Winter Camp at Colter Bay Campground
Moran, Wyoming
Description
Added by Eric Bennett
Enjoy a beautiful view of the Tetons at sunrise with opportunities for snowmobiling and ice fishing. In the winter, there's no camping fee.
Just a 45 min drive from Jackson Hole, the Colter Bay Campground on Jackson Lake is a great spot to camp overnight, fish and canoe in the spring and summer time when the ice has melted. This is an ideal location to shoot some star photos and catch a beautiful sunrise in the morning.
The best thing about the Grand Tetons is that you will for sure see tons of wildlife like moose, foxes, rams, goats, and bald eagles. I'm definitely camping here at least one night every trip to the Tetons.
For fees and booking, you can check out the Colter Bay Campground here. In the winter, fees and specific campsites are more relaxed. People also come here to ice fish and snowmobile across the frozen lake.
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Reviews
The picture in this article is very misleading. Camping is not allowed on the beach as the picture shows. It is limited to the parking lot only. I found that out this week after I had setup my tent in the snow on the beach. After sunset a couple rangers came by and kicked me out. At the parking lot by the visitor center, the heated restroom is about the only good thing it has. There is no view of the lake, the Tetons, or the stars, and there are no fire rings or picnic tables. I ended up sleeping in my car.
2.0
I just spent a few nights up at Colter Bay in early January. It is definitely warmer on clouded nights. The last night it dipped to 15 below with clear skies. There is a little pay box at the visitor center at the very western end of the parking lot. Even with 6' snow drifts the lot was cleared and the bathrooms were open. I recommend not lingering long after sunrise because the Rangers kick on the two large diesel generators at sunrise which makes the experience less peaceful. The road is open all the way up to Flagg Ranch from Colter Bay. We had to wait out a few road closures for visibility. All and all it was one of the most magical trips I have taken!
5.0
Grand Teton can be a vastly different park depending on the season and Colter Bay is no different. While in the summer there is a developed campground with 5 miles worth of loops of sites and 5 more miles of RV sites and all kinds of development-in the winter there is only a small strip of road that is plowed near the lake for camping. It is actually the only place you are allowed to camp in the winter in the park. Please don't camp here on the beach over the summer, or you will walk away with a fat federal ticket. It should be noted that the fee to camp here is technically $5.00, although after coming here many times over the winter and searching for a box to deposit the money, I never located it. However, it is probably the most scenic place I have ever camped and there are plenty of recreational activities that you can do right from here. Bundle up for cold temperatures and you are all set! Enjoy!
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