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Go Off the Grid in Grand Teton National Park

“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir

The intersection of Wyoming and Montana cedes America’s oldest and most well-journeyed public lands. The region is home to the Northern Rockies and the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone. Lesser known, but arguably more impressive, is Yellowstone’s sister park, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP).

Wyoming’s plains come to an abrupt end with the rising of striking and ancient Teton Range goliaths from flat grasslands. Founded in 1929, the more than 200 miles of thick forest, pristine lakes, and imperial snow-capped Rocky Mountains have served as a backbone to American Indians, early settlers, and an abundance of wildlife residing in the protected park’s parameters. While Yellowstone offers its own charming landscape, Grand Teton National Park renders fewer boardwalks and more rugged wilderness necessary for a proper escape.

The truly wild among us should consider a multi-day backpacking trip through the park’s backcountry for an honest, unfiltered experience. Regardless of your fitness level or athletic stamina, you’re sure to find a suitable Teton trail. Here are some suggestions for first-time backpackers planning to head north in the near future.

grand tetons national park

Pack light, but don’t skimp

Proper backpacking can be a burdensome financial investment. If you want to make your trip free of serious complications, you’ll need to buy some pricey gear to conserve space and pack weight. First, when choosing a pack, spring for brand-name. Brands like Osprey, Marmot, Gossamer Gear, and REI will offer ideal weight distribution and comfort. Next, check out multiple sporting goods stores for the best deals on small, compact tents, chairs, sleeping bags, thermal sleeping pads, and pillows. Many come in fist-sized bags, creating ample room for other necessities.

If you’re bringing a camping stove, pack easy foods like ramen, instant potatoes, and more than enough protein supplements. You’ll also need an abundance of gear you probably haven’t thought about if you’ve never camped backcountry, so look over this complete list for notes.

Layer clothes and check the weather prior to packing, but be aware that weather in the Tetons is unpredictable. The park is usually on the warmer side during summer days and cooler at night. Bringing several pairs of socks is a must given afternoon thunderstorms. Maps are imperative; there’s virtually no cell service once you enter the park.

grand tetons national park

Test all gear at least once

You shouldn’t be unwrapping any of your gear for the first time while packing for your backpacking trip. After half a dozen miles of walking, you’re going to want to know exactly how your tent assembles. Even if you’re just camping at a local park, plan a mock-trip to ensure all gear is in working order and be familiar with how you’ll assemble it.

Pick the right trail

GTNP is extremely popular in the summer months, so booking the right backcountry campsite may require reserving a spot months in advance. Sites along Cascade Canyon and Upper Paintbrush Canyon may be too strenuous for beginner backpackers, while Bearpaw Lake and surrounding sites along the Leigh Lake Trail are more moderate with less incline. The National Park Service’s website is a good place to start. It features maps and mileage of each site.

grand tetons national park

Be wildlife literate and know park rules

This park, in particular, pushes “bear awareness” more than the average bear country park. Bears are extremely active in the Tetons, and rangers require anyone camping backcountry to watch a short video on what to do if you encounter one. The majority of the bears you’ll see in the park are black bears, even if they’re a caramel color, one ranger advised. If your site doesn’t include a bear box for food and scented toiletries, bring your own to prevent attracting any wildlife to your site.

Here’s a complete guide to what to do if you encounter a bear in the wild. GTNP requires a permit for all backcountry sites, and doesn’t allow campers to burn their garbage, so be prepared to bring out everything you hike in. (A complete list of rules can be found on the park’s website.)  Before securing your permit, check out these additional tips for hiking the Tetons backcountry.

grand tetons national park
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

If you forget something on your way in, downtown Jackson Hole, the park’s closest city, is objectively overcrowded with shops for nearly every need.

Yellowstone National Park: Still Old, Reliable

Pleated in the eye of the Northern Rocky Mountains, miles of ostensibly primordial geysers, hot springs and mudpots wait to be explored by a new generation of wanderers. Endless valleys are home to elusive wildlife such as bear, bison and pronghorn, often unfazed by human intercession – an ideal environment for viewing and photographing. The transitional granite mountains shrouded in Lodgepole Pines offer climbers a view reminiscent of a Tom Thompson painting. Petrified wood insightfully showcases volcanic activity operative more than 50 million years ago. Yellowstone National Park became America’s first in 1872, and as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial this August, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to celebrate with fellow travelers.

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Yellowstone Canyon | Photo: Christina Suttles

Whether you’re a hiker, biker, or hitchhiker, Yellowstone’s trails and boardwalks make it convenient for all skill levels to enjoy our public lands. If you’re planning a trip this fall, be sure to visit the park’s staples, a route that’s sure to take you on an unforgettable road trip. Here are a few destination suggestions and travel tips to make your excursion as memorable as the summit views.

