~ Route Overviews ~
~ Grand Teton Trip Reports ~
Sept. 10th 2016 (UXM & OS)
~ Forecast ~
(summer only)
USDA Snow & Water Map
~ 2024-2025 Notes ~
WATCH FOR WILDLIFE on the roads, it's that time of year.
The Jenny Lake Ranger Station is CLOSED for the season. The climbing rangers are sometimes posting information about backcountry conditions to their Instagram account: @jennylakerangers. They have a habit of issuing overly ominous statements about everything, often to keep inexperienced mountaineers from overextending their abilities. Take everything they say with a grain of salt.
Camping permits can be picked up at the Craig Thomas Visitor Center in Moose, WY, until they close for the winter. Come Nov. 1, call the park to obtain free winter backcountry camping permits: 307-739-3399. Avalanches can happen in early November so keep that in mind if you're backcountry camping at that time.
Skinny Skis' 25th Annual Avalanche Awareness Night takes place on Dec 5th at the Center for the Arts in Jackson. Upcoming BackcountryZero events and Teton County SAR events. And Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Events.
The Teton Park Road will close at the Taggart Lake Trailhead on Nov 1. Access to the Grand usually starts from there during the winter months.
The 11,600 ft Lower Saddle weather station is offline for the season.
~ Lower Saddle Weather ~
Between Grand & Middle Teton
~ SUMMER ONLY ~
You can check a forecast from the Lower Saddle with a smart phone. We
consider a Teton forecast to be valid for about 6 hours during the summer.
Lower Saddle Weather Station
Direction from
~ SUMMER ONLY ~
- usually mid-June to mid-Sept -
@ 11,600'
Temperatures
~ SUMMER ONLY ~
- usually mid-June to mid-Sept -
@11,600'
Wind Speed,
Gust &Direction from
~ SUMMER ONLY ~
- usually mid-June to mid-Sept -
If the above MesoWest weather graphics are unavailable, try the Teton Saddle weather page. Or the National Weather Service's weather station map or the Synoptic weather station map. The station is off-line during the spring, winter and fall. The MesoWest data is unavailable during the times when they work on their IT Network.
You can compare the saddle's forecast with actual temperatures at the saddle's weather station. Getting a feel for forecast errors helps with decision making. Forecast wind speeds are often off by a factor of 2 or more at the saddle due to the saddle's topography not being factored into a forecast. Forecast temperatures in the hourly forecast can easily be off by 10°F at any specific time.
You can compare the saddle's forecast with actual temperatures at the saddle's weather station. Getting a feel for forecast errors helps with decision making. Forecast wind speeds are often off by a factor of 2 or more at the saddle due to the saddle's topography not being factored into a forecast. Forecast temperatures in the hourly forecast can easily be off by 10°F at any specific time.
~ More Live Weather ~
The following weather graphs will not present data if the weather station goes offline. That's pretty common. Sometimes they're back online in 24 hours; sometimes it's a week or more. Some stations are seasonal weather stations. Both the Driggs, ID and Jackson, WY airports have weather stations but their precipitation data is not always available. This NWS portal for the JH Airport often has precip data on a drop-down menu.
JH Airport Temps
(10 miles S-SE of Grand Teton)
Forecast for 7-days @ 6,450 ft
Jackson KJAC Dashboard
Jackson KJAC Dashboard
JHA Wind Roses
etc
The JH Airport weather station has had a checkered past and it wasn't a reliable weather station. The National Weather Service called into question the accuracy of its data. The airport has upgraded much of it infrastructure so maybe the station has been upgraded along with the buildings.
(17.5 mi S-SW of the Grand Teton)
Precipitation @ 6430 ft
(11.5 miles west of Grand)
(11.5 miles west of Grand)
Precip during the last 31 days
Surprise Pinnacle Wind & Temp
~ Webcams ~
Buffalo Valley in Moran, WY
The ● (red dot) should be seen at the "LIVE" feed indicator. The YouTube channel's address for live feeds is sometimes changed by SeeJH. Some more Jackson Hole webcams.
WY Balloon Co.
Pans JH Valley, zooms GT
Climbers' Ranch GTNP
Often offline during off-season
Check the Time & Date. It may be an old image. Google informs us that the location of
the ranch has been searched for on Google Maps over 6 million times
between 2017 & 2024. The webcam probably gets millions of hits too. They should monetize it on YouTube.
