JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Spring will come to Grand Teton National Park if they have to blow all the snow to Idaho. And that is a distinct possibility with the way this winter is going and going and going.

Grand Teton National Park road crews will begin spring plowing of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge on Monday, March 18. The plowing operations mark the end of over-snow access on the 14-mile stretch of road for the season. Visitors may continue to use other areas of the park for winter recreation such as cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and snowshoeing until snow conditions are no longer favorable.

For safety reasons, visitors may not access the Teton Park Road once plowing operations are underway. Rotary snow removal equipment and plows may be working at any time, and the roadway will be closed to all users at all times until further notice. Skiers and snowshoers using areas adjacent to the roadway are cautioned to avoid the arc of snow blown from the rotary equipment because pieces of ice and gravel can be thrown great distances.

The roadway is anticipated to be accessible to activities such as cycling, rollerskating, skateboarding, roller skiing, walking, jogging, and leashed pet walking within the next few weeks. The road will open to motor vehicles on Wednesday, May 1.

Other park roads such as Moose-Wilson Road, Signal Mountain Summit Road, Antelope Flats Road, East Boundary Road, Mormon Row Road, Two Ocean Road, and Grassy Lake Road remain closed to vehicle traffic when posted or gated in the spring. These roads may also close for short periods of time to recreationists to accommodate snow removal similar to the clearing on Teton Park Road.

The opening dates of these roads vary from year to year and are dependent on weather, snow conditions, plowing progress, wildlife activity, and road conditions.

The paved multi-use pathways in the park are open whenever they are predominately free of snow and ice.

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose will open Monday, April 1—no foolin’. It will be open daily from 10am to 4pm.