Granite Canyon

Last updated
Granite Canyon
Grand Teton NP Granite Canyon WY1.jpg
Granite Canyon from Jackson Hole
Geography
Country United States
State Wyoming
County Teton
Coordinates 43°37′05″N110°49′03″W / 43.61806°N 110.81750°W / 43.61806; -110.81750 [1]

Granite Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. [2] The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley. [3] The canyon lies between Rendezvous Mountain to the south and Mount Hunt to the north. The trailhead for the canyon is on the MooseWilson Road about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Teton Village. One of the most popular hikes from the trailhead is to Marion Lake by way of the Granite Canyon Trail which traverses the length of the canyon. Another popular hike involves riding the aerial tram located at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, and then descending back to Teton Village by way of Granite Canyon. The descent from the summit of Rendezvous Peak back to Teton Village is an often steep one with an altitude loss of 4,100 feet (1,200 m). [4] The historic Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin is situated near the entrance to the canyon and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. [5]

Granite Canyon is also the original name of one of the most scenic canyons in Colorado located in Lake George, CO. Now known as ElevenMile Canyon, the Colorado Midland Railroad ran through the canyon from 1887 to 1918. Almost a decade after the rails were removed from the canyon, construction of ElevenMile Reservoir Dam started and was completed in 1931. Today, Granite Canyon is more commonly known as ElevenMile Canyon.

South Fork of Granite Canyon Granite Canyon South Fork.jpg
South Fork of Granite Canyon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind River Range</span> Mountain subrange of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, United States

The Wind River Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States. The range runs roughly NW–SE for approximately 100 mi (160 km). The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and includes Gannett Peak, which at 13,802 ft (4,207 m), is the highest peak in Wyoming; and also Fremont Peak at 13,750 ft (4,191 m), the third highest peak in Wyoming. There are more than 40 other named peaks in excess of 12,999 ft (3,962 m). With the exception of the Grand Teton in the Teton Range, the next 19 highest peaks in Wyoming after Gannett are also in the Winds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cascade Canyon</span> Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, US state of Wyoming

Cascade Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago. Today, Cascade Canyon has numerous polished glacial erratics, hanging cirques and a U-shape as evidences that demonstrate that glaciers once filled the canyon to a depth of at least 2,000 feet (610 m). Rock debris that was transported out of the canyon by glacial motion formed moraines which now impound the waters of Jenny Lake which is located at the base of the canyon. Cascade Creek now flows where the glaciers once did and the numerous waterfalls, such as the 100-foot (30 m) tall Hidden Falls, found within the gorge are popular destinations with tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh Lake</span> Glacial Lake in Wyoming, US

Leigh Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The glacially formed lake is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) wide and 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long from north to south. Situated just southeast of Mount Moran, the lake is at the terminus of both Paintbrush and Leigh Canyons. The lake can be accessed from the Leigh Lake Trail which follows the eastern shores of String Lake a distance of one mile (1.6 km) and is an easy hike over level terrain. The Leigh Lake Ranger Patrol Cabin is located on the northeast shore of the lake and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Canyon</span> Canyon located in Grand Teton National Park

Death Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley. The trailhead for the canyon is located on a side road off the Moose-Wilson Road, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) from the park headquarters at Moose, Wyoming. At the base of the canyon is Phelps Lake which was created by glacial activity. The Death Canyon Trail extends the length of the canyon to Fox Creek Pass, at which point the Death Canyon Shelf, a relative narrow and level plateau, can be traversed. The canyon has many Whitebark Pine stands, particularly near the tree line. At the junction of the Death Canyon and the Alaska Basin trails, the historic Death Canyon Barn is preserved after being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rendezvous Mountain</span> Mountain in the U.S. state of Wyoming

Rendezvous Mountain is a large mountain massif located in the southern Teton Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The highest point on Rendezvous Mountain is Rendezvous Peak. The western and northern flanks of the mountain are in Grand Teton National Park, while much of the remainder of the massif is in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garnet Canyon</span> Canyon in Wyoming

Garnet Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by retreating glaciers which reached their last glacial maximum around 15,000 years ago. While Garnet Canyon is a less popular destination for recreational hikers than nearby Cascade Canyon or Death Canyon, it is an important approach to many significant and popular mountaineering climbs including routes found on Grand Teton, Middle Teton, South Teton and Disappointment Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley Lake</span> Glacial Lake in Wyoming, US

Bradley Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The glacially formed lake is located near the terminus of Garnet Canyon. Bradley Lake can be accessed by the Bradley Lake Trail, a 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip hike commencing from the Taggart Lake trailhead parking area. The lake is less than one and a half miles (2.4 km) north of Taggart Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paintbrush Canyon</span> Canyon in the state of Wyoming

Paintbrush Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago. The canyon lies between Rockchuck Peak and Mount Saint John to the south and Mount Woodring to the north. Leigh Lake is at the base of the canyon to the east and the alpine Holly Lake is located mid canyon. Popular with hikers, the canyon is part of a popular circuit hike of 19.2 miles (30.9 km) which is rated as very strenuous and includes a total elevation change of 3,845 feet (1,172 m) due to the ascent to Paintbrush Divide 10,720 feet (3,270 m). Views from Paintbrush Divide include Lake Solitude and of Mount Moran to the north and the Cathedral Group including Grand Teton to the south. An ice axe may be necessary for hikes in the early summer. The Paintbrush Canyon Trail is part of the Teton Crest Trail, which spans the southern section of the Teton Range from Teton Pass along Wyoming Highway 22 to String Lake, a total distance of 39 miles (63 km).

