Il parco nazionale del Grand Teton (in inglese Grand Teton National Park) si trova nello stato del Wyoming, negli Stati Uniti d'America.
Il parco si estende su una superficie di 1.254 km² ed è noto per i suoi paesaggi montuosi dominati dal monte Grand Teton, che si eleva fino a 4.199 m d'altitudine. Le sue rocce, vecchie di oltre due miliardi di anni, sono tra le più antiche del pianeta, ma il rilievo attuale è di recente formazione, risalendo a circa dieci milioni di anni. Grand téton, che in francese significa grande seno, è un toponimo dovuto ai coloni francocanadesi, stabilitisi in quest'area delle montagne Rocciose per esplorarla per conto della Compagnia del Nord-Ovest.
La presenza umana nel territorio del Grand Teton risale a oltre 10.000 anni fa, quando popolazioni di cacciatori-raccoglitori paleoamericani migrarono nella regione durante i mesi estivi, alla ricerca di cibo e rifornimenti. Nel corso dei secoli, questi popoli nomadi, raffinarono le loro tecniche e tecnologie, fino all'arrivo dei primi esploratori europei. I nativi Shoshoni furono scacciati dai nuovi coloni, che iniziarono a stabilirsi nell'area del parco alla fine del XIX secolo.
Il parco fu istituito il 26 febbraio 1929, per proteggere lo stato pristino delle cime maggiori della catena del Teton Range. La valle ai piedi delle cime, la Jackson Hole, rimase di proprietà delle popolazioni locali fino agli anni '30, quando conservazionisti, guidati da John Davison Rockefeller jr, un ricco uomo d'affari, iniziarono ad acquistare terreni, nonostante la forte opposizione da parte delle popolazioni locali. Nel 1950 la sua superficie fu estesa, in parte grazie alla donazione delle terre da parte di Rockefeller. Il National Park Service è una agenzia federale del Dipartimento degli Interni degli Stati Uniti d'America, incaricata della protezione delle sue ricchezze naturali e culturali, che attirano ogni anno oltre due milioni di visitatori. Data la vicinanza al parco nazionale di Yellowstone e ad altre aree protette, è inserito nel Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, immenso territorio dove bisonti (Bison bison bison), grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis) e numerose altre specie possono vivere in uno degli ultimi grandi ecosistemi intatti del Nordamerica.
Simply amazing. We spent a day here but could have stayed so much longer. Easy park to tour by car and then park to go on multiple hikes. Don’t forget the Mormon village area for awesome pictures of the whole range.
Every bit as breathtaking as I ever imagined. Also - the wildlife is so flipping real! I've been going to Maine for a decade and have never seen a moose, but after being in the park for less than 30 minutes, I saw my very first real live moose!!!
The alpine lake and vast natural scenic open spaces makes this a great National Park. The park has many good lodges and is not as crowded. Best place to see Moose near Yellowstone area.
Did self guided tours. Ended at the park. Very beautiful. My wife already wants to return. First time here. Love it! Yes, we did see a couple bears. The hike to the falls isn't too bad, but glad to take the boat back.
It just cannot disappoint!! Even with the smokey weather and a bit of rain during our stay, everything has just been breathtaking. So much to see if you're into stunning landscapes!! You can literally see awe inspiring jagged peaks around every bend, and stunning, active wildlife to watch are sprinkled everywhere.
1st time ever in this park and it was more than I expected. Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake were beautiful. The campground at Flagg Ranch was nice, but dirt roads and pads made it super dusty. Hope that gets upgrades soon.
Grand Teton National Park. The name says it. It’s the “Grand Tetons” of the park system. Beautiful at every angle the “Tetons” are a personal favorite. When I set out on seeing as many National Parks as possible this was my first I was awestruck. To say this place is beautiful is an understatement. This place is fantastic in Spirit and in beauty. Nature here is in full bloom especially in Spring which happens here later in the season more like late May early June. Even then it may snow so be prepared as weather conditions here are unpredictable that time of year but the guarantee of warming temperatures brings the most phenomenal bouquet of wildflowers you’ve ever seen. I am in awe of these displays of perfection and natural beauty that are put on by nature. Nature here just pulls out all the stops. There are bison, grizzly bear, pronghorn,elk, moose, rabbits, badgers and yes mountain lions. This is the site of literal purple mountain majesty. The sunrises and sunsets here are supernatural. “Supernatural.” The Tetons themselves are perfection! A trip here is life changing combined with once in a lifetime experiences. © Jerome Mogie Glover All rights reserved
This was my first visit to Grand Teton National Park and it was pretty amazing. We spent three days in the park and hit up all the normal activities. My personal favorite was the Jenny Lake hike. We took the fairy across and then hiked up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. From there we took the western side of the trail back to the car. The views are first class in the park. Having visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone this summer, I would go back to the Tetons for the views (and far fewer people than Yellowstone). Staying in Jackson Hole is expensive. We stayed over the pass in Victor, Idaho. That was a great move. More affordable and far fewer people.