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)

^distances are flight line^

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

Let's look at some maps that show campground options in each National Forest. We will look at free dispersed camping options later.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bridger-Teton National Forest Campgrounds

Older Map

The BTNF's Box Creek, Angles, and Red Hills campgrounds were not in service in 2024.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has first-come, first-served options at almost all fee-based campgrounds, and at ALL of their free dispersed camping locations. Usually, the large-group sites, and cabins, can be reserved in advance. There are at least 260 road-accessed and authorized Forest Service campsites north of Jackson on the Bridger-Teton. Many other camping spots (free or fee-based) are outside of the valley.

There's a Forest Service website with an interactive USFS map that is a nice portal for maps and information. There's also the Forest Service App & the very nice Avenza Mapping App for viewing GeoPDFs — download free FS MVUM maps from inside the app. There's also a special forest service "www.arcgis.com" website for camping on the BTNF's Jackson & Blackrock Ranger Districts (probably outdated in 2025 - try the regular website).

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

Shoshone National Forest

Shoshone National Forest Southern District Campgrounds

There are several dirt parking lots just off highway 26/287 heading to Jackson. One is near the Brooks Lake turnoff and another is further west. One has a pit toilet. Both are located in the SNF just before you cross over into Teton County and the BTNF. They're mostly used by snowmobiling sledheads during the winter but you can car camp overnight if need be. There's a picture of one parking lot further down the page. And they show up on Google Maps.

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

NW Wyoming & SE Idaho Campgrounds

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Campgrounds

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All Yellowstone Maps

Other Yellowstone Maps

Yellowstone Reservations on Recreation.gov

Yellowstone Backcountry Camping

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park

BTNF, GTNP & CTNF Campgrounds

Click or tap to enlarge

Collection of free GTNP maps from npmaps.com

Official NPS maps for GTNP in various formats

All Official NP Maps

The area marked "Moose" on the above map is at the primary southern entrance to the park. You'll 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.

Grand Teton National Park

~ Backcountry & Lake Camping ~

Backcountry Camping Permits
(Reservations & Info and has ALL ZONES)

Backcountry Camping

(GTNP's General Information)

Backcountry Permits
(GTNP's General Information)

Safety in Bear Country

Backcountry Camping Routes and Zones

(Newer but no Garnet Canyon Zones in early 2025)

Camping in Garnet Canyon

(Old Ranger's Blog)

Old BC Trip Planner & Map
(pdf - no Garnet Canyon)

Old Trailhead & Hiking Maps

(npsmaps.com)

Old ackcountry Camping Zone Maps

(No direct links from GTNP website, but still around)

Backcountry Camping Zones

We added camping zones (light greenish blobs) for the North Fork of Garnet Canyon to this map. Camping is also available in the South Fork. GTNP refused to highlight them on their map. GTNP has special backcountry regulations for campers in Garnet Canyon.

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.

Recreation.gov:

"Advance backcountry permit reservations open 8:00 a.m. MT on January 7th, 2025 for overnight stays May 1, 2025-October 31, 2025. 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.

Here's another look at Lake Camping options and the Headwaters area.

GTNP Lakeside Campsites & Campgrounds map

Grassy Lake road campsites are still free, first-come, first-served as of 2025 - see top of map. Natural water sources are by the Grassy Lake camping spots 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 is the inside the GTNP-managed JD Rockefeller Memorial Parkway area. It has a campground, lodging 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. The creek is very passable with dry weather and low water levels by small cars.

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

~ More Information - Valley Camping ~

Free Camping close to GTNP

On the BTNF

Click or tap to enlarge

BTNF Free Dispersed Camping near GTNP/JXN

Moran Vista and Blackrock Meadows have fees (~$10/nt)

Click or tap to enlarge

Some old information is still lingering here and on the BTNF website so call to confirm anything of great importance to you. We made an effort to update this webpage in early 2025 but not everything was double checked.

