The Tetons, and Grand Teton itself, are iconic American mountains. The national park named for them, while often wrongfully thought to be part of nearby Yellowstone, attracts numerous visitors who come to gaze upon the majesty of the Tetons. The mountains themselves pose a popular challenge for mountain climbers, with Grand Teton having more than three dozen established routes to the top.
The Grand Tetons are located inside Grand Teton National Park. A common misconception is that they are actually in Yellowstone National Park. The Grand Teton Park is in northwestern Wyoming, due south of Yellowstone. The park covers more than 300,000 acres.
At 13,770 feet, the Grand Teton itself is only the second highest mountain in Wyoming. The highest is Gannett Peak, at 13,809 feet. The Tetons are a range that boasts eight peaks over 12,000 feet.
There are two well-established routes up the mountain. The oldest is the Owen-Spalding route, which while exposed and demanding can be climbed with minimal equipment. It was first climbed in 1989. The other is the Upper Exum route, which stands as the most popular. However, Grand Teton is one of the most extensively routed mountains in North America, with 38 known routes up to the summit. The easiest routes, including the Owen-Spalding, are classified at 5.5.
The Grand Teton National Park is home to abundant wildlife. Black bears, wolves, elk, moose, bison, pine martens, and red squirrels are relatively common. There are also some coyotes, badgers, and even grizzly bears and mountain lions. The local waters are home to trout and whitefish. There are no poisonous snakes or spiders inhabiting the area.
In 2009, the park charged $25 per vehicle for a single entry pass, which lasts for seven days. A person who walked in or rode in on a bicycle was charged only $12. Backcountry camping requires a reservation made months in advance, and even use of the RV and tent campsites with facilities usually requires at least a little advance planning and a reservation. The park is home to over 200 miles of hiking trails, and also offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Fishing is possible inside the park, but doing so requires getting a license from the state of Wyoming (see Resources). There are no permits required for climbing, but many of the climbing sites require at least an overnight stay for getting in, doing the climb, and getting out. That overnight stay means getting the previously described backcountry camping permit.