Grand Targhee Summit
Pans the west side of Grand Teton
Snow King Mountain
(all SK Cams^ - sometimes offline)
Wind River Lake
(Togwotee Pass)
-Blackrock, Wind River, Dubois-
~ Jenny Lake ~
Climbing Rangers
~ More Information ~
Ranger Station Location
Ranger Station
(Summer)
307–739–3399 General Info
(GTNP's General Information)
Mountaineering Brochure
(pdf)
(pdf)
The Old Rangers' Blog
AAC Reports
(Search for "Grand Teton" in AAJ & Accidents)
(Search for "Grand Teton" in AAJ & Accidents)
The ranger station at Jenny Lake starts operating in early June and closes in early September (June 8 to Sept 8 in 2024). It's open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day during that time period. We always suggest calling to confirm operating dates and hours for any GTNP service.
The rangers provide the public with information about mountaineering routes and backcountry hikes during the summer. And they are the only place climbers can pick up backcountry camping permits during the summer season. Of course, they provide search & rescue operations for the park. Some are law enforcement officers.
The Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers are supported by many generous donations from our community and outside of it. You can make donations to the rangers directly through GTNP or the non-profit Grand Teton National Park Foundation.
Besides GTNP's climbing rangers, we also have Teton County Search & Rescue and Yellowstone's SAR team in Teton County, WY. And there's the Teton County Idaho Search & Rescue team on the western side of the Tetons in Driggs, ID. TCSAR
gets millions of dollars in donations from the community. As with the
JLCR, TCSAR does not charge for rescue services. Donations can be made
online to the TCSAR Foundation.
Throughout the year, Teton County SAR hosts many programs for backcountry users intended to help everyone stay safe. As does their partner BackcountryZero. They are worth checking out if you're new to skiing, mountaineering, or just playing in the Tetons.
~ Backcountry Camping ~
Grand Teton National Park
Backcountry Camping Permits
(Reservations & Info)
(Reservations & Info)
Backcountry Permits
(GTNP's General Information)
(GTNP's General Information)
One-third of all summer backcountry campsites and all group sites in Grand Teton National Park may be reserved in advance, online, beginning in early January. Certain bivi sites located outside of camping zones are also available for reservation.
First-come, first-served, walk-in permits are available during the summer. Requests for those walk-in permits is often high. Permits can be issued one day before your trip begins and no sooner. You must arrive in person. Sometimes walk-in permits are not available for your destination. It might be that parties on multi-day trips snapped them up over the previous days. Or camping zones have reached their occupancy limit. It helps if you're first in line the day before your trip begins. You can try making a reservation two days before your trip - something new in 2024, according to Recreation.gov:
"Advance backcountry permit reservations open 8:00 a.m. MT on January 10th, 2024 for overnight stays May 1, 2024-October 31, 2024. Advanced reservations can be made up to two days before the start of a backcountry trip. If you have any questions about permits or require trip planning assistance, please contact a ranger at Grand Teton National Park (307) 739-3309."
Once the
Jenny Lake Ranger Station
opens in June, all permits for backcountry camping in Garnet
Canyon
and all backcountry camping permits for climbers must be picked up
at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. This includes walk-in permits and
those previously reserved online. Once the station closes in September, permits can be picked up at select visitor centers until they close for the winter.
Winter backcountry camping permits are usually free and available over the phone. The park's visitor centers are closed over the winter. Come May 1, all backcountry camping permits can be picked up at
the
Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center until the Jenny Lake Ranger Station reopens for the summer season in early June.
Climbers
on overnight trips must have a backcountry camping permit to camp or
bivouac; however, permits are not required for climbing. We suspect that
climbing permits have been a target of discussion.
~ GTNP Emergency Dispatch ~
307-739-3301*
~ * 24/7 June 1 - Sept. 31 ~
~ * 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Oct 1 - May 31 ~
* Please Confirm Hours/Dates
GTNP Emergency Procedures
For Climbers
911 works for texting in Teton County, WY & ID
307-739-3301*
~ * 24/7 June 1 - Sept. 31 ~
~ * 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Oct 1 - May 31 ~
* Please Confirm Hours/Dates
GTNP Emergency Procedures
For Climbers
911 works for texting in Teton County, WY & ID
~ Smoke & Fire ~
State of WY Fire Map (Home page)
~ See The Weather ~
SeeJH Webcams on YouTube
WY DOT Webcams
IDAHO DOT Webcams
SeeJH Webcams on YouTube
WY DOT Webcams
IDAHO DOT Webcams
~ Regional NWS Offices ~
(307) 857-3898
YouTubeNWS Jackson Weather Radio: 162.525
NWS Grant Village Yellowstone: 162.450
NWS Driggs, ID: 162.450
NWS Grant Village Yellowstone: 162.450
NWS Driggs, ID: 162.450
~ Aurora Forecast ~
Latest Aurora Forecast
- NOAA -
- UofA -
The
darkest sky
is N-NE of Jackson Lake
~ General Park Information ~
GTNP App
Climbing Information
Backcountry Camping Info
307-739-3309
Backcountry Camping Zone Maps
Basic Info
307-739-3399 (or 3300)
GTNP Air Quality & Live Weather
Grizzly Bears
Email: grte info@nps.gov
Email: grte info@nps.gov
The above map shows Voluntary Closures around the high peaks to protect bighorn sheep during the winter. It also shows suggested travel lines for skiers to minimize impacts on bighorns if you need to cross a "closure" zone. The full-size pdf map shows mandatory and voluntary winter closures for bighorns in the entire park. GTNP has other closures during the winter that are mandatory (see links below).
