Public Lands Near Jackson: 2026 Management and Access

The National Elk Refuge is located next to Grand Teton National Park, the Gros Ventre Range of Bridger-Teton National Forest, and Jackson.

Elk Migration and Refuge Management

The U.S. Geological Survey's April 21, 2025 research account explains that the Jackson elk herd summers in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks and Bridger-Teton National Forest. The animals migrate to lower elevations, and many congregate at the refuge in winter, where the Fish and Wildlife Service provides supplemental feed.

USGS describes tradeoffs in that feeding: it can reduce winter starvation and limit elk movement that brings wildlife into conflict with people, but concentrating animals may increase disease transmission. In the April 21, 2025 account, USGS describes research into how human-derived food sources in the suburbs around Jackson relate to elk migration and refuge use. Earlier work found that some food-conditioned, less human-averse elk were more likely to abandon long-distance migration. USGS reports that the proportion of long-distance migrants in the Jackson herd has declined despite well-conserved movement corridors connecting the refuge with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

The Fish and Wildlife Service reports that two elk on the refuge tested positive for chronic wasting disease in spring 2026. FWS describes chronic wasting disease as a highly transmissible prion disease affecting cervids, including deer, elk, caribou, and moose. The agency says the disease's presence requires increased herd monitoring and surveillance, along with additional bio-security protocols.

On August 28, 2026, the Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft environmental impact statement for an updated bison and elk management plan. It presents four proposed alternatives addressing wildlife health, disease risk, habitat restoration, public access, and wildlife-dependent recreation. The alternatives consider the herds' long-term sustainability and conservation of other wildlife and habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They also address minimizing human-wildlife conflict and the cultural, spiritual, and economic importance of elk and bison to the community and tribes.

Grand Teton Road and Trail Work

Grand Teton's May 13, 2026 infrastructure release, updated June 11, scheduled a closure of Death Canyon Road and Trailhead, accessed via Moose-Wilson Road, through mid-November, with a delayed reopening anticipated in 2027. The work includes improvements to Death Canyon Road and Trailhead.

The same release scheduled closure of the northern Taggart Lake Trail segment between the first junction and Bradley Lake Trail through November 15, 2026. It described repairs, regrading, and accessibility improvements, with the trailhead and parking area remaining open and the lakes accessible by alternate marked trails.

NPS's October 27, 2026 construction notice described work underway at Taggart Lake Trailhead, including crews transplanting trees, with noise from heavy equipment. It listed the northern trail segment as closed until winter recreation begins and planned for the trailhead and trail to open in the winter months for over-snow recreation.

Beginning May 1, 2027, that notice schedules closure of the trailhead and trails to all use, including hiking and horseback riding. NPS and the Grand Teton National Park Foundation are working together to renew the Taggart Lake Area, with improving the visitor experience and safeguarding delicate natural resources as goals.

Pathways and the Moose-Wilson Decision

The October 27 construction notice lists the Sagebrush Connector among completed summer 2026 projects. The paved path along Sagebrush Drive, just west of the Gros Ventre Roundabout, links people walking and cycling to the Grand Teton Pathway and Teton County's broader pathway system. The Grand Teton Pathway connects county communities to park destinations including Jenny Lake and Moose Landing.

An August 17, 2026 NPS decision amendment incorporates a separated multiuse pathway along the Moose-Wilson corridor and realignment of a road segment between Sawmill Ponds and Death Canyon Road. Both elements were previously analyzed under Alternative D of the 2016 final environmental impact statement. All other improvements from the 2016 Record of Decision remain unchanged.

NPS determined that the amended decision's effects are similar to those analyzed in 2016 and described mitigation measures for wildlife, wetlands, and cultural resources. The pathway would be located as close to the roadway as practicable to minimize disturbance. The park coordinated with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer, federally recognized tribes, and other consulting parties on a Programmatic Agreement under the National Historic Preservation Act. It also worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service on a Wetlands Statement of Findings. The next steps described in the August release were developing a project timeline and initiating topographic surveys.

Snow King Trail Proposals

In its October 27, 2026 Greater Snow King trail proposal, Bridger-Teton National Forest's Jackson Ranger District describes four proposed non-motorized trails intended to reduce congestion and conflicts. The proposed routes are Ferrin's Trail Alternate, Josie's Ridge Trail Alternate, Leeks Canyon Trail Alternate, and Game Creek Parallel Trail.

Friends of Pathways proposed the projects as part of its trails master plan. The proposals reflect more than 25 years of collaboration between the Forest Service, Friends of Pathways, local land managers, and community members. Environmental analysis and ground surveys of each route were completed in summer 2026 by specialists in wildlife, cultural resources, botany, fisheries, recreation, hydrology, rangeland management, and invasive species. The Forest Service proposes using Categorical Exclusion USDA-26-USFS, "Construction and reconstruction of trails," for the projects if approved. If approved, the projects would be built over the next five years using small trail machinery and hand tools, with support from Forest Service trail crews, Friends of Pathways, conservation corps, and volunteer organizations.

The proposed Game Creek Parallel Trail would run 2.2 miles from the trailhead to the Beaver Ponds junction. Its corridor connects directly to the South Highway 89 pathway and South Park neighborhoods. The Forest Service identifies the potential for fewer vehicle trips to other trailheads and an alternate route when the road floods in spring.