Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ers. The turnoff to the slide area is 1 mile north of Kelly. Not far from the junction is the
Kelly Warm Spring
, an undeveloped pool of warm (80°F) water.
The slide sits outside Grand Teton National Park, but is most easily accessed through it
by taking Gros Ventre Rd east off Hwy 26/89/191. Three very attractive and economical
USFS campgrounds
( Jackson Ranger District 307-739-5400; sites $15; early
Jun-Sep)
are spread out along Gros Ventre Rd beyond the Gros Ventre Slide Geological
Area (18 to 23 miles northeast of Jackson). Sites have pit toilets and water but no RV
hookups. Twenty-site Atherton Creek Campground, 5.5 miles along Gros Ventre Rd at
Lower Slide Lake, at the end of the paved road, has a boat dock. If your car can take
rough roads, check out the five-site Red Hills Campground, 4.5 miles further east, front-
ing the Gros Ventre River; the six-site Crystal Creek Campground is 0.5 miles further
east. A 7-mile round-trip day hike heads up to Grizzly Lake from near Red Hills Camp-
ground.
GRANITE HOT SPRINGS
The signed turnoff for the developed
Granite Hot Springs Swimming Pool
(
307-734-7400;
www.granitehotsprings.mountainmancountry.com
;
adult/child $6/4;
10am-8pm summer, 10am-5pm winter)
and
Granite Creek Campground
( Jackson
Ranger District 307-739-5400; sites $15; Jun-Sep)
is 35 miles southeast of Jackson on
Hwy 189/191. Free camping is allowed along the road to the hot springs, but not within 2
miles of the hot springs. In winter, the springs (a delicious 112°F) are accessible by snow-
mobile or skiing only. In summer the water temperature drops to 93°F. The route south
through Hoback Canyon affords views of the stunning south face of the Gros Ventre
Mountains.
The campground bumps up against the
Gros Ventre Wilderness
and offers good hik-
ing up Granite Creek. Within walking distance of the campground is the undeveloped
Granite Falls Hot Springs
, accessed from the dirt parking area just below the falls.
Reaching the hot springs (on the east bank of the creek) requires an often tricky and al-
ways chilly ford, and water levels only allow for soaking from around late May until
spring snowmelt submerges the pool, with winter access by snowmobile or cross-country
skis. Please respect the place and enjoy one of Wyoming's best natural soaks.
Upper Wind River Valley
Part of the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway, US 26/287 climbs east from Grand Teton
National Park's Moran Junction up the slopes of Bridger-Teton National Forest to Tog-
