GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — The Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) is seeing a slow start to the snowy season, and grooming of the cross-country ski track has yet to take place.
For those who are itching to get out their cross-country ski gear and glide beneath the Tetons, the road is currently open to non-motorized traffic. But due to the small amount of snow on the ground, the path has not yet been groomed, according to the GTNP Foundation. The nonprofit confirmed that it will be funding the grooming of the park road for the 13th year. The Foundation’s Vice President of Communications Maddy Johnson told Buckrail that updates will be posted on social media as soon as they occur.
“The contractor we work with needs to have 12 inches of snow on the road surface in order to groom and, unfortunately, we don’t have enough snow yet,” Johnson wrote in an email. “We are checking conditions daily.”
The forecast this week looks bleak for weather that would contribute to the snowpack. The National Weather Service expects a high of 37°F for Moose on Thursday, with rain and snow likely. Rain and snow showers are also expected Friday and Saturday, with highs near 40°F.
The Teton Park Road is open to non-motorized travel, including classic cross-country skiing and skate skiing, throughout the winter from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge. The GTNP Foundation has fundraised and coordinated grooming the 14-mile track three times a week each winter.
Skiers can view regional track conditions and grooming updates on the Jackson Hole Nordic website.
