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Grand Teton NP Camping, 6-9 August, 2026
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was the site of a Cache Hikers camping trip on August 6-9, 2026. We set up camp on Thursday afternoon in Group Site B of the Gros Ventre Campground at the southeast edge of the Park along the Gros Ventre River. Our site had shade from large cottonwood trees, a shed-sized bear box, tables, restrooms, and water. The Park was a favorite of some but unfamiliar to many in the group.
Reports of limited trailhead parking led to early morning departures, but warm, leisurely late afternoons and great dinner buffets in camp balanced out the quick chilly mornings.
Small groups formed according to interest and focused their explorations mainly on trails near Jenny, String, and Leigh Lakes, including Cascade Canyon and the Moose Ponds. Some groups visited Jackson Lake, the Visitors Center, and Jackson Hole (town). The bike paths south to Jackson Hole and north past the peaks and lakes were a hit. The Gros Ventre River provided some cooling and water play. Two evening ranger talks drew participants, and one hiker became an official junior ranger.
Although we enjoyed sunshine and clear days, our views of the famous mountains were impaired by smoke from wildfires throughout the region. Early morning hiking near the lakes gave us the best views and reflections of Teton grandeur.
Wildlife observations were celebrated! Between us we saw multiple moose (some with offspring), bison herds, elk, pronghorn, pika, osprey, western tanagers, great blue heron sandhill cranes, and Steller jays. The high bloom flower season had passed but some notable species still flowering were lupine, purple monkeyflower, Indian paintbrush, monkshood, western harebell, western coneflower, showy fleabane, larkspur, and showy goldeneye.
Trip Summary
- Drove about 200 miles from Logan to Gros Ventre Campground
- 15 participants: Brent, Teresa, Jerry, Susan, Ocean, Bree, Mitchell, Darcie, Keri, Michelle, David, Sue, Lin, Dave W. and Jane
- 7 cars/trucks, 3 camper/trailers, 4 bikes
- Mostly sunny, temperature range 40’s – high 70’s, some wind every day, mosquitos in the evenings
Thanks
to Jane for the narrative and photos, and Dave
W, Brent, and Sue for photos.
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| Dinner at camp
(looking north) |
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| Gros Ventre Group Site B, looking southward, from the back of camp toward the front | ||||
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| It was a short walk from camp to the
Gros Ventre River |
Invasive spotted knapweed at the
campground |
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| Attending an evening Ranger talk at the campground | A moose antler - and our own Junior
Ranger! |
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| Ready to start
hiking on the String
Lake Trail |
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| Looking to the
north over String Lake toward Mount Moran |
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| Looking to the south over String Lake toward Teewinot Mountain, Mount Owen and Mount St John | ||||
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| Crossing the bridge at the north end
of String Lake |
String Lake Hikers | |||
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| Looking toward the east, over String
Lake |
String Lake hikers have many options | |||
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| Lunch at the String Lake Picnic Area |
Jenny Lake Trail hikers | |||
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| Bridge between Jenny Lake and
String Lake |
Jenny Lake hikers enjoyed Cascade
Creek's cool water |
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| Looking west, up Cascade Canyon, with Mount Owen on the left | ||||
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| Moose, at
Moose Ponds, near Jenny Lake |
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| Bull Moose at Moose (the Moose
visitor's center) |
Buck mule deer, "in velvet" |
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| The Grand
Teton Pathway |
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| Lupine | ||||
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| Giant green gentian (a.k.a. elk weed or monument plant), Frasera speciosa | ||||
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| The interactive park map can be found
at https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/maps.htm |
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