The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded two companies, EcoTour Adventures, Inc. and Powder Hounds Inc. (doing business as Teton Backcountry Guides), 10-year concession contracts to offer guided winter activities in Grand Teton National Park. These services include guided day-use snowshoe tours, as well as cross-country and backcountry ski tours.
EcoTour Adventures, Inc. secured three of the four available contracts, while Powder Hounds Inc. was awarded the fourth. The transition to these new concessioners will take place on November 1, 2024, when the existing contracts expire.
The NPS issued a solicitation for bids in March 2024, with EcoTour Adventures, Inc. and Powder Hounds Inc. submitting the top-rated proposals through a competitive selection process. The transition is expected to be smooth, and visitors should not experience any service interruptions.
Awarding concession contracts is a routine NPS procedure, in compliance with the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act, which mandates open and competitive processes to ensure high-quality visitor services. Grand Teton National Park currently has 26 concession contracts and around 160 commercial use authorization holders that provide a range of services for park visitors.
