Grand Teton National Park
Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service
Grand Teton National Park was established on February 26, 1929, and covers over 484 square miles. The park is named after the Grand Teton mountain range, the tallest of which stands at 13,770 feet. The mountains were named by French trappers who called them les trois tetons, or the three breasts. Subsequent fur trappers and traders called the deep valleys and high mountains holes. David Jackson, one of these fur trappers, liked to "hole-up" in the area, and it was named after him in 1829. Jackson Hole is a 55-mile long valley, with an average elevation of 6,800 feet, home to the famous city and tourist attraction of the same name. Jackson Lake covers 25,540 acres, and at its deepest point reaches 483 feet deep. The park is also home to over 100 alpine and backcountry lakes and varied species of plants and animals. Trees such as the Whitebark Pine, and Limber Pine grow in the alpine zone of the Tetons, at about 10,000 feet. Grand Teton National Park's abundant wildlife, plant life, and breathtaking scenery draw thousands of visitors each year, and with almost 200 miles of trails to enjoy, there is a lot that can be seen.
