Teton County Secures Long-Term Lease for Munger Mountain State Land

Teton County has officially received a 35-year lease for the Munger Mountain State Trust Land Parcel, enabling the county and its partners to begin enhancing recreation and wildlife habitat on the 640-acre property, Buckrail reports.

The lease was originally approved by the Wyoming State Land Board in August 2024 but was delayed due to staffing changes at the Office of State Lands. It was finalized earlier this month and formally accepted by the Teton County Board of County Commissioners during their June 3 meeting.

The annual lease payment of $75,000 was covered through funds approved by voters in 2022 via an $8 million Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) initiative aimed at supporting public access and wildlife habitat conservation. Valid through 2059, the lease grants Teton County the right to manage the parcel primarily for non-motorized recreation and habitat restoration.

The Teton County Parks and Recreation Department is leading the management of the parcel, supported by local organizations including Friends of Pathways, the Jackson Hole Land Trust, and Friends of Munger Mountain. This summer, Parks and Rec plans to implement a weed management program as a foundational step before any trail development begins. Once weed control is in place, Friends of Pathways will initiate improvements to trail systems that are expected to eventually link with existing trails on US Forest Service land.

Katherine Dawson, Executive Director of Friends of Pathways, noted the importance of controlling invasive species before expanding trail access. The land had been previously used for livestock grazing, which contributed to the spread of weeds. She emphasized that while there is enthusiasm to develop the area quickly, careful stewardship is essential.

The proposed improvements for the parcel include constructing or upgrading 10 miles of trails, building five trail bridges, and creating expanded parking areas for a variety of recreational users, including hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and hunters. Although motorized use is not permitted on the state land, adjacent national forest trails allow limited seasonal use by dirt bikes.

The Munger Mountain lease comes in the broader context of state land use in Teton County. In 2020, Wyoming lawmakers passed HB162, requiring the state to explore revenue-generating development options on state lands in Teton County. This led to proposals such as a 90-tent glamping resort by Under Canvas on the Munger parcel, which met with strong community opposition. In response, the nonprofit Friends of Munger Mountain was formed to advocate for recreational and habitat-focused use of the land.

Other state land projects in Teton County have followed similar paths. A temporary lease was granted to glamping company Tammah near Teton Village, though legal challenges from the county and local advocates were ultimately withdrawn. Meanwhile, the high-profile Kelly Parcel—a critical wildlife migration corridor—was transferred to the National Park Service for $100 million after strong public opposition to its proposed sale.

The Munger Mountain lease represents a collaborative success between county officials, conservation groups, and the public, aiming to balance recreation with environmental preservation. Dawson remarked that Munger is unique in its allowance of mixed uses—including hiking, biking, e-biking, dirt biking (on neighboring forest trails), horseback riding, and hunting—within a single trail system.

“This project couldn’t have happened without community support and the SPET funding,” Dawson said.