The Buckrail “Spooky Stories Series” is meant to entertain readers during the Halloween season. In no way are these stories rooted in fact or proven to be true.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Just by name, Death Canyon is a spot in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) that evokes the thought of ghosts, and the stories from history don’t disappoint this spooky season.
According to GTNP, the exact origin of Death Canyon’s name is still up for debate, although it likely came from an unfortunate fate of an early explorer or group. GTNP writes on its website that the most likely origin story comes from the 1899 Thomas Bannon survey party that entered the canyon and was never seen again.
Within Death Canyon, GTNP says legendary local Struthers Burt wrote about seeing a number of ghosts. Burt was an author and dude wrangler who the History Jackson Hole confirms opened the first dude ranch in Jackson Hole with physician Horace Carncross in the early 1900s.
GTNP writes on its Facebook that Burt used to base camp in Death Canyon as a jumping off point for deeper exploration in the Tetons. While camping in that area, Burt is alleged to have had three separate experiences with ghosts.
The first time, Burt wrote that he was camped with a doctor friend, perhaps his business partner Carncross, on a “gray day with snow on the ground.” According to the account, Burt went to sleep early and awoke to see his friend leaving their shelter with his revolver. The doctor swore he had heard someone approach the tent, but there were no tracks in the snow.
The second time, GTNP says Burt’s account says he was again sleeping at camp in the canyon when his companion woke him claiming to have heard footsteps. It wasn’t until the third time, though, that Burt experienced paranormal activity himself. Burt’s account shares that, while sitting around the fire with two companions, he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats.
“I had heard a horse galloping up the canyon, where no horse has ever been, and directly over me, and the hoofbeats were dying away in the further reaches of the meadows,” wrote Burt. “I would swear to that.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in Death Canyon? Share your story with us below!
