President’s Day weekend means free entry to Grand Teton National Park. Entrance fees will be waived from Saturday, February 15 through Monday, February 17 at more than 400 units across the National Park System. This will also be a perfect weekend to experience and enjoy the winter wonderland of northwestern Wyoming and snap photos of the snow-clad Teton Range, especially with the predicted storm cycle that is forecasted to bring significant new snow through Tuesday, February 11. Entry fees for a private, non-commercial vehicle to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks normally costs $25 for seven days.

Weekend visitors to Grand Teton can take pleasure in winter activities from auto-touring, wildlife viewing and scenic photography to cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing across the snow-covered landscape. A popular winter trail—that spans 15 miles of the unplowed Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain Lodge—is open, and machine groomed at least once a week, generally on Saturday mornings.

In addition to skiing, photography and wildlife watching, ranger-led snowshoe hikes take place each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday day at 1:30 p.m. from the Taggart Lake parking area. The two-hour guided walks offer an opportunity to learn about snow science and winter ecology. Previous experience is not necessary, and snowshoes are available for a rental fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children, 8 years or older. Reservations are required and can be made at 307.739.3399.

For complete information about winter activities in Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, go to http://www.nps.gov/grte/parknews/upload/Winter_Guide_14.pdf. Visitors can obtain winter season information about Grand Teton and the JDR Parkway in the following ways: The park’s website at www.nps.gov/grte; the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center on North Cache Street in Jackson; and an information line at 307.739.3399, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday.

In addition to waiving entrance fees during this upcoming holiday, Grand Teton will also offer free admission on five other days throughout 2014. The additional fee-free dates for the calendar year include:

• April 19-20 (National Park Week opening weekend)

• August 25 (National Park Service’s 98th anniversary)

• September 27 (National Public Lands Day)

• November 11 (Veterans Day)

This article was posted on the Teton Valley News Website on 2/10/14.