Research Accommodations
Making Reservations
Fill out the station request form to reserve housing, labs, meeting rooms, or the station motorboat. Learn about our facilities and what the station has to offer. Review how we determine housing placements and check out this season’s rates.
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- Station Request Form (for housing, labs, and meeting rooms)
Ready to request housing? Apply here.
Planning Your Visit
Be sure to look at our suggested packing list, check the weather, look at road conditions, and fill out the overnight visitor forms before your trip.
During Your Stay
Know check-in, late check-in, and check-out times and procedures. Read our cleaning policies. Stay connected with phone, internet, and mail.
After Your Visit
Pay for your stay either online or by check.
Facilities and Amenities
Station accommodations are rustic and basic, and the station itself is remote, approximately one hour from the nearest town and airport. Groups must arrange all their own transportation.
The vast majority of station beds are bunk beds and groups must be able to fill spaces to capacity, including using both top and bottom bunks, unless special accommodations have been requested and approved.
Groups will need to sleep in shared rooms, including potentially sharing sleeping space with other station visitors that do not belong to their group, unless special accommodations have been requested and approved.
Groups must bring all their own bedding (sheets + blanket or sleeping bag, pillow, towel).
The vast majority of guests will use shared bathrooms and kitchens.
Groups must arrange all their own food. Kitchens are equipped with shared fridge/freezers, rodent-proof food storage, stoves, ovens, microwaves, and toasters. Pots, pans, dishes, and utensils are provided.
Accommodations are in historic buildings, most built in the 1920’s and 30’s, and as such are not handicap accessible. Should the need arise, we will work with you to facilitate access as best we can.
Facilities
| Room | Beds | Living Room | Bathroom | Kitchen | |
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| Berol | Kenneth’s Room | 1 bunk bed (2 bunks) | No | Yes | No* |
| Speaker’s Room | 1 queen 1 bunk bed (2 bunks) | No | Yes | No* | |
| Johnson | Cellar | 2 bunk beds (4 bunks) | No | Shared | Shared |
| Downstairs | 3 bunk beds (6 bunks) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Upstairs | 3 bunk beds (6 bunks) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Kitchen | 1 bunk bed (2 bunks) | No | Yes | Shared | |
| Lawrence | Kitchen | 1 bunk bed (2 bunks) | Yes | Shared with others in house | |
| South | 2 bunk beds (4 bunks) | Yes | Shared with others in house | ||
| North | 2 bunk beds (4 bunks) | Yes | Shared with others in house | ||
| Shop | Cabin | 2 bunk beds (4 bunks) | No | No* | No* |
| Tack | Cabin | 1 bunk bed (2 bunks) | No | No* | No* |
| Two Room | Cabin | 2 bunk beds (4 bunks) | No | No* | No* |
| *If you are housed in a location without a bathroom and/or kitchen, you will have access to a shared bathroom and kitchen in another building. Cabins without kitchens have refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee makers but no running water. Rooms in Berol have mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers. | |||||
Amenities
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- High speed internet access is available in most buildings at the AMK.
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- The library in the Berol Lodge has 2 Windows workstations connected to the UW library system.
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- The boat dock on Jackson Lake has kayaks, canoes, and life preservers available for check-out.
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- Lab space is available for reservation.
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- The Seminar Room and the Meeting Room are both available for reservation at the Berol Lodge. The Seminar Room can seat up to 80 people, and the Meeting Room has seating for 25 people. We have a large TV for hookup to laptops, and also portable screens and a projector.
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- Kitchens have refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, coffee makers, pots & pans, dishes, and basic cooking supplies and utensils.
