WYOMING WHISKEY: Jackson Hole's Camping Guide

There are at least 9 airports within 60 or so miles of Jackson Hole and many more non-commercial airstrips. Some nearby airports with instrument procedures are shown below.

KDIJ - Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (18 nm NW, ID)
KRXE - Rexburg-Madison County Airport (48 nm W, ID)
KAFO - Afton's Municipal Airport (55 nm S, WY)
KIDA - Idaho Falls Regional Airport (58 nm W, ID)
KPNA - Pinedale's Ralph Wenz Field Airport (63 nm SE, WY)

(^distance is flight line^)

The Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport is the closest accredited facility for Intergalactic visitors.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Bridger-Teton National Forest District Map

The Jackson ranger district of the Bridger-Teton National Forest resides in the Jackson Hole Valley, and outside of it. The Blackrock Ranger District just to the north used to be called the Buffalo Ranger District. You might see that name on older maps. Both are every popular destinations for campers.

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is on the west side of the Tetons and provides trail access to Grand Teton National Park for hikers and campers. It also has its own camping options. The highway between GTNP and Dubois, WY, runs through the Bridger-Teton National Forest to the top of Togwotee Pass at which point you enter the Wind River Ranger District of the Shoshone National Forest. Once east of the Contential Divide (past the top of the pass), public land along the highway provides many options for dispersed camping and fee-based options. New fees have been in the making for 2024. Yellowstone National Park is just to the north of GTNP and it is a popular gateway to Jackson Hole with fee-based camping options (reservations are probably needed).

Teton County, WY, is home to two National Parks, the National Elk Refuge, several wilderness areas, and is surrounded by national forest land. It is a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Continental Divide Trail crosses the northern tier. The Snake River runs down its length. It is also home to an eclectic mix of locals— rich & poor—who host millions of visitors each year.

Bridger-Teton National Forest Campgrounds

(the BTNF's Box Creek, Angles, and Red Hills campgrounds are no longer in service)

Download the BTNF Visitor Guide to see the above map and more camping information. The visitor guides are rarely updated. Try the website if the guides are outdated or unavailable.

The Teton Range, Wind River Range, Wyoming Range, etc are all a part of the BTNF

Shoshone National Forest Southern District Campgrounds

There are a few winter parking lots (used for snowmachines) just off highway 26/287 heading to Jackson. They have "driveways" and they are behind trees next to the highway. One is near the Brooks Lake turnoff and another is further west. One has a pit toilet. Both are before you cross over into Teton County and the BTNF.

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

NW Wyoming & SE Idaho Campgrounds

Grand Teton National Park

BTNF, GTNP & CTNF Campgrounds

Click (tap) to Enlarge image in new tab

Collection of free GTNP maps from npmaps.com

Official NPS maps for GTNP in various formats

Official Yellowstone Maps

All Official NP Maps

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Nice Interactive Map of Public Lands zoomed to GTNP

USFS Topo Maps in a GeoPDF or Geo TIFF format.

USFS Maps by Map Name in a GeoPDF or Geo TIFF format.

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The area marked "Moose" on the above map is at the primary southern entrance to the park where you will find the main visitor center, administration offices, park housing, a Snake River boat launch, a post office, and the Dornan's shopping and dining area. Moose is just north of the Jackson Hole Airport. The park's visitor center can help you find camping options.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest office in Jackson and the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center (just north of the BTNF offices) have knowledgeable staff that can also help you find various camping options. This is usually the best place to go for camping information for the entire valley. The visitor center is owned and operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the National Elk Refuge but six agencies operate from the visitor center: the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton Association, Grand Teton National Park, National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, and Wyoming Game & Fish.

BTNF

340 N. Cache St, Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 739-5500

JH & GY Visitor Center

532 N Cache St, Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-3316 (Chamber #, no listed # for VC)

GTNP's Moose Visitor Center

1 Teton Park Rd, Moose, WY 83012

(307) 739-3399

HEADS UP: In late 2022, a few national parks started dropping mandatory advance reservations for all campgrounds and returned to a system where same-day, walk-in reservations could be made for unused campsites. GTNP might return to using that preferable system so check their website for the latest information if you need last-minute, same-day reservations. In 2024, fees and reservation windows appeared to change for GTNP. Please contact them for new details.

