LOCAL
Aspens popping on April 1, 2026 (#nojoke )
Photo by Jenny Cashen
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April begins wet and cool—a welcome break after the relatively hot, dry March that we experienced. Locals are reflecting on this unusual winter, wondering whether it signals a trend or just an off year. Compared to many areas out west, we received more snow and moisture this winter, yet our mountains remain too dry. Check out this article: Wyoming faces grimmest snowpack in recorded history. Melting snow is keeping the meadows green and thriving, and fortunately, fresh snow continues to fall in the mountains as April begins. Here’s to a much-needed cool and wet spring!
The valley is turning green earlier than usual, thanks to recent warm temperatures. I don’t recall daffodils in March, and they did bloom in sunny spots. We’ve even spotted a few aspen leaves beginning to pop! Usually, it is mid-May for aspens and cottonwoods, the two predominant deciduous trees.
The green grass and melting snow have wildlife on the move. Be especially careful driving at night, as bears are active and emerging from their dens. Bear jams may even start a bit earlier than usual this year.
Learn more:
March update for wildlife whereabouts shared by the Grand Teton Park Association
April is a quiet month, so enjoy the slower pace before the summer frenzy begins. It’s a fun time to soak in hot water with a visit to Astoria Hot Springs. The Museum of Wildlife Art is also a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Happy Trails,
Cathy Shill
Founder, The Hole Hiking Experience
REGIONAL
A real male sage grouse showing off his elaborate courtship strut.
The Majestic Courtship of Sage Grouse:
Protecting a Jackson Hole Lek
Spring is mating season for birds, and the strut of the male sage grouse is one of the most ornate dances one can witness. It happens at dawn as the males fan their spiky tails and puff up their chests to expose yellow air sacs. It is quite an elaborate courtship. Sage grouse populations have declined throughout the West due to habitat loss and drought. A favored lek is at our Jackson Hole Airport, threatening the safety of the birds as they perform their mating ritual. To lure the males away, the Jackson community has improved native vegetation and built decoys. The hope is to create a new lek safely away from planes. It’s a collaboration between Grand Teton National Park, the JH Airport, and the Teton Raptor Center. Wyoming has the most stable populations of sage grouse, so kudos to local efforts to preserve these majestic birds.
Learn more:
Robotic sage grouse looking for love, specifically hens from Jackson Hole Airport
SPIRIT
“Happiness is not a matter of how your outer life appears to someone else. Happiness is a state of consciousness.”
— Harold Klemp
Nature Awaits You!
Backcountry Tips
- Be cautious with adventures. Temperatures have made the snow rotten in most places, and new snow just covers bare spots and rocks. It looks like early access to trails, so let them dry first to reduce impact.
- With elk spread throughout the valley, it will be a fun spring to keep an eye out for shed antlers. Bull elk lose their antlers in March and April.
Field Facts
- Birds are returning! Enjoy the song of the meadowlark, the flash of the bluebird, and the call of the flicker. Bald eagles are back on their nests—dynamic times!
- Where are the elk? The Gros Ventre herd seems almost nonexistent this year. Usually, 3,000 elk winter on the gray hills above the Gros Ventre River. The consensus points to impacts from weather and wolves. Hmmmm…
Cathy Shill: The Visionary Behind The Hole Hiking Experience
Cathy is a celebrated leader in connecting people with the natural world. In 1989, she founded The Hole Hiking Experience in Jackson, Wyoming, and has since inspired thousands of visitors each year. Her trips are fun, engaging, and full of lively interpretation, giving clients the chance to connect with natural processes, observe wildlife, and discover the deep, innate connections we share with nature.
Tour Suggestions
April is the perfect month to enjoy the park roads before vehicle traffic picks up. Grand Teton roads are now plowed, so you can bike, rollerblade, or walk on the inner park road between Taggart and Signal Mountain without worrying about cars—a fun spring activity for sure!
Trails are still mostly muddy and icy, so don’t forget to reduce your impact and minimize disturbance to wildlife. Wildlife closures continue until May 1. It’s a great time to explore bike paths, and we have endless options. Enjoy the quiet of the season and the changing landscape!