The "Large RV spot" is the Moran Vista RV camping location

We highlight this area because the camping sites can be approached via two different roads and one is better for big RVs. The Spread Creek Rd goes to the Moran Vista RV site. That site will cost ya $10 during high season (usually free Oct & Nov when the road is open). Beyond the Moran Vista RV site, the road is not very suitable for large RVs. That area has free dispersed camping.

The Toppings Lake Rd (seen above) is said to be not suitable for long trailers (as discussed in the graphic above the map) but some spots might be OK - Ask at a Ranger Station, or call. Either way, the Moran Vista site would probably be better. Toppings Lake Rd also has a vault toilet at the camping area closest to the highway.

Just below Togwotee Mountain Lodge (TML webcam), is the Blackrock Meadows parking area which is nice for big RVs ($10/nt). There is a pit toilet. Free dispersed camping is also available along the Togwotee Pass highway. All these spots are a long drive from Jackson. They're good for visitors on their way here who might need a camping spot before arriving, or upon leaving.

Free camping locations fill up quickly during the summer. Of course, you may get lucky. It's not always super crowded. A 5-day stay limit is 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 307-739-5500 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.

"If you arrive in Jackson Hole after 6 p.m. don’t plan on getting a spot at any of these designated dispersed camping areas. If you’re set on staying in the valley, instead consider Moran Vista or Blackrock Meadows. These undeveloped campgrounds in the northern part of the valley are first-come/first-served, often don’t fill up, offer space for large recreational vehicles and porta-potties and are $10/night." FOTBT

As of winter 2025, 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 but the broadcast is often worthless for travel updates, hazards, closures, etc.

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.

Car Camping around Jackson

More than a few people who work in Jackson during the summer will live out of their vehicles. Maybe 100's. Based on reports from Bridger-Teton officials, well over 300 people were living illegally in the 3.4-million-acre BTNF that wraps around three sides of Jackson Hole. The forest services does enforce its stay limits especially near very popular areas. A few employers let car-camping employees park on their property but it's often illegal (not always). Many summer jobs in the park come with housing or RV slots. Horribly small dorm rooms are common, shared with another adult.

While you might get away with sleeping inside your vehicle within town limits during the summer, it is, nonetheless, illegal on public property. Illegal car camping is pretty common and it's pretty obvious, especially with vans or fogged-up windows. Law enforcement may choose to ignore your illegal camping but you shouldn't count on it. Especially in neighborhoods. They have been dealing with illegal car campers for decades. They know your modus operandi. As does everyone in town. And people regularly complain about car campers near homes.

If you wish to find "real" housing, keep in mind that many of Jackson's workers live in Driggs or 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's usually difficult to find housing in all of these locations, and expensive.

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. In the past, none seemed to care if you stopped for the night but we're sure someone will in the future.

Overnight parking on town streets is illegal during the winter - no cars are allowed anywhere on public streets after the bars close (between 3 and 7 am).

More Details

BTNF Camping Options

Always Check Road Conditions Beforehand (call the Forest Service offices)

A 5 day stay limit (link to info & pdf map) 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). It's usually 5 days within a 30-day period but that can change. Check their website for newer information.

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. All of the places mentioned above are shown below.

BTNF message boards are located near the entrances to dispersed camping areas. They 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). Some dispersed areas (Shadow Mountain, etc) might be turned into paid campgrounds in the future. The BTNF might add more developed sites to the Curtis Canyon Campground in the future.

Most of the FS roads shown on the next map have dispersed camping. And fee-based camping is usually nearby (highlighted with a red dot)

BTNF Campgrounds North & South of Jackson

Developed Campgrounds

Prices have changed for some camping options

Blackrock Meadows & Moran Vista RV sites (just big parking areas) have a fee during the high season.

On the above list is a campground number for each location. A map with the campground number is shown below....

Match the camping location number with the campground list shown just above this image

There are many great places 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 of day, time of year, type of vehicle and desired location. If you want to avoid crowds, good luck. It's busy during the high season.

