Impact to Wildlife


Both South Bowl and Mono Trees are home to an abundance of wildlife.

Bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer, bears, and mountain lions are just a few of the species whose habitat is threatened by Grand Targhee’s proposed expansion. Some, like grizzly bears and lynx, are listed as threatened  or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Others, such as bighorn sheep and boreal owl are considered “sensitive species” by the Forest Service

Both Mono Trees and South Bowl are currently closed in the winter to motor vehicles to protect wintering wildlife (as well as wilderness values and cross-country skiing opportunities), and the Mono Trees area borders forest land that is closed to all human visitors in winter for the purposes of wildlife conservation. 

If Grand Targhee expands into South Bowl and Monot Trees, wildlife will be negatively impacted.


Impact to Wildlife


Both South Bowl and Mono Trees are home to an abundance of wildlife.

Bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer, bears, and mountain lions are just a few of the species whose habitat is threatened by Grand Targhee’s proposed expansion. Some, like grizzly bears and lynx, are listed as threatened  or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Others, such as bighorn sheep and boreal owl are considered “sensitive species” by the Forest Service

Both Mono Trees and South Bowl are currently closed in the winter to motor vehicles to protect wintering wildlife (as well as wilderness values and cross-country skiing opportunities), and the Mono Trees area borders forest land that is closed to all human visitors in winter for the purposes of wildlife conservation. 

If Grand Targhee expands into South Bowl and Monot Trees, wildlife will be negatively impacted.


Impact to Wilderness &
Grand Teton National Park


The Tetons are an iconic mountain range, and a treasure for all Americans to enjoy.

The impacts of Grand Targhee’s proposed expansion  would extend well beyond the ski area boundary, affecting the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and Grand Teton National Park. 

New chairlifts, roads, and buildings would be visible from the Park and the Wilderness, visitor use patterns will change, nighttime activities will affect dark skies, and wildlife who travel across boundaries will be affected. 

Impact to Wilderness &
Grand Teton National Park


The Tetons are an iconic mountain range, and a treasure for all Americans to enjoy.

The impacts of Grand Targhee’s proposed expansion  would extend well beyond the ski area boundary, affecting the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and Grand Teton National Park. 

New chairlifts, roads, and buildings would be visible from the Park and the Wilderness, visitor use patterns will change, nighttime activities will affect dark skies, and wildlife who travel across boundaries will be affected. 

Impact to Communities


How the growth of a ski resort can influence it's neighbors

Grand Targhee Ski Resort hugs the western edge of Wyoming, bordering Idaho. This puts the resort in a peculiar location, as it is only accessible by first driving through Teton County, Idaho.

Teton County, Idaho, does not receive property tax, sales tax, real estate transfer fees, inclusionary zoning fees, or other sources of revenue from Grand Targhee’s operations. 

The County does, however, incur the financial burden of increased traffic, people, and strain on municipal resources such as water quality, waste management, emergency services, and transportation.

After passing through Idaho, all resort traffic funnels through Alta, Wyoming on a  two-lane country road. Increasing traffic already has negative impacts, such as people speed through the school zone and increased roadkill throughout the community. 

Impact to Communities


How the growth of a ski resort can influence it's neighbors

Grand Targhee Ski Resort hugs the western edge of Wyoming, bordering Idaho. This puts the resort in a peculiar location, as it is only accessible by first driving through Teton County, Idaho.

Teton County, Idaho, does not receive property tax, sales tax, real estate transfer fees, inclusionary zoning fees, or other sources of revenue from Grand Targhee’s operations. 

The County does, however, incur the financial burden of increased traffic, people, and strain on municipal resources such as water quality, waste management, emergency services, and transportation.

After passing through Idaho, all resort traffic funnels through Alta, Wyoming on a  two-lane country road. Increasing traffic already has negative impacts, such as people speed through the school zone and increased roadkill throughout the community. 

Impact to Skiing


Teton Canyon is one of most beautiful places to backcountry ski.

Magnificent views of the Tetons, Table, Battleship, Fossil, Treasure and Bannon Mountains await to be the backdrop for a day of  backcountry skiing in South Bowl. Silence and solitude greet you.

The decisions made here are your own. They are made with the knowledge you learn in avalanche courses, studying maps and former experiences in the backcountry.

The unpredictability of the mountains sits in the back of your head. Knowing the inherent risk of this unpredictability humbles you because if something does go wrong it will take hours before help arrives.

Teton Canyon is a wild landscape and it should remain that way.

Impact to Skiing


Teton Canyon is one of most beautiful places to backcountry ski.

Magnificent views of the Tetons, Table, Battleship, Fossil, Treasure and Bannon Mountains await to be the backdrop for a day of  backcountry skiing in South Bowl. Silence and solitude greet you.

The decisions made here are your own. They are made with the knowledge you learn in avalanche courses, studying maps and former experiences in the backcountry.

The unpredictability of the mountains sits in the back of your head. Knowing the inherent risk of this unpredictability humbles you because if something does go wrong it will take hours before help arrives.

Teton Canyon is a wild landscape and it should remain that way.


Take Action


Send in a comment letter to the Forest Service, share information on social media, write the local papers, put up a yard sign, and attend meetings. These are all things that you can do to help keep Targhee as the small-town resort we know and love.