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The Bridger-Teton National Forest Destination encompasses areas of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with a few cities located in the portions of each state, namely Idaho Falls, Idaho; Island Park, Idaho; and Jackson, Wyoming. A number of notable national parks comprise the destination as well: Yellowstone National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Shoshone National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The Grand Teton National Park, located in Wyoming, contains part of the Teton Mountain Range, the city of Jackson Hole, and a valley east of the Teton Mountain Range. Reaching a height of 13,770 feet above sea level, Grand Teton is acknowledged as the highest point of the Grand Teton National Park. The park has a variety of hiking trails that wind through the mountains, some of which lead to various lakes such as Jenny Lake or Jackson Lake.[1] Bridger-Teton National Forest, the namesake of the destination, is situated near Grand Teton National Park in western Wyoming. The forest is comprised of 3.4 million acres of land. Due to its size, Bridger-Teton National Forest is the third-largest national forest located outside of Alaska.[7] The weather in the area is relatively warm, dry, and clear during the summer months, while the winters are reported to be snowy and partially cloudy. For tourists looking for warm-weather activities, it is recommended that they visit between early July and mid-August.[6]
The Bridger-Teton National Forest Destination is situated on the border of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. There are a variety of towns and national landmarks to be found within the area, including Jackson, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Island Park, Idaho; Yellowstone National Park; Grand Teton National Park; and the namesake of the destination, Bridger-Teton National Forest. The largest city found in the region is Idaho Falls, Idaho, with a population of 64,818, according to the 2020 census. Idaho Falls is the second largest city in Idaho, after the Boise metropolitan area.[2]
The namesake of the destination, Bridger-Teton National Forest, consists of 3.4 million acres of forest. Stretching from the border of Yellowstone National Park to the eastern border of Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest extends southward to the Salt River Mountain Range and the Wyoming Mountain Range. The national forest encompasses the Teton, Bridger, and Gros Ventre wildernesses, as well as Gannett Peak—the highest peak in Wyoming, reaching 13,804 feet above sea level. There are over 2,000 miles of hiking trails found throughout the area, as well as campgrounds where visitors may use recreational vehicles.[7]
Another potential area of interest to those visiting the destination is Yellowstone National Park. All but the northeast corner of the park can be found within the borders of the destination, and visitors may see attractions such as the Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Old Faithful erupts approximately every 94 minutes, give or take 10 minutes. Generally, the eruption from the geyser reaches 130 feet into the air and expells anywhere from 3,700–8,400 gallons of water. The Grand Prismatic Spring, located south of Old Faithful, is seated in a hydrothermal basin generally referred to as the Midway Geyser Basin. The spring is reportedly the largest hot spring on Earth and is anywhere from 200-330 feet in diameter. Moreover, this spring is also more than 121 feet deep in some places.[8]
Grand Teton National Park is located south of Yellowstone and consists of the majority of the Teton Mountain Range, as the name of the park implies. Within the park, tourists can visit Jackson Hole National Monument, which was established in the park in 1943. The national park spans 484 square miles in Wyoming. The highest peak in the park is Grand Teton, situated 13,770 feet above sea level. In lower elevation areas of the park, lodgepole pines are more common, while the high elevation areas tend to grow fir and sharp-pointed Engelmann spruce trees. Grand Teton National Park is reported to be one of the most frequently visited national parks in the country, with the majority of its visitors coming during the months of May through October.[1]
The largest city in the destination is Idaho Falls, Idaho. The city is often considered the commercial, cultural, and medical hub of eastern Idaho, as well as for parts of western Wyoming and southern Montana. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 64,818. The first activity in the region took place in 1846 when a ferry to cross the Snake River opened in the area. Idaho Falls became a permanent settlement when a toll bridge was established, and by 1865 the town had a bank, hotel, stable, eatery, post office, and stage station. The name for the city was chosen because of the rapids which flow under the toll bridge that was built in the area.[2]
The Bridger-Teton National Forest is situated on 1.2 million acres of land and encompasses three wilderness areas: Bridger, Gros Ventre, and Teton. The tallest mountain in Wyoming is also located within the national forest, Gannett Peak, at 13,804 feet above sea level. Reportedly, one of the largest landslides in the world occurred in the forest, the Gros Ventre Landslide. There are 40 mountains in the area that rise above 40,000 feet above sea level. Due to the extreme elevations in certain areas, snowfall is fairly common, exceeding 600 inches per year in some regions of the forest.[7]
Summers in Grand Teton National Park have been described as warm, dry, and mostly clear, while winters generally experience freezing temperatures, snow, and cloud cover. As the Bridger-Teton National Forest Destination is often noted for its outdoor recreation, many of those who have previously visited the national park for warm-weather activities suggest that future visitors go to the park from early July to mid-August. The hottest month on average for the area is July, with highs of around 79 degrees Fahrenheit and lows in the lower 40s. Generally, the coldest month of the year is January, with temperatures ranging from 6 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.[6]
