-thirds of Grand Teton National Park is largely defined by numerous lakes, the braided Snake River, low-lying hills, and flat plains. By far the largest and most prominent of these features is Jackson Lake, which begins just south of the point where the Snake River flows south into the park and gradually widens into a cone-like shape that runs approximately halfway down the park. Within the lake’s southern basin are two islands, Elk Island in the center and Donoho Point in the east, as well as a peninsula, Hermitage Point, which juts into the basin from the northeast. A note indicates that Jackson Lake’s surface elevation is 6,772 feet (2,064 meters). For most of its length, Jackson Lake is paralleled on the east by a single highway designated collectively as U.S. Routes 89, 191, and 287.

Following this highway from north to south are the following sites and points of interest: Lizard Creek, which has a campground; Jackson Lake Overlook; three picnic areas that are approximately evenly-spaced out from one another; and a short spur road heading north from the highway and towards Jackson Lake. Along this spur are Leeks Marina, which has food service and a marina; and the UW-NPS Research Center AMK Ranch. Back on the highway, another short spur branches off towards the southwest to Colter Bay Village, which has a ranger station, picnic area, campground, food service, lodging, gas station, store, marina, and horseback riding. Slightly further down this spur are Colter Bay Visitor Center and the Hermitage Point Trailhead, which has hiking and connects to a network of trails along Jackson Lake’s southeastern shore.

Back on the highway, the road curls east and then south, passing a dense network of trails that encircle two long lakes, with Two Ocean Lake to the north and Emma Matilda Lake to the south. Further down the highway is Jackson Lake Lodge, which has food service, lodging, a gas station, horseback riding, and a medical clinic. Past Jackson Lake Lodge is the Willow Flats Overlook and then the highway’s intersection with Teton Park Road, which heads in the opposite direction to the southwest.

Beyond this intersection, the road heads east parallel to the Snake River and passes the Oxbow Bend Turnout, another unnamed overlook, and an intersection with Pacific Creek Road. This minor road in turn leads northeast to two unpaved roads; one road forks northwest to Two Ocean Lake Trailhead, which has a picnic area and hiking, at the eastern end of Two Ocean Lake; and the other unpaved road goes northeast and heads beyond the park boundary.

Past this intersection, the highway reaches Moran Entrance and Moran Junction. At this point, the highway splits into two. One branch, a single road labeled as both U.S. Routes 26 and 287, heads eastward, passes an unnamed overlook, and then leaves the park. The other branch, also a single road labeled as U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191, heads generally southwest into Jackson Hole.

Western Jackson Hole

The dominant feature in the southern half of the park is Jackson Hole, a large valley stretching between the Teton Range to the west and a series of unlabeled hills in the east and extending from Jackson Lake in the north to the southern park boundary and beyond. At the western rim of the valley, a series of smaller lakes are nestled within the foothills of the Teton Range peaks. A cluster of these just south of Jackson Lake consists of, from north to south, Leigh Lake and Jenny Lake, with the sinuous String Lake connecting the two; a bit further south of these is the pairing of Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake; and finally Phelps Lake sits alone in the southwest corner of the park. Further east in the valley’s interior, Jackson Hole is split in the middle by the Snake River, which flows south from Jackson Lake and also extends to the southern park boundary and beyond. Within the park, the Snake River is almost wholly surrounded by a loop of roads formed by Teton Park Road in the west and U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191 to the east.

Teton Park Road begins east of Jackson Lake and runs southwest, passing over Jackson Lake Dam and then running parallel with the southeast shore of the lake. Sites along this stretch of the road include a picnic area just before the dam; the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, which has a picnic area; and Signal Mountain Lodge, which is on the shores of Lake Jackson and has a campground, marina, food service, lodging, gas station, and store. Across Teton Park Road from Signal Mountain Lodge is a small trail network leading eastward to the summit of Signal Mountain, at an elevation of 7,727 feet (2,355 meters). Signal Mountain Road descends from this summit back to Teton Park Road at an intersection south of the lodge. Finally, an unnamed unpaved road stretches east from Teton Park Road to the banks of the Snake River.

