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John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway is a scenic road and protected area that connects Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is federally owned and managed by the National Park Service by Grand Teton National Park. It is named in remembrance of John D. Rockefeller Jr., a conservationist and philanthropist who was instrumental in the creation and enlargement of numerous national parks including Grand Teton, Virgin Islands, Acadia and the Great Smoky Mountains. This parkway carries U.S. Route 89, U.S. Route 191, and U.S. Route 287Add John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway to your Grand Teton National Park travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Grand Teton National Park online driving holiday planner.
Created in 1972 through the authorization of the United States Congress, and consisting of 24,000 acres (9,700 ha), it also borders National Forest lands and is an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Caribou-Targhee National Forest borders the parkway on the west and Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Teton Wilderness forms the eastern border.
The land was originally part of Teton National Forest and was transferred to the National Park Service from the United States Forest Service to assure an unbroken connection between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The parkway road itself extends from the northern end of Grand Teton National Park, through the parkway lands, and then on to West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, a distance of 27 miles (43 km).
The parkway is a transitional zone in terms of geology with ancient lava beds being found in the north and the granitic rocks of the Teton Range in the south. The Snake River flows through the parkway as it heads south to Jackson Lake and is considered a prime trout fly fishing area. In Grand Teton and Yellowstone, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer can be found there. The Yellowstone fires of 1988 affected the northern sections of the parkway consuming 4,000 acres (1,600 ha)). As of 2005, the forest had begun to be rejuvenated and wildlife habitat had actually increased due to better mix of meadow and forest lands. A major relocation project for the Flagg Ranch concession operation (consisting of a lodge, gas station, camp store, cabins and a campground) from along the Snake River to a point higher up and less visible from the road was completed in 2002. Rafting is a popular activity during the summer and guided snowmobile tours use the parkway as a starting point for trips into Yellowstone during the winter.
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John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway reviews
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This is a pretty drive from Yellowstone down to the Grand Tetons. Hit there when the fall colors were popping. Loved it.
This is a pretty drive from Yellowstone down to the Grand Tetons. Hit there when the fall colors were popping. Loved it. more »
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This was a lovely stretch of road from Yellowstone to Tetons with many opportunities to see valleys and the majectic mountains. This land was donated to the park by Rockefellar. He contributed...
This was a lovely stretch of road from Yellowstone to Tetons with many opportunities to see valleys and the majectic mountains. This land was donated to the park by Rockefellar. He contributed... more »
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Beautiful
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Nice area between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. There are public/free campgrounds along Grassy Lakes Road which I would bet is super busy in the summer time. But free with some nice views along the snake river. It’s near Headwaters Lodge & Cabins which also has a gas station if you are in need.
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