As with many national parks near popular mountain towns, campgrounds in the national park are often booked months in advance and competition for other camping options is high. Again, as of late 2023, all campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park require advance reservations. There are over 1000 individual campsites at developed campgrounds in GTNP and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway (managed by GTNP). Additionally, there are many backcountry camping sites. Unlike campgrounds, the park sets aside two-thirds of those backcountry sites for walk-in, first-come, first-served campers. One-third can be reserved in advance. Winter campers do not need advanced reservations because no campgrounds are open but you can car camp at Colter Bay for a small fee (usually $5, ask at entrance or call), or in the backcountry for free — you do need a permit.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest still has first-come, first-served options at fee-based campgrounds and at their free dispersed camping locations. There are at least 260 road-accessed and authorized Forest Service campsites north of Jackson on the Bridger-Teton. Many other BTNF camping spots (free or fee-based) are outside of the valley. They are popular camping locations for many visitors to Jackson Hole. As of 2022, only the large-group sites, and cabins, can be reserved in advance.

In regards to the camping options outside Jackson Hole, more options present themselves on the western side of the Tetons in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest surrounding the towns of Driggs & Victor, ID, and including Alta, WY (just east of Driggs). Options are also found in Hoback Canyon and the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson. And they include the forest service areas east of Moran (Moran is within GTNP) and even further east up Highway 278 / 26 toward Togowtee Mtn Lodge and Togowtee Pass.

As you travel to Grand Teton National Park you may need to stop for the night at a location outside of the valley before proceeding into Jackson Hole if you don't have local reservations. And for people who are expecting to arrive mid-day, it’s often better to choose a campsite outside of Jackson Hole as soon as you can find one. Every day varies but the odds of finding a camping spot in Jackson Hole decrease with every passing hour during the summer if you don't have a reservation. We will share several specific areas outside of the valley in our list of camping spots.

If you're considering working here for the summer and you wish to find housing then keep in mind that many of Jackson's workers live in Driggs & Victor, ID. Many also live down valley in Alpine, WY, at the southern end of the Snake River Canyon. Some live at the eastern end of the Hoback Canyon near Bondurant, WY. It is usually difficult to find housing in all these locations, and expensive.

More than a few people who work in Jackson during the summer will live out of their vehicles. Maybe 100's. Based on reports that the Bridger-Teton officials receive of people overstaying five- and 14-day camping limits, an estimated 300 to 500 people are living illegally in the 3.4-million-acre BTNF that wraps around three sides of Jackson Hole. The forest services tries to enforce its stay limits especially near very popular areas. A few employers let car-camping employees park on their property. It is not an easy life if you can't find a good spot to park overnight. Most homeless employees shower at the Rec Center. You could shower at a local gym. In 2023, the gym paused new memberships due to overcrowding. Many summer jobs in the park come with housing or RV slots - dorms are common.

While you might get away with sleeping in your vehicle inside the town of Jackson during the summer, it is, nonetheless, illegal. Exceptions are made for private property with permission of the owner (again, your employer, usually). Having said that, illegal car camping is pretty common. And it's pretty obvious, especially with vans and fogged-up windows. Law enforcement may choose to ignore your illegal camping but you shouldn't count on it. They have been dealing with illegal car campers for decades. They know your modus operandi. As does everyone in town.

The highway pullout just south of the Smith's Grocery Store is a pretty common place to see car campers for a night or two. Also semis. None seems to care if you stop for the night but we're sure someone will in the future. Overnight parking on town streets is illegal during the winter - no cars allowed.

Free and fee-based camping around Jackson Hole

Reservations are required for all improved campgrounds in GTNP

BTNF Camping Options

WARNING!

4WD And/Or High Clearance Vehicles Are Required In Many Forest Service Locations! Always Check Road Conditions Beforehand (call the Forest Service offices).

A 5 day stay limit is in effect from May 1st through Labor Day on the Bridger-Teton's Jackson Ranger District and within certain areas of their Blackrock Ranger District (Moran area).

Map of BTNF's JRD with areas that have a 5-day camping limit

Click to enlarge the Image

The map above only shows areas with 5-day limits within the Jackson Ranger District. Areas in the Blackrock RD with a 5-day limit are not shown and the BTNF doesn't seem to be able to produce a map as of spring 2022. Here's the BTNF's original 7.7 MB pdf map showing 5-day-limited camping areas in the JRD. And here is a Forest Service "Order" Map (shows areas with special regulations)

Apparently, areas of the Blackrock Ranger District where a 5-day camping limit is currently enforced from May 1 to Labor Day include the Toppings Lake Road and the Spread Creek Road. Both are just north of the Triangle-X Ranch.

The Pacific Creek Road (north of Moran) and Colter Dump Road (further north and past Pilgrim Creek) on the Blackrock Ranger District also have a 5-day limit. You must enter GTNP to access these two camping areas and pay an entrance fee. These roads can be closed by the park service at their whim without notice.

Other areas east of Moran may also get a 5-day limit going forward. Policy changes are possible at any time. Everything on the Jackson Ranger District remains at a 5-day camping limit except developed campgrounds and the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area. All of the places mentioned above are shown below.

