More campgrounds at Grand Teton National Park will be available by reservation months ahead of your visit/GTLC file
Visitors to Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway in Wyoming will soon be able to reserve campsites in advance at all concession-operated campgrounds. Reservations will go live on Recreation.gov beginning January 26 for the 2021 operating season. All park campgrounds that were first come, first served are moving to this advance reservation system.
The new system responds directly to public requests for a reservation system at park campgrounds, prompting a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, Grand Teton Lodge Company, Signal Mountain Lodge, and Recreation.gov. Visitors will now have the ability to plan ahead with confidence and know they will have a place to stay and camp when they arrive, improving the visitor experience, and reducing wait times and associated traffic congestion at park campgrounds. The reservation system will streamline the camping process, allowing park visitors to check the availability of sites in real time and receive immediate confirmation.
Visitors wishing to reserve a campsite in the park for the 2021 season at Colter Bay, Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, and Lizard Creek campgrounds will be able to do so by visiting Recreation.gov beginning January 26 at 8 a.m. MST. On that date, reservations will be available for applicable campgrounds for stays through July 26, 2021, and then on a rolling six-month basis thereafter. Campsite reservations are expected to fill quickly, and visitors are strongly encouraged to plan ahead.
Visitors must create an account on the Recreation.gov website prior to making campground reservations. Those who already have an account are encouraged to confirm their login and password information. This is the same reservation site to obtain an advance backcountry reservation in Grand Teton National Park, which begins accepting reservations on January 6. For more information about backcountry reservations visit www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bcres.htm.
Campgrounds that have previously been reservable, including the Colter Bay RV Park and Tent Village, as well as Headwaters Campground, will continue to be reservable at gtlc.com or by calling 307-543-3100 for the 2021 season. However, reservations for these areas will transition to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
Once a campground has launched on Recreation.gov, reservations will no longer be available through the local campground call centers or websites.
Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are operated by concessioners. Grand Teton Lodge Company operates Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, and Colter Bay campgrounds. Flagg Ranch Company operates Headwaters campground. Signal Mountain Lodge LLC operates Signal Mountain and Lizard Creek campgrounds.
For more information on camping in Grand Teton National Park, visit the park website at nps.gov/grte. Visit the Grand Teton Lodge Company website, the Flagg Ranch Company website, and the Signal Mountain Lodge website for additional information.
Comments
This is excellent news. First come, first serve is an antiquated systema and the NPS needs to move all campgrounds to this method. I am still amazed at how many still use the same reservation practices like we are in 1962.
More excluding of the poor allowing more access by the rich. Campsites will be reserved and not used by the people of means, Shameful practice.
I agree with Ivar Moi. The tech savvy and rich will have the campsites under their control. Some sites should be left first come first served. The NPS should open up more campgrounds areas in Grand Teton as well as financially supporting Bridger Teton National Forest camping areas that help carry the cammping load for Grand Teton National Park.
I have been camping in natl parks and natl forests for years I have also volunteered in natl parks and state parks as a camp host as well. A combination of reserved and first come is good. I understand everyones position. Significant numbers of reserved sites are no show. Some fokls cancel reservations and some do not. Some campgrounds cancel reservations for after 24 hr no-shows. Some do not.
Was this change opened up for public comment?
I'm from Ohio and vist GTNP often and even though it was a hassle, I didn't mind the routine of getting there early and waiting for that spot. Would think the reservation system would impact the locals more than anyone because they tend to be more spontaneous in setting up a visit to the park.
The net result of this for me will be I will never again be able to stay in Grand Teton National Park. I am a Wanderer travels as the winds may take me. Out of this change means that 100% of the campsites will be booked six months or more in advance I will be excluded. Late last summer and fall I traveled through that area and it is getting almost impossible to secure a campsite without planning your itinerary to the day up to a year in advance. Mawile in the Yellowstone area I was able to secure a site add Baker's hole Forest Service Campground because it was first come first serve. I only plan to stay 4 nights but I ended up staying 16 days because I could not secure another campsite Within a hundred miles of there. Given last year's overwhelming Crush of visitors I could not even find a boondocking spot. I did luck into a spot in Grand Teton and was able to spend a week there. When staying at Baker's hole in West Yellowstone I spent a day driving north and visited 7 Forest Service campgrounds all of which had gone to 100% Advance reservations . I spoke to a campground host in each and was told that up to 30% of the reservations went unused each night . They were unable to reassign those campsites while turning away Dawkins and Dawkins people eats evening. It is my opinion that the rush to 100% reservations will kill a large segment of the camping community. I think a fair and Equitable way to handle this would be a 50-50 split between first come first serve and reservable sites. It saddens me no end if this continues I will no longer be able to travel in these areas that I love so much
The People that like or don't like this change could send an email to Grand Teton Park management and voice their views. Public input should matter to those that run our Parks,