Grand Teton National Park · Moose-Wilson Road · Phelps Lake trails
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Quiet trails through forest and meadow to Phelps Lake, on the old JY Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. Cars only: the road is closed to RVs and trailers.
Opens the National Park Service’s preserve planning page. The Grand Teton entrance fee applies, and the Moose-Wilson Road closes to cars on November 1.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Nature preserve
In Grand Teton National Park
Admission
$35 per vehicle
Grand Teton 7-day pass · park passes accepted
Hours
Open 24 hours
Road closed to cars Nov 1–mid-May · center open June–Sept
Time needed
1.5–5 hours
Short loop to the Phelps Lake Loop (NPS)
Parking
No RVs
Road closed to vehicles over 23.3 ft and trailers
Acres
1,106
Final JY Ranch land given to the park in 2007
What you’ll see
Forest trails to Phelps Lake
Three loop trails start at the Preserve Center, from an easy creekside walk to a full loop around Phelps Lake below Death Canyon.
Photo: Grand Teton National Park (NPS) on Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Start here
Hike the Phelps Lake Loop
The Phelps Lake Loop is a moderate hike of about 6.3 miles that takes 3 to 5 hours, with bridge crossings, roots and rocks along the way. If you want something shorter, the Lake Creek–Woodland Trail Loop is about 3 miles with roughly 300 feet of climbing and takes about an hour and a half.
RV tip: The lot holds only about 50 cars and is often full in summer from early morning to late afternoon. Arrive early or late, or carpool, and leave the RV at camp.
More to see
- Preserve CenterA LEED Platinum building dedicated in 2008, with sound, touch and video exhibits and a soundscape room. It was open daily June 1 to September 20 in 2026.
- Aspen Ridge–Boulder Ridge LoopA moderate 5.8-mile loop with about 550 feet of climbing through aspen and boulder fields.
- Ranger-led hikesIn summer, rangers lead daily hikes to Phelps Lake from the Preserve Center.
- WildlifeMoose, deer and both black and grizzly bears live here. Stay 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife.
Why go
Why the preserve belongs on your Grand Teton trip
The preserve was once the JY Ranch, opened in 1906 as Jackson Hole’s first dude ranch. John D. Rockefeller Jr. bought it in 1932, and his son Laurance gave the last 1,106 acres to Grand Teton National Park in 2007.
It’s reached on the Moose-Wilson Road, which is closed to RVs, trailers and any vehicle over 23.3 feet long, and to vehicles wider than 8 feet. About 1.5 miles of the road are unpaved. Bring the tow car, and expect to pay the Grand Teton entrance fee.
The road closes to vehicles on November 1 and reopens around mid-May, so plan this one for late spring through October. Early mornings are calmer, and the small lot fills fast in summer.
Photo: Eoghanacht on Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Why it made our list
- Quiet trails to Phelps Lake
- Moose and other wildlife
- Tripadvisor rating of 4.8
- Sensory Preserve Center
- Good for a tow-car day
For RVers
Visiting the preserve with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Tow car only
The Moose-Wilson Road is closed to RVs and trailers and to vehicles over 280 inches (23.3 feet) long. Unhook at camp and drive in with the car.
Check your width
Park Service pages also bar vehicles wider than 8 feet. Some dually pickups and wide tow vehicles won’t qualify, so check before you go.
Arrive early
The lot holds about 50 cars and fills from early morning to late afternoon in summer. When it’s full, a line forms; carpooling or arriving late in the day helps.
Leave pets at camp
Pets aren’t allowed on any of the preserve’s trails. The road also closes to vehicles from November 1 until about mid-May.
What visitors say about the Rockefeller Preserve
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 30, 2026.
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Tripadvisor’s review mentions
Phelps LakeGreat hikeWildflowersForest
Themes come from the popular mentions Tripadvisor shows on the preserve’s page (for example “phelps lake” and “wildflowers”). Tripadvisor doesn’t show counts for them.
Trail loops (miles)
Distances from Park Service trail pages, checked October 30, 2026. NPS pages list the Phelps Lake Loop as 6.3 or 6.4 miles.
Good to know
Entry$35 per vehicle, Grand Teton 7-day pass
Annual pass$80 America the Beautiful, U.S. residents
Vehicle limit23.3 ft no RVs, no trailers, 8 ft wide max
Road seasonMid-May to Oct 31; closed from Nov 1
Fees, vehicle limits and trail details come from nps.gov, checked October 30, 2026. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 each unless they hold an annual pass.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
- AddressMoose-Wilson Rd, Moose, WY 83012
- HoursOpen 24 hours
Road closed to cars Nov 1–mid-May · center open June–Sept - Phone(307) 739-3399
- Entrance fee$35 per private vehicle for 7 days – Grand Teton fees
- Getting thereThe preserve is on the Moose-Wilson Road between Teton Village and Moose. The road is closed to RVs and trailers; drive in with the tow car.
- ParkingA small lot of about 50 cars at the trailhead; it often fills in summer. No RV parking.
Check nps.gov/grte or call (307) 739-3399 for road status before you go; the Moose-Wilson Road closes to vehicles on November 1.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near the Rockefeller Preserve
Gros Ventre is the closest RV park we’ve written up. From any of them, the last stretch is tow car only.
Gros Ventre Campground
Big Grand Teton campground on the Gros Ventre River, with electric sites and room for rigs up to 45 feet.
Signal Mountain Campground
Lakeside Grand Teton campground on Jackson Lake, with some electric sites for RVs up to 30 feet.
Fireside Resort Jackson Hole
Full-hookup RV sites in Wilson on the road to Teton Village, with showers, a coin laundry and a camp store.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Road open about mid-May to Oct 31
Ready to hike to Phelps Lake?
Check road status on the Park Service site, then drive in early with the tow car to beat the summer crowds.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Grand Teton National Park (NPS) (cascade; public domain), Grand Teton National Park (NPS) (Phelps Lake Overlook; public domain), Grand Teton National Park (NPS) (Phelps Lake; public domain), aoiaio (moose; CC BY 3.0), Grand Teton National Park (NPS) (Preserve Center interior; public domain), Grand Teton National Park (NPS) (Death Canyon; public domain) and Eoghanacht (Preserve Center; public domain), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Free Roaming Hiker on YouTube (Phelps Lake hike). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from the National Park Service and other publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly at nps.gov or (307) 739-3399. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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