Updated BTNF message boards are located near the entrances to dispersed camping areas. They usually show maps and rules for dispersed areas. You might find a permanent vault toilet or portable toilet at a few dispersed camping locations due to an overwhelming number of irresponsible campers (Shadow Mountain and the Toppings Lake areas come to mind). The BTNF is looking at changing some dispersed areas (Shadow Mountain, etc) into paid campgrounds in the future and possibly add more developed sites to the Curtis Canyon Campground.

BTNF Campgrounds North & South of Jackson

Some dispersed camping areas are also named on the above map which is actually an old map for those cutting Christmas trees on the BTNF. You need a permit before removing many things from the forest, and a permit for many other activities like large weddings.

Mileage from Town of Jackson (map with numbers is below this image):

Mileage from Jackson

See mileage info above to match camping location number

Jackson ORV Map - BTNF roads/trails

Official Wyoming ORV Maps

This map is free to download and is free at many visitor centers. It is one of the better off-road maps. The downloadable map is in a GeoPDF format for use with your smartphone's GPS to locate your position on the map even when cellular service is not available. There is also a plain PDF map available.

There is a Forest Service website with an interactive USFS map that is a nice portal for maps and information. There is also the Forest Service App & the Avenza Mapping App (download free FS MVUM maps from inside the app). There is also a special forest service website for camping on the BTNF's Jackson & Blackrock Ranger Districts.

In 2023, there were many Bridger-Teton National Forest webpages that covered dispersed camping on the BTNF's Jackson & Blackrock Ranger Districts. There was no single page that links out to all of their camping information. Hopefully this changes. Several pages cover the same general topic but have different levels of detail and omissions. It is common to find information that is outdated, incomplete, not available, or poorly presented. Nonetheless, everything is a phone call away if you need help. We often end up using google's advanced search option to find information on the BTNF's website. Of course, there are third-party websites cover camping options in the Jackson Hole Valley such as the Dyrt.

While many free dispersed camping spots available within the valley called Jackson Hole, the biggest problem is often finding the open spot or having the right vehicle to get there. The popular areas are close to town, both fee-based campgrounds and free dispersed areas. They are usually too popular. You may end up wasting lots of time looking for a spot that simply isn't available. This is especially true after 9 a.m. There are many great places to avoid the crowds and to see some beautiful public lands but it takes effort - and often local knowledge gained from experience - to nail down your best options for any given time, type of vehicle, and location in Jackson Hole.

The information directly below came from the JH Chamber of Commerce:

BTNF Camping Details

Dispersed (free) & Developed (fee)

BTNF's FREE dispersed camping

CLICK to ENLARGE

The following dispersed camping areas are usually filling by mid-morning

Spread Creek Rd / Toppings Rd (north of Moose)

Shadow Mountain (north of Moose)

Curtis Canyon (close to Jackson)

These developed campgrounds ($$$) are usually filling by mid-day (sometimes earlier) and are a little further away from the Town of Jackson (some are out of the valley)

Atherton (Gros Ventre)
Crystal Creek (GV)
Pacific Creek Via GTNP & North of Moran
Sheffield Via GTNP & North of Moran

Hatchet (East of Moran)
Turpin Meadows (East of Moran)
East Table (Snake River Canyon)
Station Creek (SRC)
Hoback (Hoback Canyon)

Kozy Campground (HC)

Dispersed campers should also consider the following options which see a little less action. Most are a good distance from town

East of Moran

Hatchet Road (Near Hatchet Resort)
Flagstaff Road (Near Togwotee Mtn Lodge)

Gros Ventre area

Ditch Creek - (was CLOSED in 2021)
Slate Creek & beyond

South of Wilson on the Fall Creek Road

North Fork Fall Creek
Coburn Meadows
Pritchard Pass

Hoback Canyon & Bondurant

Cliff Creek (Hoback Cyn)
North and South Fisherman's Creek (Past Bondurant)

Larger vehicles and RVs should consider the following options

It is wise to always check with the BTNF about road conditions and how well your vehicle will manage the challenges. Even 'recommended' places are often unsuitable for travel under some circumstances.

• Blackrock Meadows Trailhead & RV Camp (a dirt parking lot with pit toilet) which cost $10/night in 2021: This is located 15 miles east of Moran junction, or ½ mile west of Togwotee Mountain Lodge on the north side of HWY 26/287.

• The free Spread Creek gravel pit is a big dirt 'parking lot' at the Forest Service boundary with GTNP. It is good for big RVs. It is not always open so call the BTNF and ask if it is being used. The Spread Creek road is south of Moran between the Moose Head Ranch and the Triangle X Ranch. It is an east turn onto the dirt road off of HWY 26/89/191. These areas are marked on our BTNF motor vehicle travel maps.

