If it feels like Grand Teton National Park gets busier every year… that’s because it does. After steady year-over-year increases, park officials say they’re preparing for another high-visitation summer in 2026, while several major construction projects are reshaping travel patterns and trail access, especially at the southern end.
The park is also looking ahead to its centennial in 2029, and multiple improvements are already lining up to support that timeline.
Here’s what’s changing, where delays are most likely, and why the park wants more people heading north.
Why GTNP Will Be Nudging Visitors North
With construction concentrated in the south, Grand Teton is planning a deliberate shift to encourage more visitors to spend time at Colter Bay, which officials say has the infrastructure to support additional use, and trail options that can satisfy visitors who might otherwise default to the Taggart Lake / Jenny Lake orbit.
The “move north” strategy might help, but it’s not like Colter Bay is a secret.
3 Major Construction Projects Planned for 2026
Park officials say three multi-year projects will be underway next summer. Each comes with different levels of disruption, from “minor delays possible” to “this will absolutely affect your route.”
1) Mormon Row: Pedestrian/cyclist zone, parking expansion, restoration work
The park plans construction at Mormon Row, including a pedestrian- and cyclist-focused zone, expanded parking, native vegetation restoration, and improved facilities. The project is a partnership with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and is expected to begin in July.
Officials said there are no full closures planned, but visitors should expect construction-related delays and a different flow around one of the park’s most photographed areas.
2) Taggart Lake: Accessibility improvements and trail closures
Another partnership project will target Taggart Lake, focused on making the trail more accessible. The work is expected to close the path to the Bradley–Taggart Junction, with construction possibly beginning as early as May.
Taggart Lake is expected to remain accessible via the Beaver Creek Trail, according to park officials.
3) Death Canyon Road / Moose-Wilson Road
The largest disruption is expected at Death Canyon Road, which will affect travel on Moose-Wilson Road.
There’s also a larger Moose-Wilson Road project in the works that could involve rebuilding the road from Death Canyon to Moose and rerouting it so it sits within the entrance gate area.
Keep an eye out for updates and assume the Moose area could be messy on peak days.
What Locals and Visitors Should Do Now
The park expects another busy season in 2026. In the months leading up to summer, officials will watch hotel occupancy rates and reservation data with concessionaires to refine visitation expectations.
If you’re planning a visit (or hosting friends who insist they can “do the park in a day”), here’s the simple playbook:
① Expect delays in the south. Moose-Wilson and Death Canyon impacts will be the biggest wildcard.
② Be flexible with trail plans. Taggart Lake access will change.
③ Consider Colter Bay early. Not as a backup, as part of the main plan.
④ Start earlier or go later. Crowding is increasingly spilling into fall, but the shoulder season can still be calmer than midsummer.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