BTNF Campgrounds North of Jackson - Fee Charged

BTNF Campgrounds Jackson & South of Jackson - Fee Charged

Some old advice from the Forest Service follows...

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

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.

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.

• Once again, the Blackrock Meadows Trailhead & RV Camp (a dirt parking lot with pit toilet) cost $10/night in 2024: 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.

• Once again, the Spread Creek gravel pit is a big dirt 'parking lot' at the Forest Service boundary with GTNP. It is good for big RVs. The Spread Creek road is south of Moran between the Moose Head Ranch and the Triangle X Ranch. It's an east turn onto the dirt road off of HWY 26/89/191. These areas are marked on the BTNF motor vehicle travel maps.

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

• Flagstaff Road (near Togwotee Lodge).

The Flagstaff road is not always friendly for RVs even though it was included in the list by the FS.

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

• Cliff Creek (Hoback Canyon)

• North and South Fisherman’s Creek (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

Travel Maps from the BTNF

Many 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 Motor Vehicle Use Maps

The Bridger-Teton MVUM 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. It's best to download the newest maps.

The original maps are available from the Forest Service website. They have more information about each Forest Service road and regulations, and have embedded GPS coordinates to help you track your location. They're GeoPDFs. The MVUMs are updated fairly often so be sure to get the latest map (always free - printed or pdf). Please confirm camping locations and accessibility with the local ranger district. All camping locations can change over time as areas are retired or improved. The free Avenza software for using the GeoPDFs is available for download through Avenza System Inc: www.avenza.com/pdf-maps or the app store.

Our maps will still provide some guidance as the roads rarely change. Again, signage is usually placed at dispersed camping locations.

Again, not all dirt roads are easy to navigate by a small car or big RV. Forest service roads open for public use as the roads dry out. There's no fixed schedule.

BTNF JACKSON RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click or tap to enlarge all MVUM maps

BTNF BLACKROCK RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click or tap to enlarge all MVUM maps

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). UPDATE: A few overly-popular dispersed sites do have a toilet as stated elsewhere, and sometimes hosts.

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 - as discussed previously). 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. Please confirm this.

Jackson and Moran Dispersed Camping:

Again, 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.

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 & other quirks

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.

West of the Continental Divide along the Togwotee Pass highway is a BTNF National Forest parking area called Vista View which, currently, has no signs prohibiting overnight parking. They're handy if you don't have a suitable car for off-road travel on Forest Service roads. The "scenic view" highway pullout with pit toilets just above Togwotee Mountain Lodge doesn't allow overnight camping. Just below the lodge is the previously mentioned snowmobile dirt parking lot (the Blackrock Meadows camping area) with a pit toilet. You'll see a big sign for the parking area. It's usually free outside of the summer high season. You can get a meal at the lodge.

CTNF Motor Vehicle Use Maps

The Caribou-Targhee MVUM Maps

CTNF - TETON BASIN RANGER DISTRICT MVUM

Click or tap to enlarge all MVUM maps

Popular Campgrounds in the CTNF's
Teton Basin District

Fee-based Campgrounds in the CTNF

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

Teton Canyon Campground

Pine Creek Campground

Mike Harris Campground

Trail Creek Campground

Maps CTNF Camping Page

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're the closest CTNF campgrounds to access the eastern side of the Tetons and Jackson Hole.

You can make a reservation for several CTNF campgrounds.

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

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

Driggs Airport Services

SNF Motor Vehicle Use Maps

Shoshone National Forest MVUM Maps

Shoshone National Forest MVUM

(near Teton & Fremont County Boundary)

Click or tap to enlarge all MVUM maps

South Zone side 2 in the SNF webpage for maps

(or check the actual webpage)

The Shoshone National Forest (America's first national forest) has 5 Ranger Districts. If you look on their website, you'll 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.

We'll mention once again an option along the highway in the Shoshone National Forest between the top of Togwotee Pass and Dubois. WY....

