Flora

The flora of the Bridger-Teton, which includes over 1000 species of plants, are complex due to the orientation of the mountain ranges that run north-south creating a barrier to the prevailing westerly air flow; hence, low rainfall along the eastern flanks. Their micro-climates form conditions for three major vegetation groups. In the drier Great Basin zone of the southern and southwest portion of the forest you will find mountain mahogany, big sage brush, saltbrush, bitterbrush, and aspen; in the moister Southern Rocky Mountain zone of the central portion of the Forest look for blue spruce, limber pine, saltbrush, big sagebrush, and rabbit brush; and in the Northern Rocky Mountain zone in the northern end of the Forest look for Whitebark, common juniper, menziesia, pine grass, and hair grass. other common woody species of the area include lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, douglas fir, and Englemann spruce in the montane areas and cottonwood, willow, adler, and dogwood in the riparian areas.

Primary wildflower months are June and July in the Jackson area and one to two months earlier in the southern end of the Forest. The Forest can be alive with a hundreds of species displaying various hues of yellows, blues, reds, and whites during flowering. Species commonly seen in the grasslands and sage areas are many asters such as goldenrod, various lupines, larkspur, sand lily, locoweed, buckwheat, Indian paint brush, scarlet gilia and evening primrose. Moving into the forested lands you will see columbines, pinedrops, Rocky Mountain lilies, heart-leafed arnica, spring beauty and fairy slipper orchids. In the marshes and wet meadows you will find elephanthead, glacier lilies, marsh marigolds, and various species of monkey flower. Mountain meadows offer shooting stars, figworts, fireweed, wild sweet William, wild geraniums, bitterroot, mule's ears, and mountain blue bells.

Wildlife

Due to the variable micro-climates, a multitude of habitats are present on the Bridger-Teton, supporting one of the richest fauna of the National Forest system. The Forest is home to all big game species found in the intermountain west including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn antelope, and black bear. Other wildlife species include grizzly bear (threatened), North American lynx, wolverine, fisher, pine martin, Kendall Warm Springs dace(endangered), and native populations of Colorado Rover, Snake River fine spotted, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.

Birds and Birding

Included in that fauna are 355 species of birds. Of those, 320 species are considered to be inhabitants of western Wyoming. Of the 320 species, 81 are considered year around residents, 157 summer residents, 68 occurring during summer and fall migrations, and 14 winter residents. The remaining 35 species, whose normal range does not include western Wyoming, have been observed as accidental occurrences.

Three federally classified endangered bird species: Balk Eagle, American Peregrine Falcon, and Whooping Crane inhabit the Forest. Boreal Owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Goshawk, and three-toed woodpecker, Forest Service Intermountain Region sensitive bird species, can also be found in forested area with concentrations in the Grey River Drainage. Harlequin Duck, Common Loon, and Trumpeter Swan are other Forest Service sensitive species found on the Forest. The Harlequin Duck is rare and has been observed in the Gros Ventre drainage and on Fremont Lake. The Common Loon, also rare, is sometimes seen on the large lakes during migrations.

From the special management species, it is apparent in the Forest is a raptor haven. In addition to the 5 raptors listed, another 25 can be seen, including Osprey, Golden Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Great Horned owl, and Snowy owl. On a good fall day, it is not unusual to see over 50 perched Red-tailed hawks.

Waterfowl are plentiful as well. Due to its rarity and magnificence, the species generating the most interest is the Trumpeter Swan, which can be viewed at several of the larger lakes without recreation development, such as Upper Slide Lake in the Gros Ventre drainage, Mosquito Lake on the Union Pass Road, Lily Lake on Forest road 024, and Enos Lakes in the Teton Wilderness. Other water fowl of note include the Tundra Swan, Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, Barrows Goldeneye, and Harlequin Duck.

Sandhill Cranes, and Blue, Sage, and Ruffed Grouse, are common on the Forest. The best chance to see Sandhill Cranes are in the broad valleys by driving the Green River and Gros Ventre roads. Whooping Cranes have been observed along the Green River north of Dollar Lake and the Beaver Creak area west of Daniel. Blue and Ruffed Grouse are found in most all forested areas with especially hot spots being Munger Mountain accessed by a Forest trail about three miles up the Fall Creek road detailed later in the article. A good place to view Sage Grouse is north of Jackson in the sage covered valley bottoms adjacent to the Forest in Grand Teton National Park close to Jackson Airport. The highest concentration of leks can be seen through a tour run by Grand Teton National Park.