From here, the road heads west, passing the Potholes Turnout and Mount Moran Turnout before reaching another unnamed overlook and the beginning of a small loop road. This roughly-triangular shaped loop heads past the Cathedral Group Turnout, then reaches its apex at Jenny Lake Lodge, which has food service and lodging; and String Lake Trailhead, which has hiking. A very short road also extends from here to the northwest and ends at Leigh Lake Trailhead, which has a picnic area and hiking. Beyond this point, the loop road becomes a one-way road in the southeast direction and runs parallel to the eastern shore of Jenny Lake, passing the Jenny Lake Overlook before returning back to Teton Park Road. Between the start and end points of this loop, the Cascade Canyon Turnout can also be found along Teton Park Road.

Next along the park road is Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which has the Jenny Lake Trailhead; a ranger station; store; campground; and hiking. This visitor center is also the starting point of a multi-use path that runs south alongside Teton Park Road. A dotted line stretches across Jenny Lake from its southwest shore to Inspiration Point on the western shore of the lake. Further south along Teton Park Road is an unpaved road that curls down to Lupine Meadows Trailhead, which has hiking; Teton Glacier Turnout; and another unpaved road leading southwest to Climbers Ranch. Next is a longer unpaved road stretching east to Bar BC Historic Site, near the Snake River; a picnic area; Taggart Lake Trailhead, with hiking; and Menor's Ferry Historic District, with the Chapel of the Transfiguration and a self-guiding trail. Finally, the road ends at its intersection with U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191 in Moose, where it passes the Moose Entrance; the Park Headquarters; Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, with a ranger station; and Dornans, which has food service, lodging, a gas station, and a store.

Also in Moose, another road, Moose-Wilson Road, branches off Teton Park Road and heads southwest out of the park. Along its route it passes an unpaved road leading southwest to Murie Ranch; another unpaved road stretching north to Death Canyon Trailhead, which has hiking; Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, with hiking and a ranger station; Granite Canyon Trailhead, which has hiking; and Granite Canyon Entrance. A note in red indicates that Moose-Wilson Road is closed to trucks, RVs, and trailers.

Eastern Jackson Hole

Back in the area east of Jackson Lake, the highway consisting of U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191 extends south from Moran Junction and runs parallel to the Snake River until it runs out the southern tip of the park. Starting at Moran Junction, the highway passes by Elk Ranch Flats Turnout; Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, with a self-guiding trail; Triangle X Ranch, with lodging; Deadmans Bar Road, which extends west from the highway to reach the Snake River; Snake River Overlook; Teton Point Turnout; an unpaved road branching up to Schwabacher Landing on braids of the Snake River; Glacier View Turnout; and an unnamed turnout.

Beyond this turnout, Antelope Flats Road branches off towards the east and passes Mormon Row Historic District, which has Moulton Barns and a self-guiding trail, before ending at an unlabeled road running north-to-south. Following that road south, it then meets another road that branches off to the northeast and leads to Teton Science Schools and then out of the park. Beyond this intersection, the road passes an unnamed turnout and then merges with the east-west running Gros Ventre Road, with Kelly Warm Spring near the intersection. The eastern stretch of the road reaches the park boundary a short distance from this intersection, while the western stretch passes Kelly; and Gros Ventre, with a campground. At this point, the road travels southwest along the Gros Ventre River and the park boundary, before reaching U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191 at a roundabout.

Back on the highway, the stretch between the intersections with Antelope Flats Road and Gros Ventre Road passes, from north to south, Moose, two unnamed turnouts, and Jackson Hole Airport and is also paralleled by a multi-use path. After reaching the roundabout, the highway and multi-use path both continue past another unnamed turnout; Park Entrance Turnout; and Jackson National Fish Hatchery, almost immediately after which they exit the park.

Outside the Park

Numerous additional sites and protected areas are also highlighted outside of Grand Teton National Park. Starting at the south end of Jackson Hole and the Snake River valley, the main route out of the park is U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191 that passes along the National Elk Refuge, shaded in light orange and situated to the east of the highway, and with a section of Grand Teton National Park on the West side of the highway. Heading south out of the park, this route passes the Jackson National Fish Hatchery, the National Museum of Wildlife Art and finally, just before entering the town of Jackson, the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. The highway continues through Jackson to Pinedale, off the map. A side road leads to the Snow King Mountain Resort.


Southwest of the park, the main road is State Highway 22, connecting Jackson to Wilson, WY just after crossing the Snake River. The map shows river access at the crossing. Shortly after crossing the Snake River, the Moose-Wilson Road provides access to Teton Village, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and the aerial tramway mentioned previously.

