In Grand Teton National Park, the price of popularity is apparently “documented numerous instances of fecal matter and toilet paper.”

That’s according to the Park Service’s environmental assessment for possible upgrades at Taggart Lake , the 3.8-mile loop trail leading to the lake and the parking area at the trailhead.

Between 2013 and 2023, visitation to the Wyoming park has climbed by about 800,000 people. Summer use on the Taggart Lake Trail, popular for day hikers, has climbed more than 100% in the past 10 years.

On busy days, as many as 120 vehicles cram into the parking lot and the nearby Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area. During peak travel in July 2024, 6,700 vehicles a day were counted on Teton Park Road, passing the turnout.

The ease of access, along with the relatively short wa

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