GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Summer on the brain?
Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has announced that advanced reservations for backcountry camping permits for peak season became available this morning at 8 a.m. via Recreation.gov.
Peak season runs from May 1 through October 31. According to the park, the maximum overnight stay per location is two nights, with the exception of Jackson Lake, which is three nights. No person or group is allowed to camp more than 10 nights between June 1 and Labor Day, and not more than 30 nights per year. Permits must be picked up in person by the permit holder by 10 a.m. on the start date of the camping stay. See GTNP’s park regulations and safety advisories for more backcountry camping regulations.
According to GTNP, around 30% of backcountry camping permits will be available for advanced reservations. Beginning May 1, the rest of the permits will be available as walk-up permits at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center and Jenny Lake Ranger Station permit offices. Walk-up permits can be purchased one day in advance.
GTNP has adopted a new permit fee structure for this camping season, effective Jan. 10. Backcountry camping parties will now be charged a baseline fee of $20, plus a fee of $7 per person, per night.
The park proposed the price change and invited public feedback on the matter last August. Last season, advanced reservations for backcountry camping permits carried a price of $45, and walk-up permits were $35, regardless of number of campers or duration of stay. According to GTNP, campers had complained about large and small groups being charged the same amount.
The park began charging for backcountry permits in 2014. Before this year, fees were last changed in 2018.
