Yesterday I took our dogs for a stroll in the Atherton Creek Campground (now closed for the winter) and thought about how much this group might enjoy this terrific place! If you’re coming towards Jackson Hole, Grand Teton & Yellowstone NP consider Atherton Creek.
Atherton Creek is a US Forest Svc campground, recently revitalized and greatly improved. It is a hosted campground with a nightly fee ($12 I think), so it isn’t pure boondocking, except there are no hookups. And there are no services within 20 or 25 miles. Water is available from spigots in several places, but I don’t know you could fill up a RV tank.
This is one of the nicest Forest Svc campgrounds you’ll find! Located close to Grand Teton National Park, directly on the shore of Slide Lake, it has a new boat ramp, pit toilets, new gravel roads, new picnic tables, fire pits and wide, spacious camping pads! I think big rigs would be A-ok here although the Forest Svc web site says maybe not. That’s because they’ve not updated the web site since they did all the improvements. Go figure! Anyway, I've seen some BIG motor homes towing stuff in there.
Boating, fishing, wind surfing, kayaking and canoeing on the lake is great, but this isn’t a large cruising lake, like Jackson Lake. The views all around are wild and fantastic, including the beautiful ranch on the south shore. Most every pad has a view of the lake. All along the almost 40 mile length of the Gros Ventre River Road you’ll find fantastic hiking. biking & OHV riding.
The rest of the good news is during the summer Atherton Creek is very seldom full. Maybe on holidays, but that’s about it. Most times when I pass by it isn’t a third full. Occasionaly no one but the host is there! It is a few miles east of Grand Teton National Park up the Gros Ventre River, which I think is the most beautiful place in all of Jackson Hole – including the Tetons themselves.
In Google Earth search: Campground: Atherton Creek, WY
If you’d like more info on boondocking in and around Jackson Hole I’d be happy to help!
We were in the area last May and drove up to slide lake but did a u-turn at the overlook---ARRRRGGGG --- I didn't realize how close we were to the campground or we would likely have moved from Gros Ventre Camp.
We are already planning a return trip, we will include this as a possible spot - Thanks!
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Vernon, Sarah, Mac the Border Collie and- 'Epiphany' the 29' Airstream
Nothing wrong with the Gros Ventre Campground, which is in Grand Teton Nat’l. Park. However, it does have 300 camping pads. In June and September it isn’t crowded, but the weather can be an issue any place in JH at those times! It is also close to the town of Jackson and of course the attractions within the Park. Teton County is the richest County in the USA based upon per cap income. Thus, there are great restaurants and shops. Expensive, but great!
For a real boondocking experience in Jackson Hole right next to the Park see my post of 2/28/08 about Shadow Mountain. There are countless of other ture boondocking opportunities in Jackson Hole. You have to know where to look and not be concerned about bears, etc..
Further back the Gros Ventre Rd you'll find the Chrystal Creek and the Red Hills Campgrounds. Very nice, but sandwiched between the road and the river. Also, a longer drive back to Grand Teton and Jackson. There are some nice boondocking sites just east of these two.
By the way – coming to Jackson Hole and want to sound like you know what you’re talkin' about? Gros Ventre is pronounced “Grow Vaunt”. Heaven only knows why?!
By the way – coming to Jackson Hole and want to sound like you know what you’re talkin' about? Gros Ventre is pronounced “Grow Vaunt”. Heaven only knows why?!
Because it is French. The words mean "big belly"
Bill
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Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
Was the namer the same old Canuck trapper who coined "Gran Teton"? I assume a translation of the french is not necessary in this case.
Possibily, but Gros Ventre is also the name of a local indian tribe. Could have been the same French trapper who named many places in the Rocky Mountains.
Bill
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Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
Mostly to see if I can actually post a photo...Here's one taken east of Atherton Creek looking west to the Teton Range and Grand Teton Natl. Park. Note Slide Lake where the campground is. Everything to the left side is the Gros Ventre Wilderness. To the right the Mt. Leidy Highlands, a wild and rugged place.
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the info! We're planning a trip to GTNP with the Airstream next September...as long as the gas prices stay low. If not, we'll be out there sans Airstream.
We were planning on just staying inside the park as most of the hiking trails we're familar with originate in the park, but you've opened my eyes to another possibility.
Thanks again, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Operation "Save Rudy" Strike Team (honorary member)
After camping in Yellowstone this past Memorial day holiday, we then visited GTNP and then a week at Goosewing Ranch (http://www.goosewingranch.com/) which is just a bit up river from Atherton Creek. In fact, we drove right past the campground with our Airstream!
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