Tetons Circumnavigation!

[nateh]

I'm planning a 3 day/2 night overlanding route in and around the Tetons. I've been to GTNP and given that I've lived here in SE Idaho for 7 years now I feel I've got a decent understanding of things over here on my side of the mountains. However, I've never really ventured through much of extreme western Wyoming and want to just take my time and soak it all in. I feel like I'm pretty good at juggling Google Maps with USFS MVU maps but I'd love if someone with some real expertise and time on the ground in this area would critique and improve the plan I've got in place! My plan is to go clockwise on the route below. For some reason Google won't let me connect Ashton to GTNP via the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Rd but that's my intended route between those two points, despite it not showing.

Any activities, must-see sights, great dispersed camping spots, or otherwise awesome things on or near this route I shouldn't miss? Feel free to PM if you want to keep your secret spots on the DL ;)

Vehicle: 2005 Land Rover LR3. Will be sleeping in the back. I've pushed this rig to its limits off-roading so I'm not too concerned with difficulty of terrain unless it gets to the level of the Rubicon or something!

Wyoming Overlanding - Google My Maps

Wyoming Overlanding

www.google.com

 

[M Rose]

Ashton Flags Road is closed in the winter time; according to some people I know who tried bikepacking the road last week said they were informed the road wouldn’t be open until the end of the month at the soonest, but possibly much later… apparently they are dealing with a couple of slides and a bridge that was taken out during the Yellowstone Flood.

 

[nateh]

I called up the Ashton field office last Thursday and they said it was open. I wonder if they were missing something? Maybe I'll call again to confirm.

 

[OTH Overland]

We love that route! the scenery never dissapoints and neither does the wildlife, has seemed to become a bit more 'travelled' when we were up there a year ago.

 

[nateh]

We love that route! the scenery never dissapoints and neither does the wildlife, has seemed to become a bit more 'travelled' when we were up there a year ago.

Good to hear you enjoyed it! Any suggested stops along the way or tweaks to the route?

 

[OTH Overland]

Good to hear you enjoyed it! Any suggested stops along the way or tweaks to the route?

Looks like you have a pretty good route, couple of places on there I am going to add for my next visit. Depending on what day you go thru Jackson area, if its a weekend a detour along Moose Wilson Road is well worth it. (closed for construction during the week currently), head west on hwy 22 from Jackson and then right on Moose Wilson Rd (390) after going past Teton village it will turn to dirt and single lane. right before it drops down a hill into Moose at the end, there is a parking area with a good vista at Sawmill Ponds where there are often moose hanging around early morning and evenings. Bear can often be seen along this road also. Before turning on Moose-Wilson road, you can go a bit further on 22 to the top of Teton Pass, for a hwy its a fun windy and steep pass with some good views, a short side trip up FS road 30972 goes to Phillips Bench (have not been there in a while but MVUM shows it open still, about 8,000 feet elevation and good views down to the valley). There was a really good dirt road (river road) thru the park along the river, but It closed in 2017 due to errosion, and I beleive it is still closed, not much other off road oportunities in the park itself except for Pacific Creek Road which heads north from just west of the Moran entrance station and goes to Two Ocean Lake and Whetstone mountain, pretty good drive up there. Not sure if any of these routes have been affected by the storms that hit yellowston, but I am sure you are going to have fun.

 

[Tommys]

Hey, thank you, everyone! We found it!
Click here:
Tetons

 

[farleymcjohnson]

I was just in that area a few weeks ago, I stayed at Brooks Lake up by Pinnacles campground (a few mile further than your easternmost point on your route). I had my kayak with so I really enjoyed that lake up there. It was fun. Just outside of Dubois Wy is the national museum of Military Vehicles that was one of the highlights of my trip, if you have time go check that out as well, very impressive, quite an experience they did a great job with that.

I didnt get on many trails in this area as i was kinda just traveling through on my way to Yellowstone and then up to Glacier.