~ Why free-solo ~
For those who can safely solo this mountain on a fast and light trip, it brings many advantages. It's faster. You can sleep in. You can climb on any day that fits your schedule instead of someone else's. It's easier to make a round-trip in single day if you're soloing. You can go at your own
pace. You can travel further when you're carrying less weight. You'll feel stronger while climbing. You might recover
more quickly. You can focus on the rock and not on the mechanics of roped
climbing. You can skip the expensive camping permit, gear and guide. Older, injured, or
physically weaker climbers may not be able to carry gear or travel on
time-lengthy trips. Stronger climbers may not have the time for multi-day climbing
activities. You'll move faster then protected climbers and that is
often a safety advantage when the weather window is short, or a quick escape is necessary. It's unlikely
that free-soloing climbers are delaying other climbers in a
significant way and that helps keep all climbers moving in a timely
manner. And it's easier to pass other climbers when you're soloing so that you're not delayed. You might have a smaller environmental impact in
the backcountry if you're just out for the day. You can enjoy some solitude. There's a freedom that you can't get from being tied to the mountain or other climbers. And it's a far more enjoyable experience for many.
To quote
Anton Krupicka: "It’s about, of course, having fun, covering a wide variety of
ground efficiently, emphasizing the movement and the activity, and,
perhaps, most alluringly, thinking outside the box and bringing
creativity and a bit of a rule-bending to one’s passions."
Free-soloing has its inherent, objective dangers as does any activity but it's
relativity safe if you're climbing within your comfort zone and taking
obvious precautions like avoiding bad weather and poor conditions. Back in the old days, solo climbing was illegal in the park.
The best investment you can make if you wish to solo these routes
and don't mind spending some money might be buying or renting
a pair of climbing shoes. They will
boost your confidence & safety on the rock. You don't need super
sticky big wall climbing shoes for the Owen-Spalding or Upper Exum routes. Most approach shoes made for climbing work fine as do several trail running and mountain biking shoes. The wrong shoes will ruin a trip so if your clunky work boots
keep your feet happy on 15-mile mountain hikes, you might prefer
those over something else. Choose wisely given the objective, your skill set and preferences. Of course, wearing a helmet doesn't hurt.
~ Valley Resources ~
Exum Mountain Guides: exumguides.com
Jackson Hole Mountain Guides: themountainguides.com
Teton Backcountry Guides: tetonbackcountryguides.com
American Avalanche Institute: americanavalancheinstitute.com
Driggs based Yostmark: yostmark.com
Teton Backcountry Alliance
Teton Climbers’ Coalition
Misc Valley Links
~~~~~~~~ Valley Camping ~
Free Camping close to GTNP
(Click to enlarge)
Free camping locations fill up quickly during the summer. The ones closer to town are very busy. Don't be surprised if no spots are available or others are also looking. Of course, you may get lucky. It's not always super crowded. A 5-day stay limit was in effect from May 1st through Labor Day on the Bridger-Teton's Jackson Ranger District and parts of the Blackrock Ranger District (Moran area). Call for updated details. Overview BTNF Stay Limit Map (pdf) & Detailed Stay Limit Maps (pdf). Another Map of BTNF fee & free camping near GTNP/JXN with more info.
Some of the dispersed camping locations in the national forest might have volunteer hosts keeping an eye on things. A few of those free locations might have toilets. As of 2024, no user permits are required to use the national forest for dispersed camping but that may change. The BTNF has a radio broadcast on 1710 AM to broadcast pertinent travel information. Sometimes roads are closed due to fallen trees, landslides, or poor conditions. Or other issues crop up. The broadcast is not the best source of information.
Not all dirt roads are easy to navigate by a small car. Some roads are impossible to navigate with anything but a 4x4 truck. And vehicles may not be able to turn around in tight spots at dead ends. Forest service roads do not always open to the public on a specific date. They wait for the roads to dry out after the winter snow and spring moisture. The Moran Vista site up Spread Creek is part of a gravel pit area. It's easy to get to on a well maintained dirt road and it's a good spot for big RVs. As expected, it's busy.