Typical snowmobile parking lot next to the Togwotee Pass highway

There's also plenty of dispersed camping around Togwotee Pass off of the Forest Service roads. It's PRIME grizzly bear habitat. It's far from Jackson. It's a good option for people traveling to Jackson Hole. Some of the forest roads are OK for smaller cars but not all of 'em. This area is at a high elevation so the roads may open at a later date for summer traffic.

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More info on
Campgrounds In GTNP

More Camping Info

2025 Campground Opening Dates
(click on the links below to see 2025+ dates)

Gros Ventre Campground, April 26 - October 10
Jenny Lake Campground, July 1 - September 28
Signal Mountain Campground, May 9 - October 12
Colter Bay Campground, May 22 September 28
Colter Bay RV Park, May 3 - October 10
Colter Bay Tent Village, May 23 - September 1
Lizard Creek Campground, June 13 - September 8
Headwaters Campground, June 7 - October 1
Headwaters RV Park, June 7 - October 1

The campgrounds in GTNP require reservations

Lodges in GTNP

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

Triangle X Dude Ranch (private inholding)

Moose Head Ranch (private inholding)

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.

GTNP Backcountry Camping Policies & Details

The latest policies and details can be found on Recreation.gov

2025 Camping Permit Fees

GTNP webpage on backcountry camping permits

Permit Fee: $20 flat fee per permit (non-refundable) plus...

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'll 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'll 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 below 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 to examine each night of your trip's point to point mileage (Garnet Canyon mileage was still absent in 2025). 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.

Backcountry Camping
In Garnet Canyon

Garnet Canyon water & camping zones

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

Check our webpage covering the approach to the Lower Saddle for more information.

OLD 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

GPS Tracks Distances

First Junction: 1.7 miles

Second Junction: 3 miles
Platforms Camping Zone: 4.1 miles

Meadows Camping Zone: 4.5 miles
Caves Camping Zone: 5.2 miles to spring water
Moraines Camping Zone: 5.9 miles to sign
Lower Saddle: 6.4 miles

GPS tracks

Common Backcountry Camping Sites for Grand Teton Climbers - 2024

The above map is from the recreation.gov website where you can book a reservation and examine backcounry permit rules.

Popular sites in Garnet Canyon for climbers heading up the Grand Teton

The interactive backcountry camping map on the GTNP website does NOT include Garnet Canyon as of 2025. The recreation.gov site does: List of GTNP Backcountry Permit Sites

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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Miscellaneous Stuff

USGS 7.5 min Topo Maps

USGS 7.5 min Quad Map Index for the Tetons

USGS Quad Map Index For Wyoming (or here)

Where can I find Index Maps?
USFS Area Maps by Map Name

GTNP Trail Maps

Granite Canyon Trailhead
Death Canyon Trailhead
Taggart Lake Trailhead
Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Jenny Lake Trailhead
String Lake Trailhead
Leigh Lake Trailhead
Hermitage Point Trailhead
Two Ocean Lake Trailhead

Other Maps

JH Friends of Pathways Maps
GTNP MAP
TetonHikingTrails.com
AllTrails.com

Wikipedia List of GTNP Trails
Hiking Project
Pick-a-Trail

Mountain Project Map

Above is another overview of campgrounds north of Jackson but it includes some free dispersed Camping Areas (in yellow) like Shadow Mtn, Ditch Creek, Flat Creek, Curtis Canyon, Toppings/Spread Creek, Buffalo Valley).

Click or tap to enlarge

The free Flat Creek and Curtis Canyon camping areas are highlighted in yellow. The others are not highlighted in yellow but they're marked as "Dispersed Camping". Areas such as Fall Creek can be difficult to safely travel through with a small car.

Jackson ORV Map - BTNF roads/trails

Official Wyoming ORV Maps

Click or tap to enlarge

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's also a plain PDF map available.

Teton County, WY Map

Click or tap to enlarge

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

Older Map.

The Popular Dispersed Areas

Map of Public Land Status NW Wyoming

Federal Wilderness Areas marked in red

(Not showing Wilderness Study Areas)

Wyoming Whiskey Homepage

Enjoy Safe Climbing