The Grand Tetons second visit is different than the first one for me. To start with I am in a different campground and I am going to try and not hike any of the hikes I went last year. The park is part of larger eco system which includes many of the surrounding national forests John D. Rockefeller, JR Memorial Parkway and the National Elk Refuge. The two national forests are Bridger-Teton, and Caribou-Targhee. Within Tetons National Park there is a highway 26/89 and 191 which within the park are the same road. The road’s name also changes within the park to be 89 and 191/287. If you come from the South the Moose Entrance that is where the main visitor center is located and is just a few miles North of Jackson, WY. Interestingly the airport for Jackson is also located within the boundary of the park. The Eastern entrance to the park is the Moran Entrance and it is off of highway 26/287. There is a merger of some sorts at the Moran Entrance with 26 heading South merging with 89 and 191 and 287 merges with 89 and 191 within the park. The Northern Entrance to the park is when you get to the John D. Rockefeller, JR. Memorial Parkway and Yellowstone’s Southern Entrance. An insiders note: There is a store/gas station/restaurant called Dornans and on Monday they have an open microphone night getting some good acts. Even if you don’t go on Monday sitting there and getting to look at the mountains is worth the time there. For bike riders the highways into the park is full of riders who are on an extended ride with all their gear on their bikes. The less hearty people can rest assured as the park has a bike path from the Moose entrance to Jenny Lake, and the path goes all the way into Jackson. Plenty of riding to be done if you want to ride, but remember to have your bear spray as they do go on the bike path as well.
Mormon Row – the iconic photo of the barn with the mountains in the back is on Mormon row. The row is two stops along a road that has multiple homes and outbuildings which were built by John and Thomas Alma (T.A.) Moulton. The mormons built a series of canals and dikes to supply water to their fields. Some of these still are operational today. The brothers and other Mormons also changed the fields from what was there, small bushes and weeds and transformed them into field for crops and livestock. The NPS still uses the buildings today as housing for some of the park service employees. You access Mormon row from Antelope Flats Road. Access to Antelope Flats Road is from 26/89 and it would be a right turn if you are heading North from the Moose entrance or the town of Jackson. On Antelope Flats Road there are also private residences which are owned by people other than the NPS. Mormon Row is worth the drive into the area and a walk about. There is not hiking but you do have to walk from the parking area to that of the buildings. Parking is tight for large vehicles within the Mormon settlement on the left off of Antelope Flats but the one on the right has more parking and the spots are larger.
Signal Mountain Campground – The campground is run by a NPS concessionaire and the concessionaire also runs the dock, lodge and stores in the Signal Mountain area. The campground itself has 86 sites and some of the sites have electric hookups but loop 2 and 3 don’t have electric and loop 3 is a no generator loop. Each loop has at least one restroom with flush toilets and a dish washing station and fresh water spigot. There are 2 bathrooms in loop 1 as it is the biggest loop geography wise. The spots on loop 1 of 7, 9, 11, and 12 have views of Jackson Lake. Some of the other sites in loops 2 and 3 may have views of the lake but I was unable to determine. The campground has pay showers and it is $6.00 for 7 minutes of a shower and for an additional token, $1.00, you can get an additional 70 seconds. The shower will give you a warning before cutting off or having you insert additional token. The moral of the story is wash and rinse fast. The shower stalls also have a sink and changing area so a family could go into the shower and everyone get clean. The campground has a dump station for those with indoor plumbing and also a water fill area at the dump station. There is a picnic area within the campground that can be used by anyone campers and non-campers. The beach is a bit rocky so be sure to bring your shoes down to the water if you are heading into the water. The campground has a boat ramp and a 3 day boat and trailer parking area. Within the lake there are mooring buoy’s to use in lieu of an anchor. The dock has a person who will tire you boat up for you. Note: there are foxes in the area along with bears and they will eat people food. If they rely on people food it is bad and they will also become aggressive and the park service will have to remove them. Don’t feed or leave your food unattended while in the park.
Taggart Lake – Bradley Lake Trail – The trail is a two lakes in a hike but you can also do the lakes each with an out and back. Taggart Lake is a 3 mile round trip with 360 feet of elevation gain. Bradley Lake is a 4 mile round trip to the lake with about 740 feet of elevation gain on its out and back. Together the round trip to both lakes is 860 feet of elevation gain and is 5.6 miles total. The trailhead for the trail is on the right of the Taggart Lake Trailhead parking, by the vault toilets. The trail starts off as road and then the road is blocked and you have to head right, hearing rapids. You will shortly cross the rapids on a bridge and continue going up to the “Y” in the trail for the two lakes. When you have gotten to the “Y” Taggart Lake is only about 0.5 miles to your left and virtually no elevation change and Bradley Lake is to the right. Bradley has elevation gain to get to the lake and I would estimate it at about 740 feet with most of the elevation is a slow incline from the “Y” in the trail. I choose to go to Taggart Lake first and enjoyed the 0.5 miles from the “Y” to the lake. The lake was clear and a bit chilly. A multi-family group were cheering on the ones of the group who went all into the water since it was so cold. I choose not to go into the water but enjoy the views and also watching the fish. The lake held many fish that I could have used a short handled net to get them out of the water they were so close to shore. Before coming to the short, 20 yards, there is another fork in the trail and one way heads to the shore and the other heads to Bradley Lake and is 1.4 miles. Well after some time at the lake shore I went back to the fork and decided Bradley was the way to go. A nice young lady said let’s hike together so I could not refuse and off Julia and I went up the hill, more in people along the way. The trail to Bradley Lake from Taggart Lake is uphill! Near to top of the trail is an observation area of Bradley lake, your first view of it and it looked great. On the way up the hill from the bottom of the lake you can see views of Taggart which are also very beautiful. After the observation “turnout” of the trail there is a couple of trails you can take. I choose the one on the right and it started down towards Bradley Lake. A switchback and some steep downhill you will come to a flat area along the side of the lake. Another intersection of multiple trails come together and one of the options is to a viewing area of the lake from above. Nobody know exactly how to get to lake level but I saw a bridge and knew the lake could be accessed but it was not for me today. The access to the lake from the intersection if coming down as I was would be to go left and from the map it appears the bridge is only 0.3 miles from the intersection. Heading back to the parking area is a bit over 2 mile hike and the start of the hike is backup the hill. After about a 0.25 miles it is a slow decent down to the parking area. The hike down is enjoyable as you have views of Taggart Lake allowing you to stop and enjoy some views and catch your breath. Most of the trails are dirt and rocks. Some of the trails were in the shade but most is out in the sun so be sure to be sunscreen on. Also bug spay would be good since the bugs can be bad at times.
