Park Facts
Grand Teton National
Park &
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
P.O. Drawer 170
Moose, Wyoming 83102
(307) 739-3300
(307) 739-3438 fax
Grand Teton
National Park was established in 1929; Jackson Hole National Monument
was created in 1943. The two units were combined to become the present
Grand Teton National Park in 1950. The park is 45 miles in length
from north to south, 26 miles maximum width. Grand Teton is famous
for spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife. Park boundaries include
approximately 310,000 acres (125,717 hectares), 485 square miles
(1,256 square km).
John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway was established in 1972 to commemorate
the philanthropic activities of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his
generous donations of lands to the National Park System. The parkway
connecting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks contains 23,700
acres (9,595 hectares). The Parkway is managed as a recreation area
under the administration of Grand Teton National Park.
Facilities
Three entrance stations located at Granite Canyon,
Moose, and Moran
Two large visitor centers, one located at Moose
(open all year) and the other at Colter Bay (summer only); two auxiliary
visitor centers open seasonally at Jenny Lake and Flagg Ranch.
Concession lodging: 803 room units
Concession camping: 287 sites
National Park Service campgrounds: 5, totaling
907 sites
Miles of paved roads: 159
Miles of unpaved roads: 62
Miles of trails: 230
Features
Teton Range
An active fault-block mountain front, 40 miles long (65 km), 7-9
miles wide (11-14.5 km). Highest peak: Grand Teton, elevation 13,770
feet (4,198 m). Eight peaks over 12,000 ft (3,658 m) in elevation.
Jackson Hole
Mountain valley, 55 miles long (89 km), 13 miles wide (21 km), average
elevation 6,800 feet (2,073 m). Lowest elevation: south park boundary,
6350 feet (1,936 m).
Climate
Semi-arid mountain climate. Extreme high: 93 degrees F (34 degrees
C). Extreme low: -46 degrees F (-43 degrees C). Average snowfall:
191 inches (490 cm). Average rainfall: 10 inches (26 cm).
Snake River
Headwaters of the Columbia River system. Major tributaries: Pacific
Creek, Buffalo Fork, and Gros Ventre River.
Lakes
Seven morainal lakes at the base of the Teton Range: Jackson, Leigh,
Jenny, Bradley, Taggart, and Phelps. Jackson Lake = 25,540 acres
(10,340 hectares), maximum depth = 438 feet (134 m). Over 100 alpine
and backcountry lakes.
Wildlife
22 species of rodents
17 species of carnivores (black and grizzly bears)
6 species of hoofed mammals
3 species of rabbits/hares
6 species of bats
4 species of reptiles (none poisonous)
5 species of amphibians
16 species of fish
300+ species of birds
Numerous invertebrates (no poisonous spiders)
Flora
7 species of coniferous trees
900+ species of flowering plants
Human History
Human history in the park includes the activities of Paleo-Indian,
Native Americans, fur trappers, homesteaders, ranchers and farmers,
conservationists and recreationists.
Recreation
Mountain climbing, hiking and backpacking, camping, fishing, wildlife
and bird watching; horseback riding, boating on Jackson and Jenny
Lakes, rafting on the Snake River, bicycling, photography and more.
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