With work beginning this week on the rehabilitation of the Jenny Lake area of Grand Teton National Park, you could encounter some temporary closures to allow for crews to bring in materials.

A multi-million-dollar plan to rehabilitate the Jenny Lake area was approved earlier this month. Officials say it will lead to improvements to hiking, camping, and boating areas. Under the plan, upwards of $16 million will be spent rehabilitating hiking trails on the western side of Jenny Lake, improving the visitor drop-off and interpretation areas on the eastern side of the lake, improving the dock area, adding restrooms, improving the campground, and the public boat launch area

Starting today, May 12, a temporary  area closure will be in effect for several south Jenny Lake locations. The temporary closures are necessary to ensure public safety during construction activities involving helicopter-assisted transport of heavy material to trail locations on the west side of Jenny Lake. These public closures will last through May 19, and possibly longer.

For safety during the staging of several loads of construction materials, the following locations will be closed to all public access: the western portion of south Jenny Lake parking lot; the multi-use pathway from Lupine Meadows to south Jenny Lake parking area; the access trail to the east boat dock on Jenny Lake; access roads and trails to backcountry locations including the Lupine Meadows trailhead, Moose Ponds, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, and Cascade Canyon.  Signs will be posted throughout the closure area, and Grand Teton staff will be positioned to provide suggestions for alternate routes/detours for anyone visiting this area of the park.

Areas not affected by this temporary public closure include:  the Teton Park Road; Jenny Lake scenic loop road; eastern portion of the Jenny Lake parking area near the Jenny Lake Store; and String Lake parking lots and trailheads.

This transport of material via helicopter is part of the Jenny Lake Renewal project. Work on the backcountry trail system from the westshore of Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls will be under way this summer. Detour routes will be well marked for visitors wishing to reach Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, or Cascade Canyon during the hiking season.