• Turpin Meadows Campground ($, East of Moran, try earlier in the day).

• Flagstaff Road (BTNF near Togwotee Lodge). This road is not always friendly for RVs! Inquire with the BTNF ahead of time. Blackrock Ranger District office

• Slate Creek - check on road conditions! (BTNF up Gros Ventre)

• Cliff Creek (BTNF Hoback Canyon)

• North and South Fisherman’s Creek (BTNF Past Bondurant)

• Wolf Creek Campground ($, Snake River Canyon)

High clearance/4WD/dirt road-friendly vehicles

• East of the Atherton Campground ($) and up the Gros Ventre Road has a lot of space

• Hatchet Road (located behind Hatchet Campground, south of HWY 26/287)

• Flagstaff Road (located south of HWY 26/287)

• Granite Creek Road (Hoback Canyon)

• North Fork Fall Creek/Pritchard Pass (Fall Cr. Rd and NW of Pritchard Boat Launch)

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BTNF Full Campground List

BTNF Camping & Cabins Webpage

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/btnf/recreation/camping-cabins

The Popular Dispersed Areas - You Have Been Warned

Travel Maps from the BTNF

The map above shows popular dispersed camping locations near Jackson. As previously stated, it is often hard to find a camping spot close to the Town of Jackson. The Gros Ventre Corridor (sounds like "grow vont") has dispersed camping options but some require high-clearance vehicles. Many other dispersed areas have poor roads or are subject to changing conditions. Sometimes you can get by with a low-hanging car, sometimes not.

The free dispersed camping areas in the valley have designated sites for camping. You can't camp anywhere you want. There are specific sites for each vehicle. Again, they fill up quickly.

BTNF Campgrounds North of Jackson - Fee Charged

You can sometimes find dispersed camping along the road to the Pacific Creek Campground. Call the BTNF to confirm availability which can change as they update camping zone regulations (or stop by the Jackson Visitor Center and inquire).

A view of Dispersed Camping Areas and some campgrounds around Jackson (Shadow Mtn, Ditch Creek, Flat Creek, Curtis Canyon, Toppings/Spread Creek, Buffalo Valley)

BTNF Campgrounds Jackson & South of Jackson - Fee Charged

Another, but different, view of Dispersed Camping Areas and campgrounds around Jackson (Flat Creek, Curtis Canyon, Fall Creek, Gros Ventre, etc). Areas such as Fall Creek can be difficult to safely travel through with a small car.

National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps

The maps below are edited Motor Vehicle Use Maps. They show most of the camping locations in nearby national forest and the roads used to access them. We added comments, edited out some information and highlighted dispersed areas on the BTNF maps. If you click on the map, you can download the enlarged version.

The original maps have more information about each Forest Service road and regulations, and have embedded GPS coordinates to help you track your location. They are GeoPDFs. MVUMs are updated fairly often so be sure to get the latest map (always free). Confirm camping locations and access with the local ranger district. Our maps will still provide some guidance as the roads rarely change and signage is placed at dispersed camping locations. Obviously, all camping locations can change over time as areas are retired or improved.

BTNF JACKSON RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click to Enlarge all MVUM maps

BTNF BLACKROCK RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click to Enlarge all MVUM maps

The BTNF's Black Rock Ranger District is almost as busy as their southern Jackson Ranger District.

More BTNF Dispersed Camping Info

From the BTNF's Dispersed Camping webpage

(Undeveloped Camping)

The Forest Service uses the term "Dispersed Camping" to mean that visitors to the Forest are camping outside of a developed campground facility. This means that visitors are simply finding a place in the forest where they can drive to in order to camp for free where no development other than a road exists. It's camping (Tent, Car, or RV camping) anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. In undeveloped areas of the forest, there are no services (such as potable water and trash removal) and generally no facilities (such as tables and restrooms).

Stay limits on the Bridger-Teton National Forest

Stay limits are generally 16 days with the exception of the Jackson Ranger District and certain areas near Moran in the Blackrock RD (5-day limits - see below). After 14 days you must move 5 road miles from your original campsite. After an additional 7 days, you my return to your original campsite if desired.

Jackson and Moran Dispersed Camping:

A 5-day stay limit is in effect from May 1st through Labor Day on the Jackson Ranger District and within certain areas of the Blackrock Ranger District. Again, a map showing the restricted areas can be seen above or found here (original 7.7mb pdf). Special Order 04-04-317 After 5 days, you must move to another Ranger District to camp. You may only return to the Jackson Ranger District after 30 days.

Due to over use and high impacts, certain dispersed camping areas in the Jackson Hole Valley have had designated sites numbered for use. This is to help lessen the amount of impact on the resource.