Excellent birding is found along Fall Creek Road, which is partially on the National Forest and goes through a multitude of habitats from river bottoms to montane forest. During breeding season (June-July), it is not uncommon to see or hear more than 60 bird species. To get to the Fall Creek Road, travel south out of Jackson US 26 about 15 miles to the Fall Creek turn-off. The road precedes the Fall Creek Road/Wilson road sign which is slightly more than a mile past Astoria Hot Springs. The road is approximately 18 miles and dirt most of the way, but not heavily traveled and has many turnouts. The road ends at highway 22 in Wilson, which is eight miles west of Jackson. Look sharp on your trip to Fall Creek Road and Back to Jackson and you will most likely see Balk Eagles, Osprey, and Black-billed Magpies.

About .4 miles from the sign one should stop to check the marshy are from Common Snipe, Sora, Warblers (Yellow, Yellowthroat, and MacGilliways). Calliope and Broad tailed Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Red-tailed hawks.

As the road climbs and opens up it passes marshy areas with extensive willows. Here you will normally see Dusky Flycatchers, Spotted Sandpipers, Common Snipe, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, Sage Wrens, and sometimes Northern Harrier.

Prichard Pass, 6000' - about mile 2.5, the forested area supports House Wrens, Chirping Sparrows, Hammond's Flycatcher, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-naped and Williamson's Sapsuckers also may be seen.

The flood plains near Red Top Meadows at mile 7 are great for Willow Flycatcher, Hummers (Rufous, Calliope, and Broad-tailed), Brewer's Blackbird, and Swallows (Barn, Violet-green, Tree, and Bank). In the rocks to the south are Clark's Nutcracker and Rock Wrens.

Around Butler Creek, mile 8.5, on the sage butte is an excellent place to study Geen-tailed Towhee.

After crossing a small rise at mile 14, a panoramic view of the Snake River and Gros Ventre and Teton Mountains provides and opportunity to see Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawks, Balk Eagles, Osprey, and even American White Pelicans.

Another fine excursion is along the Gros Ventre Road leading the Gros Ventre Slide Geologic Area, the site of a massive landslide in 1925 which created Lower Slide Lake. To get to the Gros Ventre Road, head north out of Jackson on US 26 about 8 miles and turn right just past the Kelly sign at the Gros Ventre Junction. Proceed past Kelly about a mile and turn east on the Gros Ventre Road. There are numerous turnouts along the Gros Ventre River and at Upper and Lower Slide Lakes. A trumpeter Swan overlook is located at Upper Slide Lake about 20 miles up the road. There is active nesting by Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Trumpeter Swans along the route. Other species which may be encountered include: Sage Grouse, Sandhill Crane, Vesper Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruffed Grouse, Western Tanager, Red-tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Osprey, and waterfowl.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking (~3000 miles of backcountry trails), skiing (two alpine areas, helicopter, two nordic centers, and 41 miles of marked cross-country trails), snowmobiling (220 miles of groomed trails), river rafting, canoeing, motor boating, wind surfing, mountaineering, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing.

Points of Interest Nearby

Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks; the National Elk Refuge, where thousands of elk can be viewed in the winter from turnouts along Highway 26 north of Jackson and from sleigh rides at the Refuge-Visitor Center; Sixty miles south of Jackson, crossing Afton's main street is the world's largest (75 feet) elkhorn arch. Periodic Spring, east of Afton is the largest of only three natural cold water geysers in the world. a pristine, well marked segment of the Lander Cutoff - the first federally funded road project west of the Mississippi - of the Oregon-California Trail crosses the Forest from around Big Piney to Afton. Several significant features such as original trail ruts, road beds, grave markers, aspen carvings are located along the Cutoff. Fremont, Half Moon, New Forks, and several of other large lakes along the southwestern flank of the Wind River Mountain Range provide outstanding examples of topography left by the Pleistocene glaciation.

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