GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — An out-of-state driver was given a citation after bypassing barriers in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) on Saturday morning and off-roading on the Nordic track.

According to multiple tips received by Buckrail, a vehicle was spotted driving on the cross-country ski path and became stuck in the snow south of Lupine Meadows on Saturday. GTNP spokeswoman Emily Davis told Buckrail that the driver skirted the gates at the Cottonwood picnic area just north of the Taggart Lake trailhead parking lot. GTNP confirmed that the driver was from out of state and that he and a companion were in a rental car.

The vehicle seen on Monday, Jan. 19.
Photo: Angelina Timoshkina
The vehicle seen on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Photo: Steven Lubner

The gate at Cottonwood marks the spot where the Teton Park Road closes to motorized traffic from November through April. The 14-mile stretch of groomed Nordic pathway ends at Signal Mountain.

As of Tuesday morning, Davis said park rangers were still assessing options for removing the car, which remains in the snow. The vehicle is sitting near the parking area for the Lucas-Fabian Cabins, two miles north of the Taggart Lake parking area. A Colorado license plate is visible in reader-submitted photographs.

The driver was given a citation for a closure violation, though the penalty was not disclosed. On Sunday and Tuesday mornings, the cross-country ski groomer was able to operate around the vehicle, Davis said.

This is the most recent in a string of driving-related oddities seen in the valley.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.