These designated sites are:

Curtis Canyon - pdf file
Shadow Mountain - pdf
Toppings Lake and Spread Creek - pdf
Pacific Creek - pdf

And these areas may have designated sites in the future:

Buffalo Valley
Fall Creek Rd
Upper Gros Ventre (Slate Creek and beyond)

How to Pick a Campsite/ Camping Etiquette

Be respectful of natural setting. Minimize your impact by using established camps, camp on hard surfaces, avoid being directly next to water, and leave the site better than you found it. Be respectful of other campers, keep a decent distance from other campers when possible.

Be Bear Aware

Food Storage Order (pdf) is in effect from March 1 through December 1 (order can be extended.) in most of the Pinedale, Blackrock, Grey’s River, and Jackson Ranger Districts. All food, attractants, and refuse must be acceptably stored or acceptably possessed during daytime hours.

Storage methods:

1) Bear Canisters (certified and properly used)
2) Within Secured vehicles and hard sided trailers (no open top jeeps/ pickup beds)
3) Properly Hung from trees/ poles (10ft up off the ground and 4ft from vertical pole)

Campfires

DO NOT START A CAMPFIRE IF YOU DON'T HAVE WATER TO PUT IT OUT. How to put out campfires. Fire restrictions are common during fire season and campfires may be illegal at those times. Do not make a campfire near flammable hazards like dry grass, or have a fire when winds are whipping around.

BTNF Remote Camping

These are trails in the BTNF that can be used to access more remote camping. The BTNP List Of Backpacking Trails. And here is the BTNF List Of Horse Camping Locations.

CTNF Camping Options

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Idaho/WY)

CTNF - TETON BASIN RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click to Enlarge all MVUM maps

Contact Information

Teton Basin Ranger District

Physical Address:

495 S. Main St. Driggs, ID 83422
Mailing:

PO Box 777, Driggs, ID 83422

Phone:

208-354-2312 Fax: 208-354-8505
Office Hours:

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

Maps CTNF Camping Page

Popular Campgrounds in the CTNF's Teton Basin District

Teton Canyon Campground

Pine Creek Campground

Mike Harris Campground

Trail Creek Campground

The CTNF's Mike Harris camping area is in Idaho and near the WY-ID border. It is just off the highway that takes you to Jackson via Teton Pass. On the Wyoming side of the border is the CTNF's Trail Creek Campground. It is also on the western side of Teton Pass. They are the closest CTNF campgrounds to access the eastern side of the Tetons and Jackson Hole.

Unlike the BTNF, as of 2022, you can make a reservation for several CTNF campgrounds.

Notice that the CTNF's Teton Basin RD is in Wyoming & Idaho on the western side of the Tetons.

Here's a camping tip for private plane owners: The Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ), located on the Idaho side of the Grand Tetons has a grass tie-down area for under-wing camping.

..not everyone owns a jet, and one hundred low lead is expensive

SNF Camping Options

Shoshone National Forest MVUM

Shoshone National Forest MVUM

(near Teton & Fremont County Boundary)

Click to Enlarge all MVUM maps

South Zone side 2 in the SNF webpage for maps

The Shoshone National Forest (America's first national forest) has 5 Ranger Districts. If you look on their website, you will see north & south zone maps. The north zone map shows the Clarks Fork, Greybull, and Wapiti Ranger Districts. And the south zone map (side 2 seen above) shows the Washakie and Wind River Ranger Districts. The Wind River Ranger District is administered from Dubois, Wyoming (maybe 1 hour from GTNP). The Washakie Ranger District is administered from Lander, Wyoming. SNF Ranger Districts Tele Numbers.

Are you traveling from Dubois, WY, to the Tetons and need a quick, free, easy-to-find place to car camp overnight? There are "snowmobile" dirt parking lots that are free to use at the moment (subject to change). They are near the border of the Shoshone National Forest and the BTNF. The Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide area is the actual border line. The Falls Campground in the SNF is also close to the highway if you want a campground.

Typical "snowmobile" parking lot near Togwotee Pass - this one has a toilet.

On the western side of Togwotee Pass is a BTNF National Forest "scenic view" parking area called Vista View which, currently, has no signs prohibiting overnight parking.

There is plenty of dispersed camping that goes unused around Togwotee but it does get a fair amount of traffic. It is PRIME grizzly bear habitat. It is kinda far from Jackson but many travel by there to get into Jackson Hole. BTW, the scenic view area just above Togwotee Mountain Lodge doesn't allow overnight camping. Just below the lodge is a snowmobile dirt parking lot with a pit toilet that can be used for overnight camping for a small fee. You will see a big sign for the parking area.

