Residents of Jackson, Wyo. and park visitors are reminded that two roads within Grand Teton National Park will close to vehicle traffic for the season on the evening of Friday, October 31, 2014. These seasonal closures include the length of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake parking area and Signal Mountain Lodge parking lot, as well as the Moose-Wilson Road between Granite Canyon and Death Canyon trailheads.
In addition to the annual road closures, the Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations will be temporarily closed for the month of November and early December. They are scheduled to reopen on December 15 for the winter season, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office.
The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose is scheduled to be closed from November 2 to March 2, 2015. A short seasonal closure of the Discovery Center was implemented last year as a cost saving measure, and a substantial cost efficiency was achieved during that closure. Customary winter visitor services will be provided at other park locations and via online access or through phone contact. Education outreach programs to area schools will take place for the 2014/2015 winter season, as they have in previous years.
Teton Park Road is not plowed after the first of November. However during the period of time that the Teton Park Road remains free of snow, visitors are welcome to use the roadway for other recreation such as walking, bicycling, and in-line skating. Once the snow begins to accumulate on the roadbed, winter season activities such as cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snow-shoeing become possible.
Pets are only permitted on park roadways where vehicles are allowed access, and by special exemption, pets are allowed on the Teton Park Road year-round. However, pet owners are reminded that dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under physical restraint at all times. Dog owners are required to clean-up their pet’s waste, and mutt mitt stations are provided for that purpose during the off season months.
In addition to road closures in Grand Teton National Park, the Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway will close for the season with the first major snowstorm.
Additional announcements about winter season operations will be made in mid-December.