When summer days start to slip away and winter looms
ahead, fall becomes a cherished time in Grand Teton National Park. Jackson Hole
locals have always known autumn as the perfect time to enjoy the park -- summer
crowds are gone and the weather is perfect for hiking, biking, fishing or just
lounging while taking in the sights and sounds of autumn. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time in the park with the fall colors unfolding in all directions. Aspen and cottonwood leaves transform the valley floor into a patchwork of orange, yellow and fiery red. Peak colors generally occur from mid-September through early October in Grand Teton National Park. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for photographing the colorful displays.
Be sure to check out these prime locations for fall foliage in Grand Teton National Park:
Oxbow Bend and Jackson Lodge
Signal Mountain Summit
Snake River Overlook
Cottonwood Creek and Moose-Wilson Road
In addition to the autumn colors, visitors to Grand Teton National Park find themselves witnessing another amazine autumn ritual -- the elk rut. The elk breeding season, or the rut, occurs from late August to early November and during this period the elk are concerned about few things besides mating.
As autumn colors begin to peak throughout the park, the haunting sound of bugling elk fills the air. During the autumn months, males gather harems of females that they mate with and zealously guard. The bull elk bugle, a high-pitched whistling sound followed by grunts, as part of their mating ritual. A fascinating and beautiful sound, bugling is a male dominance display that attracts females and states the rank of the male. Rival males respond by bugling back. The exchange of bugling in the evening air is something Grand Teton National Park visitors never forget.
The rut can get pretty intense for the bull elk. Bulls may actually spar with their challengers, after first demonstrating threat postures, by thrashing the ground with their antlers. To witness the spectacle of elk during the rut, park visitors should look for bulls and their harems along the Teton Park Road between Signal Mountain, Jenny Lake Lodge and Moose in addition to the Colter Bay area.
"Mornings and early evening are the best times for observing the rut, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. is when the elk seem to be most active," states Tim Bywater, public affairs specialist for the Grand Teton National Park. "The important thing for park visitors to remember is give the elk plenty of space, especially during the mating season."
After a full day of autumn hiking or biking through the park, nothing compares to relaxing by a warm fire, enjoying a fine meal and a good night's sleep. Grand Teton Lodge Company provides that bit of luxury at Jackson Lake Lodge.
Located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Lake Lodge is situated on a bluff overlooking Willow Flats and Jackson Lake. Jackson Lake Lodge offers amazine views of the Teton range from the 60-foot picture windows located in the lodge's Upper Lobby. This ideal location, chosen by John D. Rockefeller in the 1950s, possesses one of the best views in all of Jackson Hole of Mount Moran and the Tetons.
Jackson Lake Lodge closes in mid-October for the winter months. Closing date the 1998 season will be Wednesday, Oct. 14. For reservations, park visitors can call 800-628-9988 or 307-543-3100 or address correspondence to Grand Teton Lodge Company, P.O. Box 240, Moran, WY 83013.
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