Station Spotlight

Oxbow Bend

Posted on by UW-NPS
Alpenglow on Mount Moran with the snake beneath

Oxbow Bend

At the Oxbow Bend Turnout located on Highway 191 near the Jackson Lake Junction, you can see stunning views of Mount Moran. Formed by erosion and changing soil deposits, this outlook can be crowded, especially during the months when the park is the most crowded. Depending on the weather and time, you can photograph beautiful reflection shots of the mountains on the Snake River. Photographers not only appreciate this turnout for the scenic view of the mountains, but also because it is home to wildlife, such as birds, moose, otters, and the occasional bear sighting!

Mount Moran, the dominant peak in view, was named after Thomas Moran, who was a prominent landscape artist known for his paintings at Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA). Moran was invited to be a part of the USGS team to explore the unmapped land out west.

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Mormon Row

Posted on by UW-NPS
A large barn beneath the Tetons

Mormon Row

Mormon Row is located on Highway 191. Heading north, just past Moose Junction, you will turn right onto Antelope Flats Road. You may see bison and moose roaming in the flat fields, as well as the occasional pronghorn.

The story begins with followers of the Church of Latter-day Saints wanting to expand their population outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in the 1890s, Mormon Row has become one of the most popular historic sites in the park. The Moulton Barn on the property has become the most photographed barn in the United States. The owner, John Moulton, settled in the area where he spent thirty years perfecting his barn.

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Jackson Lake

Posted on by UW-NPS
The old AMK dock with snow-covered Tetons reflecting on the serene lake beyond it

Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake was enlarged by the construction of the Jackson Lake Dam, located on Teton Park Road. The dam was first constructed in 1906, but later enforced in 1911 but again enlarged in 1916 (USBR). The final reconstruction extended the lake thirty feet higher and the northern shoreline by six miles. The dam at Jackson Lake was intended to control lake levels for irrigation to farmlands in Idaho and was a part of the Minidoka Project, one of the oldest Bureau of Reclamation projects that would control the water flow from Snake River to the farmers in Idaho.

Those who have visited or stayed at the AMK Ranch know the wonders of Jackson Lake and all if has to offer. The lake is over 400 feet deep and approximately 7 miles wide. Jackson Lake is perfect for spending a day out on the water, watching for wildlife, and fishing for trout. With several different islands present in Jackson Lake, Cow Island and Moose Island are easily accessible from the AMK Ranch by kayak or canoe, but please always make sure to wear a life vest!

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Schwabacher’s Landing

Posted on by UW-NPS
A flowing river and treeline beneath jagged mountains

Schwabacher’s Landing

Schwabacher’s Landing gives visitors easy access to the Snake River as well as a beautiful view of the Grand Teton. This is a popular destination for photographers at sunrise and during moments when the water is calm. This scenic space gives tourists a chance to capture amazing images of the mountains, as well as some popular wildlife in the area. Moose especially enjoy roaming around the aspen grove and the field nearby, but keep your eyes out for coyotes, bald eagles, and river otters!

Since the Snake River is easily accessible from Schwabacher’s Landing, where many outdoorsy and adventurous visitors enjoy fishing and river rafting. Schwabacher’s Landing also features a trail which is an easy, approximately two-mile out and back hike.

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Leigh Lake

Posted on by UW-NPS
Deep purple sky reflecting off of a flowing lake at early dawn

Leigh Lake

Leigh lake is a popular destination for those visiting Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). The entrance to the parking area is found at the North Jenny Lake Junction. The Leigh Lake trailhead offers an easy 1.8 mile hike with breathtaking views and different angles of the mountains. You can also get to the String Lake Loop trailhead by turning at the same junction, just keep your eye out for the String Lake parking lot! This hike is an easy 3.7 loop hike which will offer great views of the different peaks.

If you are a more avid hiker looking for some difficulty, Leigh Lake trailhead eventually meets the Paintbrush Canyon trail. On this out and back trail, you can hike to Holly Lake, which is approximately 13 miles, or you can do the even more strenuous Paintbrush-Cascade Loop trail, which is approximately 19.7 miles total. 

When hiking both short and long distances in GTNP, please always carry bear spray and water. For those looking to do a more advanced hike like the Paintbrush-Cascade loop, be sure to prepare yourself physically and mentally. Take note of the weather conditions and pack the necessities! If you ever need assistance, call ranger dispatch at (307-739-3399).

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

Posted on by UW-NPS
Closeup of small, pointed purple, slipper-shaped flowers

Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

The Calypso Orchid, also known as the Fairy Slipper, can be considered a rare orchid in certain states. In Grand Teton National Park (GRTE), this orchid can be found on the Blacktail Butte Trail as well as Grand View Point trail. Finding a patch of Calypso Orchids is uncommon; this orchid most often grows as a single, solitary flower – although, it is not impossible to see them in groups of twos or threes – found in bogs, forests, and swampy areas.