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Grand Teton National Park

Campgrounds In GTNP

More Camping Info

Camping at all campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway was by reservation only in 2022; however, we have seen first-come, first-served options available on the day of arrival (or day before) if campground spots are unused. We saw this for Colter Bay at www.recreation.gov/. Call the park service or your campground to confirm your options. 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. Ranch reservations are accepted starting April 15, 2024. The Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch Season runs from June 8, 2024 - September 15, 2024.

2022 Campground Opening Dates

Gros Ventre Campground, April 29
Jenny Lake Campground, May 6
Signal Mountain Campground, May 13
Colter Bay Campground, May 26
Colter Bay RV Park, May 5
Colter Bay Tent Village, May 27
Lizard Creek Campground, June 10
Headwaters Campground, June 1
Headwaters RV Park, May 13

Lodges in GTNP

(excluding dude ranches)

Dornans (private inholding)

Grand Teton Lodge Company's properties

(Run by Vail Resorts)
(Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, Headwaters Lodge and Cabins)

Signal Mountain Lodge

AAC Climber's Ranch

GTNP Lodging Webpage

Backcountry Camping in GTNP

By Reservation & Walk-In

Backcountry Camping Zones

We added camping spots (light greenish blobs) in the North Fork of Garnet Canyon to this map. Camping is also available in the South Fork. GTNP has special backcountry regulations for Garnet Canyon. We assume they don't highlight those camping areas on their official backcountry map for that reason. Also, all camping permits in Garnet Canyon are handled by the Jenny Lake rangers. That is not the case for other backcountry camping areas. The canyon is the most commmon route for climbers to access the Grand Teton from the valley floor. And there is a fair amount of commercial traffic from climbing concessionaires compared to other areas in the park.

The campground at Bradley Lake is for "loop-trip camping only" (return to same trailhead). We have no idea what that really means in the grand scheme of backcountry camping.

GTNP Backcountry Camping Info/Rules

GTNP Backcountry Camping Permits & Online Map

GTNP Backcountry Trip Planning Map (PDF)

~ 2022 Backcountry Permit Sites ~

List of GTNP Backcountry Permit Sites

New interactive backcountry camping map on the GTNP website. It does NOT include Garnet Canyon which has special regulations.

2024 Camping Permit Fees

See the GTNP webpage on backcountry camping permits.

Permit Fee: $20 flat per permit (non-refundable)
Nightly Fee: $7 per person, per night (refundable until five days before the permit start date)

Change Policy

Once a reservation has been made no changes can be made by the customer. Contact the Grand Teton National Park Permits Office at (307) 739-3309 for assistance.

Cancellation Policy

Once a permit reservation is completed, it is non-refundable. As a courtesy to others, please notify the park as soon as possible if you decide not to use your reservation.

No Show Policy

If the permit is not picked up by 10:00 a.m. MT the day of arrival, the customer will be considered a "no show." The permit will be canceled and is not refundable.

You may call to inform us, (307) 739-3309, if you will be late to collect your permit.

Permit and Season Information

A permit is required for all backcountry camping trips in Grand Teton National Park. All persons who intend to sleep overnight, camp, or bivouac in the backcountry, or who are in possession of equipment designed for overnight use in the backcountry, must obtain a backcountry permit and carry it with them. Permits are used to minimize the impact on park resources, and backcountry camping permits are limited.

One permit can include up to 10 consecutive nights of stay in multiple campsite zones. Once you have determined the areas you would like to visit during your backcountry trip you will need to reserve a campsite for each night. One-third of all backcountry campsites and all of the group sites may be reserved in advance, online, beginning the first Wednesday in January through May 15. The remaining sites are filled on a first-come, first-served basis in person at park permit offices no more than one day before the trip begins.

The permit is valid only for the number of people, dates and locations indicated. Campers must use all nights on a permit for the permit to remain valid.

Important Dates

Advance backcountry permit reservations can be acquired in early January for the coming season.

Backcountry camping permits are only available in person on a first-come first-serve basis. All summer permits for backcountry camping while climbing must be picked up from the Jenny Lake Ranger Station during the summer. You can pick up permits during the summer one day ahead of your trip (if available). Call to check on availability the afternoon before your arrival. The option to make a last-minute reservation 2 days before your trip if unused permits are available seems to have been made available in 2024. Please check to confirm this.

Backcountry camping permits not involving climbing are available at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, the Colter Bay Visitor Center, and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Check location for hours and seasonal dates. Visitor centers are closed during the winter

Quotas For Backcountry Permits

Within Grand Teton National Park, backcountry camping is managed with quotas for designated sites and camping zones. The party size, length of stay, and the number of people or parties allowed in a camping zone per night, have been calculated and regulated to provide for resource protection and visitor enjoyment.