Rates
| Housing – NEW RATES FOR 2024 SEASON | |||
| The 2024 season rate is $50 per person, per night. | |||
| The discount rate of $40 per person, per night will only apply if affiliated with the University of Wyoming and paying via Interdepartmental Transfer (IDT). | |||
| Cleaning Fee | |||
| Per room reserved. (Fee may be waived if all checkout instructions are followed.) | $50 | ||
| Meeting Rooms and Lab Space (if not residing at the station) | |||
| For those affiliated with University of Wyoming or NPS | No Charge | ||
| All others – Email uwnps@uwyo.edu for accurate pricing. | $50-200 | ||
Housing Placements
Requests are gathered and the first round of placements happens in the spring. At that time, all requests are reviewed and prioritized based on how well they fit the mission of the research station.
Housing location is assigned based on the best fit to accommodate the various researcher groups requesting housing at any given time. Though you may initially be assigned a particular building or room, this is subject to change up until your day of arrival. Researcher plans often change, and facilities maintenance is ongoing so this can mean last minute adjustments to the location of lodging for your visit.
Overnight guests (including friends and family of station guests) are not allowed without reservations.
Station Request Form
Use this form to request housing, meeting rooms, or other station resources.
Cancellation and Changes
The full amount is charged for any cancellations occurring less than one week in advance of your expected arrival date. If you are a no-show or if you leave the station earlier than expected without providing a minimum of 1 week notice, you will be charged for the full visit scheduled.
To cancel or make changes to your visit, email uwnps@uwyo.edu. It is important to notify us of any changes so we can accommodate others who are on the waiting list.
Pets
While researchers cannot have dogs at the station, there are some pet friendly places nearby. Learn more about pets in the National Park.
Camping
Camping at the station, including tent camping and sleeping in vehicles or RVs, is prohibited by our agreement with Grand Teton National Park.
Station visitors that have camping vehicles with them for use at other sites may park them at the station during their stay but may not stay in them.
The two campgrounds closest to the station are Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch.
Station Rules
Life on the Field Station is based upon courteous, respectful behavior and common sense:
- No loud interactions in buildings or on Station grounds between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am.
- Social functions on the boat dock and elsewhere on the Station grounds will be conducted in a reserved manner.
- This is a drug-free Field Station – responsible alcohol consumption by adults is allowed, but public intoxication will not be tolerated.
- No overnight guests or room changes by patrons unless approved in advance.
- Keep kitchens, food storage, living and work spaces clean and tidy to avoid attracting critters.
- Empty trash receptacles in the Johnson garage trash collection area each morning and do not leave coolers or other food containers outside (day or night).
- No accumulation of clothes, furniture or equipment on porches or public spaces.
- No smoking within buildings and safe disposal of extinguished material is required.
- Know locations of fire extinguishers and first aid boxes in your living space.
- Report unsafe conditions, equipment malfunctions, etc. to Station staff immediately.
- Be “Bear Aware” (be alert, make noise, carry bear spray, do not run) and follow all recommendations for safe conduct around bears and other wildlife. Grizzlies and black bears are regular station visitors.
- Station canoe and kayak use is allowed, but only after review of safety rules and approval by Station staff.
- Emergency call-out numbers are 911 and 307-739-3301 for Grand Teton Ranger Dispatch.
Principal investigators and class instructors are responsible for the conduct of all members of their party.
Thanks for keeping the AMK Ranch a safe and clean place to work!
Directions to the Station
The station is located at:
1 AMK Ranch Road
Moran, WY, 83013
Once you enter Grand Teton National Park, go past Jackson Lake Lodge and continue north past Colter Bay.
Turn into Leek’s Marina. Immediately as you enter the Leek’s Marina parking area, turn right at the UW-NPS Research Station sign and follow the road one mile to the station.
Interactive Map
Check out our interactive map to explore the research station, see more information about buildings, and learn about the history of AMK Ranch.
Overnight Visitor Forms
Sign and email these completed forms to uwnps@uwyo.edu prior to arriving to expedite check in.
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- Model Release Form (optional)
What to Bring
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- Bedding – Sheets and blankets (or sleeping bag) and pillow.
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- Bath towel and toiletries.
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- Food – We do not have a cafeteria. We do have a refrigerator of free food that often has condiments, leftovers from seminars, and food other researchers left behind. To save you money and also help us reduce food waste, check the free fridge before shopping for food! See the Food & Dining section under Other Information for information on restaurants and grocery stores in the area.
