The earliest memory I have of a National Park is the Grand Tetons. I was young enough that my father liked to carry me around on his shoulders. I tried to hike up a trail with my family, but I couldn’t make it. My father swept me up to his shoulders and we continued the climb. When we got down to the lake, I felt the need to keep up. As a result, I tried to jump to a rock off the shore that everyone else was stepping to. Sure enough, I fell in without knowing how to swim. In an instant I was lifted out and swept up to my father’s shoulders. I can still remember the coldness of the water and the freshness of the air. But most of all, I remember fondness of riding around on my father’s shoulders.
Sincerely,
Grand Teton National Park
This spectacular destination preserves a dramatic stretch of the Teton Range bordering the Snake River. One of the unusual features of these distinctive mountains is the absence of foothills, meaning that there are no smaller mountains blocking the view. The park also features glacier-carved lakes, a historic district of weathered buildings made by 19th century Mormon homesteaders, and an abundance of wildlife large and small, including nearly 1,000 bison that roam the grassy fields in herds.
State(s): Wyoming
Established: 1929
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