One of our favorite times of year in the park is just around the corner! With the first hints of spring emerging in Grand Teton, we can only think of one thing to remedy the post-winter/pre-summer blues—a snow and car free Teton Park Road during the month of April! This means that from early April to May 1, visitors who wish to walk, run, bike, skate, or travel by any other human-powered mode are free to explore the fourteen-mile section of road between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain without sharing the pavement with cars. A highlight for locals, these few weeks in April provide an extra unique opportunity to experience Grand Teton before an upcoming busy summer season.
There are a few important things to remember before your April visit to the park (the Teton Park Road is scheduled to open to human-powered travel in early April).
- The Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge will partially open to walking, biking and skating beginning Friday, April 7 at 9 a.m.
- Visitors will be able to recreate on approximately four miles of the road heading north from the Taggart Lake parking lot to Jenny Lake junction.
- In the northern part of the park, visitors may also access approximately five miles of the Teton Park Road from Signal Mountain Lodge to the Scenic Drive junction.
- For safety reasons, visitors are reminded to avoid going beyond the barricades marking the closed sections of roadway.
- Vehicles should slow down and use caution near parking areas.
- Be respectful of other visitors enjoying the area and be thoughtful of how music may affect others. Operating an audio device, such as a stereo, Bluetooth speakers, radio, or musical instrument in a manner which is unreasonable and impacts park users is prohibited by law.
- Water is not available at the trailhead or along the road. Be self-sufficient with water, snacks, and bicycle/skate repairs.
- Vault toilets are available at Taggart Lake Trailhead and Cottonwood Picnic Area, with portable toilets located along the road between Cottonwood and North Jenny Lake Junction, and restroom facilities at Signal Mountain Lodge.
- Pack it in, pack it out. There are limited trash receptacles at both ends of the road. Do not put trash in the portable toilets.
- Dogs are permitted on the Teton Park Road. Dog owners are required to use a leash no longer than six feet in length and are required to clean up after their dogs. Waste disposal bag stations are located at each end of the road. Bags should be deposited into appropriate trash receptacles and not left along the road.
- Consider beginning at the Signal Mountain end of the road as it is less busy and offers ample parking, restroom facilities, water filling station, and self-pay fuel pumps at Signal Mountain Lodge. Please respect the Signal Mountain Lodge area, as most facilities are not open to the public at this time.
We hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this special time of year in Grand Teton National Park!