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- Wet/dry/cold/hot weather clothes. It can snow any month of the year, so be prepared for anything from hot, sunny days to rain or snow. Bring a variety of clothing layers for all kinds of weather. Bring a swimsuit if you’d like to swim in the lake.
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- Bring fishing gear if you like to fish. A Wyoming fishing license is required to fish in GTNP. Fish do need to be cleaned indoors rather than by the lake.
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- Bear Spray – This can be purchased at the general store. Depending on availability, we have a few we may be able to lend out. Bear spray is not allowed in carry-on luggage, so if you are flying, either check your luggage or purchase it after you arrive. We will gladly accept donations of bear spray if you want to leave some for other researchers to use. Read about bear safety and know how to correctly use bear spray. You can also watch the bear safety demonstration held at the station during the 2016 season.
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- Travel size first aid kits if you plan to do any hiking.
Road Conditions
Sometimes it snows in July! Forest fires or falling boulders may also cause road closures. You can check road conditions and travel impacts on the WYDOT Travel Information website.
Weather
You can view weather data from Moran, the town closest to the station (about 11 miles away), or Yellowstone National Park.
Checking In and Checking Out
Checking In
Check in is between 1 and 7 pm at the table in the covered area outside the Johnson Lodge. If you need to arrive later than 7 pm, you must notify us by emailing: uwnps@uwyo.edu.This email will go to all relevant staff. If you email someone directly, they may not receive your email in time to notify onsite staff before your visit.
If you have not already done so, when you check in you will need to sign:
We cannot house you/your group at the station until you have signed these documents.
When you arrive, please go to the check-in table in the covered area outside the Johnson Lodgeand use the walkie talkie to contact the staff member on call. Staff will orient you to the station and get you settled in your room(s). Even if you are familiar with the station, you must check in with staff. We continually adjust housing assignments as needed to best accommodate all guests, so your building and room assignment may change before you arrive. We also do a brief orientation with each group to go over the most important station rules.
Late Check In
If you will arrive later than 7PM, we will leave your check-in information on the check-in table outside of Johnson Lodge. If you have not submitted your forms digitally, you must read and sign the Waiver, Terms & Conditions, and Station Rules and leave them on the table for station staff to collect. A map will be provided with your housing assignment location indicated. If you are arriving during quiet hours (10:00 pm – 8:00 am), please be aware that you may be moving through areas where people are sleeping and be respectful.
In the morning, you must use the walkie-talkie at the Johnson check-in table to contact the staff member on call and gather your group so that station staff can do orientation for your group.
Checking Out
Check out time is 11 AM. Checking out includes removing all belongings from housing. Late check-out will result in a $50 late fee for each room reserved that is not cleared by check out time. At 1 PM, we will remove any remaining belongings. Check out time still applies for groups using meeting space at the station on the day of their departure. To provide housing to all our guests over the course of the season, station staff must be able to clean and turn over housing for new arrivals.
To check out, complete all the tasks on the Checkout Sheet, and then leave the completed sheet on the table at the Johnson Lodge. Failure to complete all tasks on the checkout sheet will result in a $50 fee for each room reserved and for any additional spaces that must be cleaned.
Cleaning
During your visit, please follow the daily cleaning schedule below to keep facilities in good condition. Cleaning supplies are located in every kitchen and bathroom. If you run out, contact the on call staff person for more supplies.
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- Quick toilet cleaning.
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- Wipe down tub/shower area.
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- Remove hair and debris from drain in sinks and shower.
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- Take trash and recycling to the Johnson garage.
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- Remove all personal items from porches.
Phone and Internet
Phone
Cell phone access at the station is significantly improved from previous years but is not always reliable. Degree of access will depend on your phone service provider and your location when making and receiving calls. Land line phones are available for emergency use outside of Johnson Lodge, and in the office at the Berol Lodge. The onsite station manager also has a walkie talkie to reach Ranger Dispatch if necessary.
