Yellowstone: Grand Teton National Park Partially Closed After Large Fissure Opens

A view of Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. (National Park Service)

A fissure at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, located some 60 miles from Yellowstone, has prompted park officials to close certain areas to tourists.

In a statement on July 10, the National Park Service (NPS) closed Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas near Jenny Lake “for human safety.”

Recently expanding cracks and fissures have been identified in a large rock buttress near the Hidden Falls viewing area, the NPS stated.

Superintendent David Vela said, “Human safety is our number one priority, and with an abundance of caution we are temporarily closing this area until we can properly assess the situation.”

It’s not clear how long the closure will last.

“Exum Mountain Guides are relocating their practice school services to another location, and shuttle boat and scenic cruises with Jenny Lake Boating will continue to operate,“ the NPS said. ”Visitors are able to ride the boat to the west shore, hike Cascade Canyon or around the lake, and enjoy some areas of the west shore as well as the front country areas of the Jenny Lake Complex.”

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The closure and expansion of the fissure spawned alarmist headlines from British tabloids linking it to the Yellowstone Supervolcano. “Yellowstone Volcano latest: 100-FOOT fissure sparks URGENT park closure,” reads The Express’s headline on the subject matter. “Rock fissure sparks URGENT closure at Grand Teton National Park, just 60 miles from Yellowstone supervolcano,” said an article from the Daily Mail.

According to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, the “current volcano alert level” is at normal.

National Park Service did not respond to a request for comment by press time.