Due to the variety of national parks and forests within the destination, plants and animals that can be found in the area tend to be diverse. Some of the mammals found in the area include wapiti, American bison, American black bear, bighorn sheep, American badgers, and muskrats. Birdwatchers may be able to spot an array of birds, such as great grey owls, golden eagles, ruffed grouse, great horned owls, and trumpeter swans. As there is a variation in elevation throughout the region, some of the plants found within the destination may only grow in certain areas of the national parks and forests. Plants that naturally grow in the region include prairie smoke, glacier lily, giant red Indian paintbrush, and Jacob’s ladder. [5]
Yellowstone National Park, found in the destination, is the oldest national park in the United States. The park was established by the U.S. Congress in 1872 as the first national park. The park was also designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1976 and as a World Heritage site in 1978. The John D Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Highway was established in 1972, which connects Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, located approximately 80 miles south of Yellowstone.[4]
The first people to inhabit the region that is now known as the Bridger-Teton National Forest Destination were nomadic paleo-Indians after the Pleistocene Ice Age glaciers receded from the area. Evidence of these people has been found in various forms, such as fire pits, tipi rings, and stone tools. Later, the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the destination, and fur trappers followed soon after. Multiple trappers, such as David Edward Jackson, set up their operations in the area near Grand Teton National Park. The city of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, located near Grand Teton National Park, was officially settled in 1884 after the Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged westward expansion.[3]
Today, the largest city in the destination is Idaho Falls, Idaho. From the time the city was first established until 1949, agriculture was the main industry. The National Reactor Testing Station was built in the desert west of the city in 1949, prompting the industry of the area to change from agriculture to retail, entertainment, and medical care as more businesses moved to the area. Idaho Falls is also the headquarters of the United Potato Growers of Idaho, as well as some national corporations such as North Wind Inc. and Melaleuca Inc. [2]
Teton View Bed and Breakfast
Carol and Franz Kessler have been the owners of Teton View Bed and Breakfast since 1998. Located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the establishment currently offers five units that visitors can reserve. The location of the business is within a few minutes of Grand Teton National Park and 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Located in a designated wildlife corridor, offering not only views of the Grand Teton, this property is often frequented by moose, elk, deer, and foxes, with a variety of sizable birds that fly overhead. Patrons have the option to soak in the hot tub or sit on the main deck, which is said by the owners to offer peace, quiet, and the "magic of the mountains." Activities on the property include cornhole or frisbee on the lawn space that is surrounded by flower-filled decks and native wildflower gardens with waterfall features. Breakfast is served "family style" in the dining room or outdoors if preferred.
...Read MoreTrail Creek Ranch includes approximately 270 acres of land with eight rental units in total. The first owner of the land, Elizabeth Woolsey, opened the ranch to guests in 1946 as a "dude ranch", which is how the property's western, countryside theme was first created. The majority of visitors come to participate in outdoor attractions and events near the ranch. An array of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, hiking, rafting, horseback riding, and fly fishing can be available to guests during their stay. Some events near the property include the Old West Days and the Fall Arts Festival. Hiking trails for backpacking or mountain biking are a relatively short distance from the ranch. Trail Creek Ranch provides many amenities and basic necessities such as dishes, utensils, and bathrooms, each of which are included in every cabin.
...Read MoreIn Jackson Hole, Wyoming, close to Yellowstone National Park, there is a quiet little inn called Inn on the Creek that has a total of 11 rooms available to the public. True to its name, Inn on the Creek is positioned along the banks of Flat Creek. Though only four blocks from the center of town, the staff at Inn on the Creek pride themselves on creating a private, memorable, and welcoming experience. The inn is open year-round and though the busy season for Inn on the Creek is in the summer, guests can enjoy winter activities nearby, such as skiing and snowboarding at local ski resorts.
...Read MoreRiver Retreat Lodge is a bed and breakfast that visitors can find in Irwin, Idaho, a town near the border of Idaho and Wyoming. The lodge houses six suites and a cabin, all of which are open for a majority of the year, with one of the available rooms being ADA accessible. Much of the décor on the interior reflects the owners' love of the outdoors and is inspired by the surrounding mountain area. Their motto is, "Revel in adventure and retreat to serenity," which the owners decided on due to the number of outdoor activities available in the area, many of which can take place at the nearby national parks. A couple of national parks that are within close proximity include Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
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