Internet
Grand Teton National Park has upgraded their infrastructure, so we now have high speed fiber optic internet available in most buildings at the station! In addition, two desktop Windows computers are available for guest use in the library in the Berol lodge.
Networks Available
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- UWyo – You can connect to the network using your normal UW credentials.
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- Eduroam – This network will work with any other non-UW university credentials that support edoroam (like CSU). Enter your full email address as the username.
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- UWguest – Available to anyone that connects to it and accepts our terms of service. If terms of service page doesn’t appear after connecting, go to wireauth.uwyo.edu in your web browser.
UWIT provides more information on these networks in this article.
If you need to receive mail during your visit, the mailing address to use is:
UW-NPS Research Station
PO Box 170
Moran, WY 83013-0170
Staff will pick up mail at the PO Box once each week and drop it off in the mail area in the Johnson communal kitchen.
Shipping Directly to the Station
c/o UW-NPS Research Station, Grand Teton National Park
1 AMK Ranch Road
Moran, WY 83013-0170
If you need to try to have something shipped directly to the station, we recommend using the address above and shipping via Fedex. We’ve had issues with other carriers finding the station and packages often end up being delivered elsewhere or being held off-site for pick-up. The station is remote and we cannot guarantee that packages or shipments will make their way to us successfully.
Food and Dining
All groups must arrange their own food.
Groceries
Before purchasing groceries, we suggest you check the free refrigerator in the Johnson communal kitchen. It often has food leftover from seminars, condiments, and food other researchers left behind.
The Colter Bay grocery store (~ 3 miles south) stocks basic items and has a deli, coffee shop, gift shop and ice cream. The Colter Bay gas station on Hwy 89 also has a convenience store. Both are open late May through late September.
For more other options, drive about an hour south to Jackson Hole and shop at Smith’s, Pearl Street Market, Albertson’s, or Whole Foods.
Restaurants
Most restaurants are open mid to late May and close in late September. View restaurants and schedules. The closest restaurants are located in the following areas:
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- Leek’s Marina (1 mile)
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- Colter Bay Village (3 miles)
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- Jackson Lake Lodge (6 miles)
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- Signal Mountain Lodge (13 miles)
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- Flagg Ranch (16 miles)
BBQ Grills
The BBQ grills must be run by staff and are not available for guest use. If you have a special event and want to use the grills for your event, contact the onsite manager well in advance so we can plan for staff availability. An extra charge will apply.
Laundry
There are no laundry facilities on site for guests, but laundromats are available at Colter Bay and Signal Mountain.
Boat Safety
Use of station canoes and kayaks (when available) is at your own risk. Follow these rules and guidelines to stay safe while out on the water.
Before Setting Out
All users of station boats must bring a life vest and also sign out equipment before they leave. Life vests and the log out sheet are located in the boathouse at the dock.
For any excursion in the park, it is a good idea to let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning.
While on the Lake
Wear a life vest at all times. Jackson Lake can go from calm and easily paddled to dangerous whitecaps very quickly. We strongly recommend that canoes and kayaks stay close to the shoreline or take the trip out to Cow island. We do not recommend attempting to paddle across the lake. The mountains create a visual illusion that makes the trip look much shorter than it is and rapidly changing weather conditions on Jackson Lake can make this a difficult and dangerous paddle, even for experienced paddlers.
Upon Return
Remember to return all equipment (life vests, boats, and paddles), and sign in on the log sheet upon arrival.
Area Parks and Wilderness
Pay for Housing
Following your visit, you will be invoiced by email for the total amount due. Be sure to include the invoice number when making your payment online or by check. Please do not make a payment until you have received an invoice.
Online Payment
Click here to pay your bill on our secure site. After making your online payment, a receipt will be emailed to you.
Pay by Check
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- Make your check payable to: University of Wyoming
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- In the memo line enter the invoice number
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- Mail the check to:
Bonnie Robinson
UW-NPS Research Station
1000 E University Ave., Dept 3166
Laramie, WY 82071