The Moran Bay Patrol Cabin was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps about 1932. The log structure was located in the northern backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, and was built to a standard design for such structures, in the National Park Service Rustic style, but for the U.S. Forest Service, which administered much of the area prior to the expansion of the park in 1943. The Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin is similar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin</span> United States historic place

The Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps about 1935. The log structure is located in the extreme southwest backcountry of Grand Teton National Park. The cabin was built according to a standard design for such structures, in the National Park Service Rustic style. The Moran Bay Patrol Cabin is similar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morrow Point Reservoir</span> Reservoir on the Gunnison River in Colorado

Morrow Point Reservoir is an 817-acre (331 ha) artificial reservoir on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Located in the upper Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the lake was created in 1968 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of a larger plan to impound the upper section of the Gunnison and create opportunities for hydroelectric power generation, water conservation, and recreation. Morrow Point Reservoir is managed by the National Park Service as a unit within the Curecanti National Recreation Area, and is the location of the Curecanti Needle, a striking 700-foot (210 m) granite spire on the reservoir's southern bank whose unique shape was for decades a recognized symbol of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canyons of the Teton Range</span> Canyons in Wyoming, United States

The canyons of the Teton Range lie almost entirely within Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Ranging from 9 miles (14 km) to less than 1 mile (1.6 km) in length and up to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) deep, the canyons were carved primarily by glaciers over the past 250,000 years. The canyons in the Teton Range descend in altitude generally west to east and many have lakes at their outlets. The lakes were created by terminal moraines left behind by the now retreated glaciers. A few of the canyons have small glaciers that were created mostly during the Little Ice Age (1550-1850). Fast retreating Schoolroom Glacier is a tiny glacier located at the head of the South Cascade Canyon. Most of the canyons have streams from which rain and snowmelt flow towards Jackson Hole valley, and due to the sometimes rapid altitude descent, waterfalls are common. The canyons offer the easiest hiking access into the Teton Range.

The Webb Canyon Trail is a 9.9-mile (15.9 km) long hiking trail in the far northern region of Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins near the National Park Service backcountry patrol cabin near Wilcox Point on Jackson Lake. Located in the remote northern backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, the trail is not connected to maintained trails in the southern part of the park and must be accessed from the Glade Creek trailhead in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. From Glade Creek, it is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) hike to the patrol cabin and the beginning of the Webb Canyon Trail. The trail follows Moose Creek west and after several miles, is flanked by both Owl Peak and Elk Mountain to the north and several unnamed peaks nearing 11,000 ft (3,400 m) to the south. At Moose Basin Divide the trail meets the Owl Creek Trail.

The Granite Canyon Trail is a 8.2 mi (13.2 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Granite Canyon trailhead on the Moose-Wilson Road, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Teton Village and ends at the junction with the Teton Crest Trail near Marion Lake. The trail follows the length of Granite Canyon. Just over a mile before the junction with the Teton Crest Trail, the Open Canyon Trail intercepts this trail from the north. An alternative route is to take the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski lift to the top of Rendezvous Mountain and descend 3 mi (4.8 km) down the Rendezvous Mountain Trail to junction with the Granite Canyon Trail, a distance of 12 mi (19 km) and mostly downhill. There are three different camping zones in the canyon which are available by permit.

The Rendezvous Mountain Trail is a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Most often used to descend from the top of Rendezvous Mountain after riding the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski lift to the top of the peak, the trail descends 4.8 mi (7.7 km) to junction with the Granite Canyon Trail adjacent to the Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garnet Canyon Trail</span>

The Garnet Canyon Trail is a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trailhead is at the Lupine Meadows parking area and climbs steeply more than 2,500 feet (760 m) in just under 5 miles (8.0 km) into Garnet Canyon. At the 2-mile (3.2 km) point, the trail forks from the Amphitheater Lake Trail and heads south and then west into Garnet Canyon. Garnet Canyon is the most popular approach route for climbers attempting to summit not only Grand Teton but also Middle Teton, South Teton, Teepe Pillar and Disappointment Peak. Though the trail becomes unmaintained once it enters boulder fields at approximately the 9,500-foot (2,900 m) elevation point, climbers continue on to other destinations such as the Lower Saddle, a high altitude mountain pass situated between Middle and Grand Teton. The altitude gain from the Lupine Meadows trailhead to the Lower Saddle is nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cascade Canyon Trail</span> Hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The Cascade Canyon Trail is a 13.6-mile (21.9 km) round-trip long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

The following articles relate to the history, geography, geology, flora, fauna, structures and recreation in Grand Teton National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl Peak</span> Mountain in the state of Wyoming

Owl Peak is in the northern Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming and is just east of Elk Mountain. The peak is located west of and across Jackson Lake from Lizard Creek Campground. Access to the peak is easiest by boat to the Berry Creek Trailhead at Wilcox Point then heading west at the Owl Creek Trail. After a 2 miles (3.2 km) hike along Berry Creek and Owl Creek trails, off trail access to the summit can be achieved after a steep ascent of an additional 2 miles (3.2 km). North of the mountain, the Tetons blend into the Yellowstone Plateau while to the south lies Webb Canyon.

References

  1. "Granite Canyon". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  2. Teton Village, WY (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  3. "Park Geology". Geology Fieldnotes. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  4. "Day Hikes" (pdf). National Park Service. March 2010. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  5. "Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. May 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-21.