Teton Park Pathways, Jackson Hole, WY
The Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) Pathways is the most significant bike system ever approved whole cloth for a national park. Located in northwestern Wyoming, GTNP is one of the top-10 most visited national parks. The pathway system parallels Teton Park Road, providing visitors and residents a safe alternative to the high-volume park artery, which carries up to 18,000 cars per day. The multi-use pathways also connect popular park destinations like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Wildlife Art, visitor centers, and town of Jackson Hole.
The first sections of the GTNP Pathways were funded in part with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds, supporting Wyoming jobs, and were completed ahead of schedule and under budget. The system has already been declared a model for other national parks, where congestion is a major issue, air quality needs to be preserved, and visitors seek a connection with nature. The path is enjoyed by riders of all abilities and ages, proof that separated bike facilities provide the safety and appeal needed to get families out of cars and onto bikes.
Basic stats
• First 8 miles of the 42-mile system opened May 2009
• 500,000 visitors and 160,000 employee trips/year
• Town population: 8,600 residents
• 4 million total park visitors/year
Key benefits
• Reduces traffic on park roads
• Provides new commuting options for park employees
• Helps maintain the park’s Class 1 Airshed status
• 525 jobs created
Funding sources
• $15 million in federal funding, including $1 million in ARRA stimulus funds and $3 million from two Transit in Parks Program grants
• $7,500 Bikes Belong advocacy grant
View and download a PDF of the project.
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