Although Grand Teton National Park is squarely planted in a landlocked state, the park is long been home to its own marina to service the various pleasure craft on Jackson Lake (one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the United States). Established in the late 1800’s by cattle rancher and conservationist, Stephen Leek, Leeks Marina was originally set up as a hunting and fishing camp but is now home to a boat launch, private boat services, and lakefront pizzeria.Â
While you wouldn’t normally think to pack your bear spray for a day of waterskiing, if you are launching out of Leeks Marina it’s not a bad idea. Park officials advise grizzly bears can be found throughout Grand Teton and that includes wandering around Leeks Marina as evidenced by the below video taken on June 3rd 2025:
If you plan on going waterskiing on Jackson Lake, be advised it is only allowed from sunrise to sunset and there must be at least 2 persons in the vessel with the passenger in a position to observe the status of the person or persons being towed. In additional t al the normal precautions that apply to a safe day on the water, you might want to consider bringing along some bear spray just in case. Learn more about grizzly safety at Grand Teton National Park below.
Grand Teton National Park Bear Safety Guidelines:
• Do not approach the animal. Enjoy the moment from a safe distance: minimum 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other animals.
• Never park in front of a crossing animal. Give wildlife the space they need.
• Follow directions from park staff. The Wildlife Brigade is trained to observe animal behavior. A safe spot one minute may not be safe the next.
• Stay flexible and alert. These are dynamic situations, and guidance may change quickly.
• Expect crowds. Wildlife sightings draw a lot of attention—especially bears.
• Watch for traffic. Stay out of travel lanes and remain right of the white line where applicable. That applies to viewing on foot and in stopped vehicles.
• Some jams may be shut down. If safety becomes a concern, we may need to clear the area.
• Different rules in developed areas. In places like campgrounds or lodges, our goal is to help the animal move on—not to manage a viewing opportunity.