In the past, the visitor guides for our national forests had detailed camping information: older BTNF & CTNF guides. Sadly, they aren't updated on a yearly basis and it's unknown if they will continue to be published. However, starting around 2020-21, the forest service websites were greatly improved and they continue to see improvements. Camping regulations and locations do change so it's good to get the latest updates from them. Our Jackson Hole Camping page is not updated on a regular basis but it has additional information on valley camping options. Web-based apps and webpages cover every camping spot in the valley. Of course, paid lodging is available in throughout the valley. Fee-based campgrounds in the valley are just as busy as free ones.
The campgrounds in GTNP require reservations. There are several types of booking windows available in GTNP. We have seen reservations available on the day of arrival (or day before) if campground spots are unused. This was an unexpected change in 2023. Places like Colter Bay were holding some campsites for those reserving two weeks in advance. Many spots are reserved months in advance. Call to confirm your options at a specific concessionaire's campground, or check with the privately run recreation.gov website. The AAC Climbers' Ranch in GTNP has rustic cabins with bunk beds. The ranch is south of the Lupine Meadows trailhead. You might get a last-minute reservation there but you might not get much sleep in a shared bunk cabin.
All the fee-based campgrounds on the Bridger-Teton National Forest are on a first come, first served basis. There are no reservations taken except for large group sites and cabins. Outside of the valley, there are fee-based Forest Service campgrounds in the Hoback River Canyon & Snake River Canyon. They are popular. Free dispersed car camping is also available in the Hoback Canyon. The only free dispersed car camping that's near the Snake River Canyon's northern end is off Fall Creek Rd.
There is a public fee-based parking lot for cars, RVs, and campers that's just below Togwotee Mountain Lodge (TML webcam). It's $10 but subject to change. There is a pit toilet. Free dispersed car camping is also available further up the Togwotee Pass highway. All these spots are a long drive from Jackson. They are good for visitors on their way here who might need a camping spot before arriving, or upon leaving.
There are first-come, first-served free camping spots along the Grassy Lake Road at the northern end of the GTNP in the JDR Parkway near Yellowstone. You'll also find the Flagg Ranch campground and their lodging in the same general area inside the GTNP-managed JD Rockefeller Parkway. And just south of there is the BTNF's fee-based Sheffield Campground. More camping sites are on the west side of the Tetons in the CTNF (access via Idaho).
Please be thoughtful when using our free camping sites so that they remain accessible to those who prefer undeveloped camping options. The Forest Service spends a considerable amount of money cleaning up after visitors, managing sites, and repairing damaged resources. They will probably start charging fees to access forest resources in the coming years. If you wish to donate time or money to improve our forest resources, please visit the BTNF offices or contact the Friends of the Bridger-Teton non-profit.
~ Showers ~
Inside the park, showers are available at the Climbers' Ranch, Colter Bay Village, and the Signal Mountain Lodge RV Park. They start around $6 or so. In the Town of Jackson, the Teton County recreation center has a pool, showers, climbing wall, etc. You could always take a summer dip in a river, creek, lake or pond.
~ Miscellaneous ~
~ Water Resources ~
Water Temps at Jenny Lake might be available by calling the Jenny Lake Boating team. They have a water thermometer by the boat dock (webcam).
Jenny Lake Boating 2024
June 4 to Sept 8 - 7 AM thru 7 PM
Sept 9 to Sept 30 - 10 AM thru 4 PM
Closed for the season after September 30.
June 4 to Sept 8 - 7 AM thru 7 PM
Sept 9 to Sept 30 - 10 AM thru 4 PM
Closed for the season after September 30.
@ Jackson Lake Dam ↑ - 6777'
Inside GTNP
Snake River Reservoirs
Upper Snake River BasinInside GTNP
Snake's flows before Alpine
~~~~~~~
Gros Venture River
Buffalo Fork
Pacific Creek
Green River at Warren Bridge
Salt River
Hoback River below Camp Cr
~~~~~~~
Gros Venture River
Buffalo Fork
Pacific Creek
Green River at Warren Bridge
Salt River
Hoback River below Camp Cr
Snow/SWE/Water↑
~~~~~
If Jackson Lake is really low, the western banks of the lake can be used to access some of the trailless bushwhacking areas north of Mt Moran. Bring bear spray and a mountain man sensibility.
~Webcams~
Hoback River @ Hoback Junction
@ the Lodge at Palisades Creek
Enjoy Safe Climbing