Grand Teton Wildlife, Visitor Experience Threatened by Proposed Changes to Moose-Wilson Corridor

JACKSON, WY – Grand Teton National Park recently released a draft Programmatic Agreement that details proposed changes to long-finalized Record of Decision for the Moose-Wilson Road Project, including allowing for the construction of a multiuse pathway and other development that was previously prohibited.

The draft Programmatic Agreement was developed pursuant to the 2025 Executive Order, “Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks,” which calls for sweeping reevaluation of prior National Park Service actions and opens the door to unnecessary and wasteful reconsideration of already-decided projects, including the Moose-Wilson Road Corridor Comprehensive Management Plan.

The Moose-Wilson Corridor, which encompasses dense forest and pristine riparian areas in the southwest corner of Grand Teton National Park, is an area of exceptional wildlife habitat, and the 7.7-mile road within the corridor provides some of the best wildlife viewing within the park and, arguably, in the nation. Thirteen years ago, Grand Teton National Park undertook a multi-year management planning and comprehensive environmental review process to evaluate prospective improvements to the roadway within the Moose-Wilson Corridor. The final plan released in 2016 allowed for the maintenance and improvement of the existing roadway but prohibited any further proliferation of additional pathways or bypasses, and was chosen after a lengthy analysis that included robust scientific and environmental review together with substantial community input.

Statement by Allison Michalski, Grand Teton Senior Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association

“Given the comprehensive environmental, scientific, and community inputs that lead to a plan finalized a decade ago, National Parks Conservation Association is deeply disappointed by this fast-moving proposal that would forever change this fragile landscape.

"The proposed changes identify development that would disrupt the visitor experience and fragment this fragile habitat. Reevaluating the selected action without a transparent or science-based process denies citizens their rightful opportunity to assess and comment on visitor use, recreational access, cultural and natural resources, traffic, and ways to best protect the world-class wildlife found in Grand Teton National Park. These proposed changes are not aligned with the National Park Service’s mission of preservation.

"NPCA opposes the reopening of this record without additional study and opportunity for public participation. We urge the National Park Service to conduct additional scientific review and provide more opportunities for meaningful public comment on the certain impacts to the Moose-Wilson Corridor and this irreplaceable national park.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan, National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.