Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
Wyoming 2023 Trip➤
In September of 2023, my husband I set out to explore some National Park units in the state of Wyoming. We visited Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, The John D. Rockefeller Parkway, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. In Grand Teton National Park, we visited Jackson Lake behind the Jackson Lake Lodge.
Grand Teton National Park➤
The Tetons are the youngest of all the mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountain chain. Most other mountains in the region are at least 50 million years old but the Tetons are less than 10 million and are still rising. The Jackson Hole valley is of the same age and continues to sink. The tallest peaks tower almost 7,000 feet above the valley floor, already at an elevation of about 6800 feet. With no foothills, the resulting landscape is dramatic and breathtaking.
In the 1920s, John D. Rockefeller Jr. agreed to acquire thousands of acres around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then donate this land to the government for a national park. At the urging of Horace Albright, then director of the National Park Service, Rockefeller formed a company called the Snake River Land Company to buy up property around the Snake River in secret. Rockefeller wanted to keep his name out of it to keep the price lower.
Meanwhile, in 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed the act creating Grand Teton National Park, at half its present size. The park only protected the Teton Range and 6 lakes at the foot of the mountains. Rockefeller encountered resistance from locals when he tried to donate his land to expand the park.
In 1943, Rockefeller told President Franklin Delano Roosevelt he would sell to the highest bidder if the government didn’t use his land for the park. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act and declared additional land in the valley to be Jackson Hole National Monument. The two units were combined to become the present Grand Teton National Park in 1950.
Jackson Lake➤
During our visit to Jackson Lake, we stopped for lunch at the luncheonette in the Jackson Lake Lodge. The lodge, a significant piece of national park architecture, exudes a unique blend of rustic charm and modern design, as highlighted by the informative plaque near the building. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood in 1955, the lodge marks a shift from traditional rustic park structures to more modern forms, with its use of textured concrete and wood accents.
After lunch, we took a peaceful stroll along the path behind the hotel. The trail offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, with the majestic mountains of the Grand Teton range reflecting in the serene waters of Jackson Lake. The crisp autumn air and vibrant fall colors added to the tranquility of the experience, making it a perfect way to unwind and immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of the area.
The trail meanders through open meadows and small clusters of aspen trees, which in the fall, turn a brilliant shade of yellow, contrasting beautifully with the deep greens of the evergreens and the blue of the sky and lake. The sound of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves add to the peaceful atmosphere. Along the way, there are several spots where you can pause to take in the panoramic views of Jackson Lake.
Grand Teton Posts➤
- Snake River Overlook
- Lakeshore Trail
- Jackson Lake
- Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher Landing
- Jenny Lake
- Teton Wildlife Sunset Tour
- Signal Mountain
- Hidden Falls
- Mormon Row
- National Elk Refuge
- Taggart Lake
- Chapel of the Transfiguration
- Menors Ferry Historic District
- Jackson National Fish Hatchery
Location: 101 Jackson Lake Lodge Rd, Moran, Wyoming
Designation: National Park
Date designated/established: February 26, 1929
Date of my visit: September 27, 2023
