One of the most beautiful and popular trails in Grand Teton National Park is becoming over-loved and over-used. As a result, the Taggart Lake Trail has experienced crowding, vegetation loss, a packed parking lot, and insufficient facilities.
The trail is used year-round, including winter for snowshoeing and skiing. Summer time usage has increased 100% in the last 10 years, according to the National Park Service. The parking lot is often full, no matter what time of the year.
Now, the NPS is asking for feedback on how to improve the situation, with a public comment period running until Nov. 21, 2024. Proposals include building a larger parking lot, creating switchbacks to ease erosion along the trail, constructing a backcountry toilet, and making specific viewing areas along the lake shoreline.
“We are asking people from near and far to weigh in on how we can continue to preserve the park and provide opportunities for high-quality experiences in the Taggart Lake area,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.
