Grand Teton Mountain Range

Grand Teton National Park was established by Congress in 1929. It encompasses about 310,000 acres of wilderness and contains nearly 200 miles of hiking trails.


The mountains were named by a French trapper who called them tétons (French slang for "breasts"). They consist of a series of peaks created by a combination of geologic forces spanning millions of years. Tectonic shifts, earthquakes, volcanic activity, glaciers, and erosion have all contributed to the appearance of the peaks seen today.

Part of the uniqueness of the Teton mountain range derives from the fact there are no foothills. The mountains extend sharply upward from a lake-covered base and rise rapidly to their peaks, some reaching more than 13,000 feet high. The result is a picturesque scene in which large blue lakes reflect the tall mountain peaks.