Grand Targhee Expansion Approved, Adding 694 New Acres

Featured Image: Courtesy of Grand Targhee Resort | Skier: Kelly Mackenzie

Last spring, Caribou-Targhee National Forest issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) detailing Grand Targhee's proposal to expand the resort's Special Use Permit (SUP) by 850 acres. The original expansion plans included three new lifts, 2 new on-mountain restaurants and upgrades to existing infrastructure with the goal of maintaining its competitive edge against neighbors like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and other destination resorts across the West, and to meet the ever-evolving expectations of guests.

In April of 2025, a 90-day window opened for public comment on the expansion plans, with an open house on April 17 to discuss the project. The 2,100 public comments were mixed, with some excited for the resort to increase its terrain offerings while others were more concerned about the environmental and wildlife impacts of the expansion. Just over a year later, Caribou-Targhee National Forest has issued a draft record of decision and final EIS.

“The Caribou-Targhee National Forest reviewed all comments received to help refine the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision,” said Forest Supervisor Kim Pierson. “These comments provided specific information about the proposal, suggested corrections, and identified information that assisted in reaching my draft record of decision.”

This spring, the U.S. Forest Service has approved Grand Targhee to expand by 694 acres, bringing the resort's total acreage to 3,000. The expansion will open up two new zones on the south side of the resort, South Bowl and Mono Trees, as well as a new restaurant on the top of Fred's Mountain. The expansion was scaled back from the original 850 acres specifically to protect the Northern Goshawk and rare Boreal and Flammulated Owls, working within a "rezoned" area that balances developed recreation with natural wildlife habitats.

Original expansion plan from Grand Targhee Resort in 2025

Mono Trees sits at a lower elevation and is intended to provide skiers with a safe zone to ski when the notorious Teton fog rolls in and shuts down the upper mountain. South Bowl is high-alpine terrain that the resort did not mitigate but is often skied by rope duckers into the previously out-of-bounds zone. Now Targhee Ski Patrol can conduct proper avalanche control in the higher-stakes terrain—making it safer and more accessible to more skiers. The restaurant on top of Fred's Mountain is a go, but with strict regulations. The building must remain undetectable from Grand Teton National Park, requiring the use of non-reflective materials that blend into the environment and it can only operate during the day to avoid polluting the night sky.

The 45-day objection period to the final EIS and draft record of decision started on May 28, 2026. Anyone who left one of the 2,100 public comments can now file a formal objection to the plan. Objections can be submitted electronically via the project website; by mail to Pierson, c/o Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401; or by e-mail to jay.pence@usda.gov. Please include “Grand Targhee Master Development Plan Projects” in the subject line. 

For further information, contact Jay Pence at 208-354-6610 or via email at jay.pence@usda.gov.