 

Grand Prismatic Spring

This evocative hot spring is the largest in the world, discharging up to 560 gallons of water per minute. The striking color dispersion of the spring takes shape thanks to colorful single-celled microorganisms at the spring’s edge, a visual lesson in biology. Located in the heart of the Midway Geyser Basin, there are plenty of ways to get a good view. For those with small children or limited hiking experience, a .8 mile looped boardwalk takes you to the spring’s foot, offering a view of the seemingly bottomless Excelsior Geyser as well. The Fairy Falls Trail renders the best aerial view of the spring, but be sure to check with park rangers before planning hikes as there are often closures due to construction. This 7-mile hike offers views of major geysers and hot springs, in addition to the park’s coveted waterfall, Fairy Falls.

grand prismatic yellowstone
Grand Prismatic Spring | Photo: Christina Suttles

 

Fountain Paint Pots

This region of the park features a number of hyperthermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mudpots and fumaroles. To truly soak up the park’s volcanic past, walk the half-mile boardwalk located in the Lower Geyser Basin, just a short drive from Midway Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring. Be sure to stop at Leather Pool, a calm, reflective body of water in stark opposition to the hot, bubbling springs and geysers surrounding it.

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Fountain Paint Pots | Photo Christina Suttles

 

Old Faithful

Being the primary tourist attraction at Yellowstone, the Old Faithful region can feel overstimulating and hectic. With the Old Faithful Inn and various gift shops and visitors centers in a relatively small area, be prepared to make this your token wifi/lunch stop. To avoid some of the crowds, take a walk on the 4.6-mile Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk to see other notable hotbeds. Old Faithful erupts an average of 17 times a day, so your chances are pretty good. Ask a ranger when they think the next eruption will be and plan to be there 20 minutes ahead of time – predictions are just that. Eruptions last one to five minutes and can expel up to 8,400 gallons each time. While short lived, this bucket list experience is one to carve out time to check off.

old faithful
Old Faithful | Photo: Christina Suttles

 

Lamar Valley

Lamar is the executive wildlife-viewing destination in the United States. Dubbed “America’s Serengeti,” this miles-long stretch of road takes you through herds of bison, pronghorn, badgers, grizzly bears, bald eagles, osprey, deer, coyotes and wolves. Many sit within yards of the convenient vehicle pull offs. Park rangers encourage visitors to stay 25-50 yards from all wildlife, so confirm the temperament of animals before approaching. Dawn and Dusk are the best times to visit the area due to increased animal activity.

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Bison in Yellowstone | Photo: Christina Suttles

 

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Undeniably the most striking view in the park, Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon is a 20-mile long, 4,000 foot wide 1,200 foot deep spectacle that hold its own against Arizona’s more famed marvel. Mineral stains cooked the sides of the Canyon over the course of millions of years, leaving its walls with a medley of pink and yellow tinge. There are countless options for viewing the canyon, including Upper Falls and Lower Falls Trailheads, which require a short walk up to a viewing area. For serious hikers, the Canyon Rim North Trail to Inspiration Point offers a moderately strenuous 8.2-mile hike to lesser-known, breathtaking views.

grand canyon
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone | Photo: Christina Suttles

 

Mammoth Hot Springs

This heavily-trafficked attraction near the park’s north entrance includes a 1.7-mile boardwalk that explores the sulfur-rich, travertine deposits of Yellowstone. Overlooking the brassy, pitted springs, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the surface of Mars. This jarring landscape is an active hydrothermal area, always growing and adapting to the stimuli around it.

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Mammoth Hot Springs | Photo: Christina Suttles
mammoth
Mammoth Hot Springs | Photo: Christina Suttles

 

Travel Tips

Lodge outside the park: Unless you’re camping, nightly rates inside the park can be impractical. Booking economical hotels in Livingston, Mt., Rexburg, Idaho, or Cody, Wy. are much more feasible and the drive’s mountain view will make it worth the extra effort.

Leave things how you found them: It can be tempting to grab an obsidian rock, or an intact animal vertebrae and take it home as a free souvenir, but doing so is illegal and can, over time, drastically alter the park’s landscape.

Wear layers: Weather at high altitudes are unpredictable. It can be 85 degrees at high noon, and plummet below freezing by 9 p.m..

Bring more sustenance than you need: Pack at least 30 oz. of water per hike and a lot of salty, protein-rich snacks in case the hike takes a heavier toll than predicted.

Check for construction and wildfire closures: Wildlife season is upon us, with at least two major fires burning in the park. West and South Yellowstone are affected by these fires so do research before planning your route.

Fill up your tank whenever you can: If you plan on visiting the major park attractions, it can take a toll on your gas tank. Many major visitor areas have gas stations, making it easy to fill up often.

Be prepared for altitude change: Altitude sickness is real. Always take your time while ascending, stay hydrated and eat often.

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