After Wilson, State Route 22 climbs to Teton Pass at 8,431 feet (2,570 meters) in the Bridger Teton National Forest. A number of forest roads and trails in this area provide access to the national forest and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. As State Route 22 continues northwest it passes a campground at Trail Creek on the Wyoming side of the state boundary with Idaho. Upon crossing into Idaho, the same road becomes State Route 33 and passes the Mike Harris campground in Idaho and the town of Victor.

Further north along the western edge of the park there are only a few roads and trails indicated, mostly within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. These include trails in the Alaska Basin and on Table Mountain. In Idaho, there is also access from State Route 33 by road from the town of Driggs east to the Grand Targhee Resort and the Teton Canyon campground.

Further north, and due east of the park, the map shows the topographic relief of the Teton Range, but has no named features until about 11 o’clock, where there are trails in the area of Survey Peak, also in a section of the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. Further north and east, near the Yellowstone National Park boundary there is an unpaved road named the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road that crosses from Idaho into Wyoming and eventually leads to the Grassy Lake Reservoir and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Northeast of this section is the Winegar Hole Wilderness.

The topmost section of the map shows the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park to the south is a section of park labeled as the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. This area includes an 8 mile (13 km) section of U.S. Routes 26, 89, and 191, as well as Grassy Lake Road, an unpaved road that the map indicates is not recommended for trailers or RVs. This road provides access to the Glade Creek Trailhead and eventually connects to the Ashton Flagg Ranch Road near Grassy Lake Reservoir.

The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway section also features the Flagg Ranch Information Station, with trails, camping, food, groceries, gas, horse riding, a ranger station and hiking.

Between 1 and 2 o’clock northeast of the park, the map shows topographic features, but not a lot of named features. This area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest includes Arizona Lake, Arizona Creek, the Teton Wilderness, an unpaved road to the Pacific Creek campground, and several lengthy hiking trails.

Continuing south and east, now at around 3 o’clock, U.S. Route 26/287 exits the park and heads to the Hatchet campground. Off the map, this road heads to Dubois, Wyoming. Buffalo Valley Road is shown heading north and east from Highway 26/287, just outside of the eastern entrance to the park along the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River.

The map shows only a few details south of Highway 26/287 to the south entrance of the park. There is an unpaved road leading out of the park in the area of Antelope Flats and forming a backwards “C” into an area named Shadow Mountain.

South of this, Gros Ventre Road leaves the park and continues to a self-guiding trail and the Atherton Creek Campground on the north side of Lower Slide Lake.

East of the National Elk Refuge, between roughly 4 and 5 o’clock, the map shows more of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Finally, just southeast of the National Elk Refuge is a series of unpaved roads that lead from the city of Jackson to the Curtis Canyon campground.

Legend

The bottom left corner of the map has a north arrow, pointing directly up; and a scale bar that gives measurements of 1 and 5 kilometers on the top, and 1 and 5 miles on the bottom. The bottom right contains the map legend consisting of three columns with five entries and a fourth column with two entries. The leftmost column of legend entries consists of the following:

A red line with a black semicircle in the middle representing a turnout or overlook;
A red triangle with red text reading “5 miles / 8 kilometers” for a distance indicator;
A white line encased within two thin black lines for an unpaved road (4-wheel drive recommended);
A dashed green line with long dashes for a multi-use pathway; and
A dashed gray line with short dashes for a trail.

The remaining three rows of legend entries show simplified white pictographic symbols encased in rounded black squares for the following park services and amenities:

A building with a flag above it representing a ranger station;
A person with a backpack looking to the right at an angled sign, with a dotted line starting at the base of the sign and following the right perimeter of the square to point back at the person to represent a self-guiding trail;
A person on a horse, both facing to the right, for horseback riding;
A person with a backpack and hiking stick and facing to the right for hiking;
A gas pump, with the hose and nozzle curling up and to the right of the payment kiosk, for a gas station;
A fork to the left and a knife to the right for food service;
A picnic table for a picnic area;
A one-half gallon milk jug to the left and an apple to the right for a store;
A triangle-shaped tent for a campground;
An anchor for a marina;
A bed with a person laying in it, with only their head visible under the sheets, for lodging; and
An upright cross with four short arms of equal length for a medical clinic.
To the right of the legend entries is a final piece of bolded text stating, “Do not use this map for backcountry hiking. Topographic maps available at visitor centers.”