Signal Mountain, WyomingThe 5 mile drive up Signal Mountain summit road rewards you with a panoramic view of the entire Teton range, Jackson Lake and most of Jackson Hole, 800 to nearly 1,000 feet above the valley.
From A Place Called Jackson Hole
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/grte2/hrst.htm
"People enjoy spectacular views of the Tetons from almost any location
in the valley, but Signal Mountain offers one of the finest vistas
of the entire valley and surrounding mountains and highlands.
To the south, the Gros Ventre and Snake River Ranges enclose
the southern end of the valley. Jackson Peak and Sheep Mountain,
summits in the Gros Ventre Range, pierce the horizon.
The Mount Leidy Highlands enclose the valley to the east.
The Washakie Range and Pinyon Peak Highlands form the remainder
of the eastern and northeastern boundary of the valley.
From another vantage point, the Pitchstone Plateau,
one can see beyond Jackson Lake to the north.
The Teton Range to the west completes the encirclement of
Jackson Hole....From the summit of Signal Mountain,
the Snake River can also be seen winding its way
through Jackson Hole, coursing down a cottonwood
and spruce-lined channel. Directly east of Signal Mountain
is an abandoned channel of the Snake,
a mute reminder that the landscape of Jackson Hole is dynamic."
See below for a description of the drive.
Oxbow Bend is just off this photo/map to the right.
C = Signal Mountain Campground has 86 (many lake view) campsites, usually fills around 10 a.m.
J = Jackson Lake Lodge. More info at: Grand Tetons hotels, cabins, lodging
S = Signal Mountain Lodge. More info at: Grand Tetons hotels, cabins, lodging
W = Willow Flats overlook
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The drive: no trailers or large motor homes are allowed on the narrow, winding road. The huckleberries ripen in August.
The turnoff is one mile south of Signal Mountain Lodge and Campground. On the right as you go up there is a pond with pond lilies blooming in June and regular sightings of moose munching spring through fall.
Please stay quietly back in the trees and don't disturb any wild animals. Leave your dog in the car.
The park service reminds us: "If your actions cause an animal to flee, you have deprived other visitors of a viewing opportunity. Use an animal's behavior as a guide to your actions and limit the time you spend."
There are two small parking lots near the top of Signal Mountain. The first one, at 7,593 feet elevation, is the one with the view out toward the Tetons (sunset is great there); from the second one we can walk a little and look down at Oxbow Bend.
Grand Tetons sightseeing has more info about the area attractions.
You can download a Grand Teton park map at: http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/maps.htm
A larger version of this drawing of the Teton range, with the names of each peak,
as printed in the park newspaper, is at:
Teton range peak names
See also Grand Tetons and Jackson Lake aerial photo
NASA aerial photo of Teton Range
Grand Tetons trip pages index has brief descriptions of most of the pages about the De Anza College trip.
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