Individual parties consist of one to six people, and may use lakeshore campsites, designated mountain campsites and mountain camping zones. Zones are marked with a sign on each end and hikers with a valid permit have the freedom to choose where they wish to camp once arriving at the zone, although occupying previously used campsites is strongly encouraged.

Groups consist of seven to 12 people and must camp in designated group site. Large groups may not split into smaller groups and camp in the same zone together.

Early Season Snow Conditions

Snow usually melts from valley trails, approximately 6,700 feet by mid-June but remains in parts of the high country through much of the summer. Safe travel over Paintbrush, Static Peak and Moose Basin Divides, and Hurricane, Mt. Meek and Fox Creek Passes requires an ice axe and knowledge of its use as late as August. Snow conditions vary from year to year. If you are planning to cross any divides before late July, and do not have the skills for safe use of an ice axe on steep snowfields, consider an alternate route. Crossing a divide or pass is essential when traveling on the Teton Crest Trail and for loop trips. However, there are still opportunities for a rewarding "in and out" trip utilizing any of the major canyons. Weather can be extreme and change rapidly, impacting climbing trips to the Teton Range. It's important to check current local weather and mountain conditions prior to your visit.

Bear Country

All backcountry campers are required to carry Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee approved bear canisters unless a bear proof metal box is installed at the campsite. Canisters can be checked out at all permit issuing stations free of charge with a backcountry permit.

Plan Your Backcountry Trip Carefully

Consider how many miles you want to go each day, how much elevation change, and keep in mind the skill levels of all the members of your group. Use the Backcountry Planning Map (PDF) to plot each night of your trip's point to point mileage. Elevation high points are indicated on this map. For more specific information, consult a topographic map or hiking guide. Review the Backcountry Camping Areas for a description of camping zones and sites.

We encourage all backcountry users to pack out what they pack in including packing out human waste from this fragile alpine environment. Bags are made available to those who are camping at the Lower Saddle and the Caves campsites in Garnet Canyon from the JLCR. Permits are subject to review and violations may result in the permit being revoked.

Additional Information

Backcountry Camping Zones

Camping in Garnet Canyon

Backcountry Planning & Rules
Backcountry Permits Info

Recreation.gov GTNP Permits Reserve
Backcountry Planning Map (pdf)
Grand Teton National Park Website
Ranger's Teton Climbing Blogspot
Jenny Lake Ranger Station
Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee

GTNP Campgrounds

GTNP Visitor Centers

If you have any questions about permits or require trip planning assistance, please contact a ranger at Grand Teton National Park (307) 739-3309.

GTNP Backcountry Camping Areas

Jackson Lake Camping: The sites along the shores of Jackson Lake, many are accessible only by boat.

Leigh Lake Camping: The sites along the shores of Leigh Lake, accessible by canoe, kayak, or foot.

Mountain Camping Zones: The park's most popular camping areas and Teton Crest Trail zones including all three Granite Canyon camping zones, Open Canyon, Death Canyon and Death Canyon Shelf, Phelps Lake, Surprise Lake, South and North Forks of Cascade Canyon, and Paintbrush Canyon campsites. Also includes Alaska Basin, Bradley Lake, and Marion Lake.

Mountain Group-Camping: All individually marked group sites for 7 to 12 people within the major camping zones.

Northern Canyons Camping: The areas within Webb Canyon/Moose Basin, Berry Creek Canyon, and Owl Canyon.

South Fork Garnet Canyon: The climber/bivy camping zone for accessing climbs in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon (Middle & South Tetons)

Meadows & Platforms: The climber/bivy camping zones in the main fork of Garnet Canyon.

Lower-Saddle, Moraines, and Caves: The climber/bivy camping zones for accessing the Grand Teton and other nearby climbs. The camping zones are in the north fork of Garnet Canyon.

Technical Climbing Sites: The climber/bivy sites for technical mountaineering objectives.

Food Storage Notice

(For Leigh Lake/Bearpaw Lake/Trapper Lake and Jackson Lake permit holders)

The Leigh Lake and Jackson Lake areas are very popular destinations for campers and day hikers and are also home to black and grizzly bears. Occasionally campers arrive at their Lakeshore campsite with more food than the provided bear-resistant food storage devices can accommodate. As a result, bears in the area have received human food rewards from improperly stored food. This has led to food conditioned and often habituated behavior by bears, and aggressive actions that make them dangerous to people. When this occurs, bears must be destroyed.

Bear conservation, your safety and that of others are at stake. Please help us in our efforts to protect bears by adhering to the following rules and guidelines:

All food, garbage, drinks, and any item with an odor must be stored in a bear-resistant food storage locker (bear box) or Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) approved canister when not in immediate use. Grand Teton National Park provides IGBC approved bear canisters at no charge.

