Teton County
Teton County includes the Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts. The National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park are also in this area, adjacent to the BTNF.
Things to do on the BTNF in Teton County:
- See the remains of a massive landslide at the Gros Ventre Geological Site. On June 23, 1925 one of the largest, fastest-moving landslides in the world happened in this part of the BTNF. In just three minutes, 50 million cubic yards—enough to cover the entirety of Washington D.C. six inches deep—of rock, soil, and other debris slid down from an altitude of 9,000 feet. The Gros Ventre Slide dammed the Gros Ventre River and created a five-mile long lake, Slide Lake. Although the natural dam was breached in 1927, flooding the community of Kelly and killing six people, Slide Lake still exists today, as does the scar where Sheep Mountain collapsed.
- Go fly-fishing on the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River.
- Explore the 600-some miles of the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail system (which also extends into the Pinedale Ranger District).
- Visit the Teton Wilderness, which makes up more than 80 percent of the Blackrock Ranger District, and is considered to be one of the best places in the country for multi-day horse-packing trips.
- Practice proper food storage; grizzly bears are common in the Blackrock Ranger District and increasingly also in the Jackson Ranger District.
- The curious can marvel at the existence of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters a National Natural Landmark in the Teton Wilderness. Adventurers can book a multi-day hiking or horseback riding trip to the spot—about 20 miles from the Turpin Meadow Trailhead—where water has an equal chance of ending in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.
- The Thorofare/Yellowstone confluence area within the Teton Wilderness is the most remote place in the Lower 48 states in terms of distance from a road. Access to the Thorofare is from Turpin Meadow Trailhead on BTNF via North Fork Buffalo Trail and from the Shoshone National Forest via the South Fork Shoshone going over either Ishawooa Pass or Deer Creek Pass.
Contact Info
Jackson Ranger District
25 Rosencrans Lane
Jackson, WY 83001
307-739-5400
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Blackrock Ranger District
Hwy 26/287
Moran, WY 83013
307-543-2386
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Meet our Ambassadors Working in Teton County
Gene Palos
Gene Palos
Retired from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department after 34 years, Gene Palos is the Blackrock District Wildlife Ambassador, a position that is instrumental in keeping wildlife and humans around Togwotee Pass safe. “I felt being a wildlife ambassador would be a great fit for me, as I do love the outdoors and especially bears and wildlife!” Gene says.
The Blackrock Ranger District Wildlife Ambassador’s primary responsibilities are working to help control and educate the public about the grizzlies that can frequently be seen from U.S. Highway 26 as it travels through the northern district of the BTNF. The bears in this area include grizzly bear 863 (aka Felicia) and any cubs she might have. Not surprisingly, roadside grizzlies often cause bear jams and can inspire behavior dangerous to both people and the bears. “There is no doubt our ability to maintain safety for bears and people reached a level that we could not have dreamed of without these Ambassadors,” says wildlife biologist Jason Wilmot of Blackrock and Jackson Ranger Districts. “We continue to receive kudos and praise from multiple agencies and individuals for the presence, actions, and professionalism of our Ambassadors.” Gene says, “What a better way to preserve our great outdoors and wildlife with the Friends of the Bridger-Teton family?”
Jules Butler & Chris MacMillan
Jules Butler & Chris MacMillan
Jules Butler and her husband Chris MacMillan are Campground Ambassadors at Curtis Canyon. Jules, a native of Connecticut, moved to Jackson Hole in 2014 (after 20 years of being an annual visitor). Chris started visiting Jackson Hole while in utero—his family has ties to Dubois, Wyoming, going back three generations—and he finally moved to the valley (from Illinois) more than 30 years ago.
Unlike many Ambassadors, Jules and Chris are not retired. Jules is a writer and editor—she edits an area visitor guide, Jackson Hole Traveler, and, in 2022, published a book of essays about her experiences as a BTNF Ambassador, “Cowboys and Campers: Tales from a Bridger-Teton National Forest Camping Ambassador.” Chris is a master finish carpenter and project manager for a local contractor and works building cabinets, doors, windows, and furniture for homes throughout Jackson Hole.
They enjoy exploring miles upon miles of the Bridger Teton National Forest throughout the Jackson, Blackrock, and Greys River Ranger Districts in Jules’ Jeep Wrangler.
“I am thrilled to serve the BTNF as an Ambassador,” Jules says. “Educating the public on the proper ways to extinguish campfires and employ safe food storage and answering questions on wildlife and the Teton area is a most rewarding summer experience.” Chris says, “I wanted to become an Ambassador to enjoy nature better and help educate campers/visitors on how to camp responsibly and protect this valuable resource.” No matter where they take their Polaris Razor side-by-side for an off-duty joy ride in the BTNF, they stay on the marked trails and even pick up trash they find littered about; ambassador habits/stewards of the forest responsibilities die hard.
Fun Fact 1: In 2022, Jules and Chris married on the hillside adjacent to their Ambassador campsite.
Fun Fact 2: Chris’s great-grandfather started the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company in 1919. Wyoming played a pivotal role in shaping North America’s logging industry. Tie hacking, or cutting timber for railroad ties, took place in various locations, with the Bridger-Teton National Forest being one of the key areas.
Randy Roberts
Randy Roberts
BTNF Trail Ambassador Randy Roberts moved to Jackson in 1977 and taught elementary school for 30 years. He was a founding board member of Friends of Pathways, a nonprofit that is now one of our many partners, and served as its president for many terms.
It was during Randy’s time as Friends of Pathway’s president that the organization developed most of the 50+ miles of separated paved pathway system that exists today. Also during Randy’s terms as president the nonprofit began to collaborate with the BTNF about trail development and work. Randy has more than 40 years of exploring and adventuring on the BTNF, was part of the trail crew that built the popular Arrow and Ridge Trails on Teton Pass, and is one of the longest-serving Ambassadors.
“The Bridger-Teton has given me thousands of unbelievably awesome experiences, both winter and summer and I care deeply about ensuring that it is a place for everyone to enjoy as much as I have,” he says. “As a Trail Ambassador I have a direct role in educating forest users about good stewardship and recreating responsibly—which gives everyone an opportunity to experience the same stoke!”
Fun Fact: As part of the crew that built the Arrow and Ridge Trails in the ‘00s, Randy worked alongside inmates from the Idaho State Penitentiary. “Inmates who had met certain criteria could work on fire crews,” Randy says. “One summer when there were no fires, they came here as part of the trail crew. It was great, and I have some unbelievable stories about it!”
Thanks for being a friend.
We still have our work cut out for us. But with friends like you, dozens of incredible non-profit partners, and a shoulder-to-shoulder partnership with the Bridger- Teton National Forest, we're optimistic about what we can do together.