The foliage on the Calypso Orchid is a singular leaf with a crinkled texture that lays on the ground. The flower itself has eye-catching pinkish-purple petals, but it’s the orchid’s alluring scent that draws the attention of nearby pollinators. These flowers do not produce nectar. They use “pollination by deception” to cross-breed between other Calypso Orchids. In the spring, emerging queen bumblebees are drawn by their strong, attracting scent in search of a nectar reward.

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: YNP on Flickr https://flic.kr/p/SfG1Fi

Sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum)

Posted on by UW-NPS
Small white flower on dark green foliage

Sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum)

Sticky geranium is an early spring flower found all over Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). They inhabit many areas, including montane regions, open woodlands, and canyons (USDA). Because they are widespread in several different environments, they are easily accessible to all sorts of animals that help disperse their seeds, such as birds, ground squirrels, and other small mammals. Larger mammals, including bears, elk and deer, will forage on the foliage of this plant.

Not only is Sticky geranium an important food source to larger animals, even the smallest of insects enjoy the pollen and nectar offered. Flies, bees, beetles and butterflies help pollinate this flower, and are rewarded with a food prize. Humans also benefited from the roots of the plant. For example, the roots were said to help reduce soreness in eyes, cold remedies, and dermatological aid in Native American tribes (Native American Ethnobotany Database 2010; Parish et al 1996).

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

Posted on by UW-NPS
Small spotted orange, black, and white butterfly in tall grass

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

Painted lady butterflies belong to the family Nymphalidae, also known as brush-footed butterflies. As these insects grow through their life cycle, the butterfly itself only lives for two weeks. During this time, the female butterflies will mate and reproduce to start the cycle again. The caterpillars live from 12-18 days long, going through five stages of instars, or developmental periods. As adults, these butterflies can reach 5-6 cm wide.

These butterflies are widespread across the globe. They are found in every state of the U.S. and throughout Canada as well. They persist in a myriad of habitats, which helps during their long migration from North Africa to Asia and the Middle East all the way to Europe! In the U.S., these butterflies can be seen migrating from the deserts of Mexico and travelling northward in the spring. During their intense migration, these butterflies travel up to 100 miles a day and at 30 MPH! In addition to the boundless areas reached by the Painted lady, over 100 plants have been documented to be the host for Painted lady caterpillars. Families include Asteraceae and Fabaecea, with 23,600 and 18,000 described species respectively.

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Nevada bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis)

Posted on by UW-NPS
A bumblebee with a fuzzy orange back and big waxy wings rests on a weedy flower

Nevada bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis)

The Nevada bumblebee has a very wide geographic range in the Mountain West region. Like other species of bees, their coloration may differ depending on their location. For example, B. nevadensis has a darker coloration in females, with a black band that spans across the thorax from wing to wing, with a black tail which is typically confined to Vancouver Island. In other females found in Northern California, they have an orange coloring on the metasoma, or abdomen (Williams, Thorp, Richardson, & Colla, 2014, p. 152). In addition to their coloration, other characteristics are important to consider when identifying species. B. nevadensis is known for having a long proboscis, or tongue. Because of this adaptation, it can reach the nectar in long, tube-like flowers, such as Penstemon and Monarda.

But with climate change, are long tongued bees at risk? A study performed by Dr. Nicole Miller-Struttman and colleagues revealed shrinking tongue lengths in two species of bumblebees in the Rocky Mountains! They suggested that climate change has been affecting the floral resources, thus shifting the specialized diet that long tongued bees have. Because fewer long-tubed flowers are growing in the mountains, long-tongued bees were forced to supplement their diets with other available resources, minimizing the need for the long-tonged trait (Yong, 2015). Climate change may be causing mismatches between our plants and pollinators.

Check out this article for more information on long-tongued bees! https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/09/how-climate-change-shrank-the-tongues-of-long-tongued-bumblebees/407125/

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Anna Cressman

Golden-haired flower longhorn (Lepturobosca chrysocoma)

Posted on by UW-NPS
Small golden beetle crawls over a purple flower

Golden-haired flower longhorn (Lepturobosca chrysocoma)

Not much is known about the golden-haired flower longhorn beetle, but we do know they give off a shimmer when seen in the sunlight. The species chrysocoma translates to “gold-haired” in Greek. While viewing these insects in nature, you will notice the metallic shimmer their fine hairs give off. These hairs are also an important trait these beetles have for pollination. Even though they are as efficient as bees in pollination, some beetles still are important pollinators in our ecosystems. Another comparison between this beetle and other bees is that the adults share the same diet of pollen and nectar, but the larvae feed on decaying wood of several species of trees.

These beautiful beetles are found in forests all across North America. In Wyoming, there has been documentation of seeing them in June through August. From personal experience, I have viewed them on sticky geranium flowers (Geranium viscosissimum) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Written by Anna Cressman
PC: Logan Crees