Coolers, cans, bottles, etc., are not bear-resistant and must be stored properly.

The bear boxes provided measure approximately 48 x 20 x 20 inches and can typically accommodate one medium-sized cooler and enough food for several days.

Food items may not be hung in trees or left in boats. Light items can be hung on bear poles where provided and must be a minimum of 10’ from the ground.

Items that cannot be properly secured must be returned to your vehicle. Remember to secure food items in the provided bear boxes when portaging between String and Leigh Lake. Secure all food items immediately upon arrival at your campsite.

GTNP Lakeside Campsites & Campgrounds map

Natural water sources are near the Grassy Lake camping spots (see top of map) and they probably need filtering. Hot springs aren't too far away either (see GTNP rules). Carry bear spray - prime grizzly country. The road conditions can be 4X4-Truck-Worthy the further west you travel on the Grassy Lake Road (summer-travel only).

The Flagg Ranch/Headwaters area has a campground and token-operated showers. The fee-based Sheffield Creek camping site in the Teton National Forest is just south of Flagg Ranch. It is not shown on the map. Campers' cars must ford a creek to reach the campground. Usually passable with dry weather and low water levels by all cars—even a Honda Civic. Most trucks can handle it on the worst days.

The backcountry and frontcountry lake sites are popular in GTNP. Try booking a reservation in January.

Backcountry Camping
In Garnet Canyon

Garnet Canyon water map & camping zones

(water only shown along the climbers' trail to Lower Saddle)

The climbers trail is mostly well defined all the way to the Lower Saddle but it does disappear in a few spots. Check our webpage covering the approach to the Lower Saddle for more information.

Published Distance

(GPS values differ on distance)

4.1 miles to Platforms Camping Zone at Garnet Creek

4.7 miles to Meadows Camping Zone

5.5 miles to Petzoldt's Caves Camping Zone

6.2 miles to Morainal Camping Zone

7.0 miles to Lower Saddle

Common Backcountry Camping Sites for Grand Teton Climbers

The above map is from the recreation.gov website where you can book a reservation and examine backcounry permit rules. The majority of Garnet Canyon's backcountry camping sites are set aside for first-come, first-served, walk-in permits starting the day before your trip. The remaining sites are set aside for advanced reservations starting in early January and ending in mid-May, as of 2022.

Lower Fork Zones: Platforms, Meadows

North Fork Zones: Caves, Moraine, Lower Saddle

South Fork Zones: South Fork of Garnet Canyon

Special Rules for Garnet Canyon

Garnet Canyon Stay Limits

Parties are limited to two nights per fork of the canyon (Lower Fork, South Fork, North Fork), with a maximum stay of six nights per outing. Between June 1 and September 15, campers may stay in the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park a maximum of 10 nights.

Party Size

All camping in Garnet Canyon is limited to parties of 1 to 6 people. Call for information about group camping involving more than 6 people.

Human Waste Disposal

All overnight campers at the Lower Saddle & Caves Camping Zones are required to take "Rest Stop" bags to pack out their human waste. Campers are also encouraged to use "Rest Stop" bags when staying elsewhere in Garnet Canyon. Bags are available for issue with a camping permit at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Semi-permanent plywood structures on the west side of the Lower Saddle help to facilitate use of the bags. Chemical polymers breaking down the solid waste allow for the bags to be deposited in any garbage can back on the valley floor. Additional information on proper use can be obtained at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. We also request that people urinate on the west side of the Lower Saddle to help maintain a clean and pristine camping area and to prevent contamination of the water source on the east side.

Food Storage

All food, garbage, toiletries, and any other odorous item that may attract bears or other wildlife MUST be stored in a bear-resistant food storage canister or box when not in immediate use, day or night. Bears, marmots, ravens, and other scavengers frequent Garnet Canyon and can cause significant damage to tents, sleeping bags, packs, and other camping equipment if food and garbage is not properly stored. Approved bear-resistant food storage canisters are required at the Moraine and South Fork Camping Zones. Canisters can be checked out with a camping permit for free at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.

Bear-resistant food storage boxes are available at the Platforms (1), Meadows (3), Caves (1), and Lower Saddle(1).

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Winter Camping

Backcountry winter camping permits are free (subject to change). Contact the park to pick up a permit.

Park campgrounds are closed during the winter. Primitive winter camping is allowed on the parking lot next to the Colter Bay Visitor Center from December 1 to April 15, with a $5 per night fee which can be paid at the Moran Entrance Station. They used to have a fee deposit box next to the Visitor Center restroom in case you arrived late. It may still be there.

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Yellowstone National Park