Colter Canyon facts for kids

Colter Canyon is a cool natural feature found in Grand Teton National Park. This park is located in the state of Wyoming, in the United States. Colter Canyon is a special kind of valley. It was shaped by powerful forces of nature long ago.

What is Colter Canyon?

Colter Canyon is a deep, narrow valley. It is located in the beautiful Grand Teton National Park. This park is famous for its stunning mountains and clear lakes. The canyon is found in Teton County, Wyoming.

Where is Colter Canyon Located?

You can find Colter Canyon in the northwestern part of Grand Teton National Park. It sits just north of a mountain called Ranger Peak. The entrance to the canyon is right along the edge of Jackson Lake. Jackson Lake is a large, beautiful lake in the park.

How Colter Canyon Was Formed

Colter Canyon wasn't always there. It was created by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. These glaciers moved very slowly across the land. They acted like giant bulldozers, carving out the valley.

Glaciers: Nature's Sculptors

Imagine a huge river of ice. That's what a glacier is! Thousands of years ago, massive glaciers covered much of the Earth. As they moved, they picked up rocks and dirt. This process slowly wore away the land beneath them.

The U-Shaped Valley

When glaciers carve a valley, they leave a special shape. This shape is called a U-shaped valley. It has steep sides and a flat or rounded bottom. Colter Canyon is a perfect example of this. The glaciers smoothed out the valley floor.

When Did This Happen?

The glaciers that formed Colter Canyon started to melt and retreat a very long time ago. This happened at the end of the last glacial maximum. That was about 15,000 years ago! As the ice melted, it left behind the canyon we see today. It also helped form Jackson Lake.