NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Grand Teton National Park rangers are leading two-hour snowshoe hikes from the Taggart Lake Trailhead every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through mid-March, dependent on conditions. The guided walks begin at 1:30 p.m. and reservations are required.
Previous experience is not necessary to participate and snowshoes are available.
Guided tours of the Taggart Lake area are a great way for beginners to get an introduction to winter recreation, and a way for the more experienced to delve deeper into the worlds of snow science and winter ecology. Topics covered during the hikes vary, but can include park history, winter wildlife adaptations, animal tracks and snowpack.
The experience is enhanced by the use of historic wooden snowshoes, the oldest of which date to 1943.While the precise history of the snowshoe is unknown, some of them likely came from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division.
During and after World War II, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division trained for winter combat in mountain areas using skis and snowshoes. Veterans of the division were largely responsible for the growth of the snow sports industry after the war and many of them had ties to the Teton Range. The historic snowshoes are available to hike participants for a suggested donation of $5 per participant. All donations are collected by Grand Teton Association and used to maintain the snowshoes.
Skiers and snowshoers are also welcome to explore the park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway on their own. While winter recreationists are not restricted to established trails, visitors are required to observe the following public closures, which are in place for wildlife protection during the winter:
Dec. 1 through March 3: Static Peak, Prospectors Mountain and Mount Hunt.
Dec. 15 through March 31: Snake River floodplain from Moran to Menor’s Ferry near Moose, Buffalo Fork River floodplain within the park, Uhl Hill, and Kelly Hill.
A map of the closed areas can be found at nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/GRTE-Winter-Map.pdf.
Call (307) 739-3399 for more information or to make a reservation for a guided walk.
