Grand Teton

In a Word. “Stately”

The namesake peak of the park at sunrise reflected in the waters near Colter Bay on Jackson Lake

“Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the Earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” -Psalms 90:2

Our Visit. We’ve visited Grand Teton twice. Once during July many years ago and once in August as part of family trips to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone. To save some money, the first time we stayed for five days in a house in Victor, Idaho and “commuted” to Yellowstone and the Tetons all week. The most recent trip, we stayed in an RV at Colter Bay in the park which made everything much more accessible.

Taggart Lake is my favorite place in Grand Teton. I love the rocks and forest that line the lake’s edge and frame stunning reflections of Grand Teton like this one

Our Weather. The weather was absolutely gorgeous both times with temperatures in the upper 70s and 80s and mostly clear skies.

Overall Impression. Grand Teton is one of the most beautiful places in North America, and the variety of views is endless. The Tetons are striking, and their snow-capped peaks add a dramatic flair to the forests, lakes and wildflower-covered meadows. Hiking here is sublime, and there is plenty of wildlife to keep you looking around every corner.

Favorite Spot. Hiking around Taggart Lake

Oxbow Bend is one of the best places to see wildlife, especially around sunrise and sunset. It’s also a great place to catch amazing reflections of the alpenglow on Mount Moran at first light

Minimum Time Required. About 2 hours. This is just enough time to drive through the park and take some pictures at the more accessible turnouts and lakes. You can see the range from a variety of turnouts along the main highway without paying an entrance fee, but it’s worth it to take the roads between the southern Moose Entrance Station and eastern Moran Entrance Station where you’ll be up closer to the mountains and can see some of the views across Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake. If you can be at Oxbow Bend near sunrise or sunset, you’ll have a good chance of seeing wildlife, and the reflections of Mount Moran in the water are simply amazing! If you stick to the main highway, take a few minutes to drive the short road down to Schwabachers Landing along the Snake River–this is where many of the iconic reflection pictures of the Tetons are taken (including the top picture on this page), and beaver dams and lazy water tend to keep the water calm. You’ll be able to take in the majesty of the Tetons this way, but you’ll miss a lot of the experience.

The beautiful and aptly named Hidden Falls lies at the edge of Cascade Canyon on the far side of Jenny Lake

A Longer Visit. The Tetons are a great place to spend multiple days. With at least 1/2 a day to a full day, take a hike! The hiking here is awesome and trails range from easy to extreme, so there’s something for everyone. Most trails will take at least 2-3 hours, so you’ll need one or two full days to hike even a fraction. Our favorite trail in the 2-hour range is Taggart Lake Trail where you hike up through the forest to arrive at a beautiful alpine lake edged by trees and boulders with amazing reflections of the Tetons on a calm day. For a less strenuous hike, String Lake offers great views for only 5 minutes of effort. The heart of the park is Jenny Lake, and in 1/2 a day, you can take the Jenny Lake Ferry to an easy hike to beautiful Hidden Falls or a more strenuous hike to Inspiration Point and into Cascade Canyon where the peaks tower over you on both sides.

The John Moulton Barn is one of two still standing on “Mormon Row” in the park

With multiple days, you can spend some time in the eastern and southern areas of the park. The dirt roads east of the highway are a great place to see bison and antelope, and the Gros Ventre River is a good place to spot moose early and late. Near Gros Ventre is Mormon Row where you can find the famous Moulton Barns, two of the most photographed barns on the planet with the Tetons as a backdrop. Grand Teton’s lakes are also open for swimming, kayakig and paddleboarding, and the water is surprisingly warm in the shallower lakes like String Lake. Powered boats can be taken onto Jackson Lake if the water is high enough (check the NPS site before bringing your boat)

A beautiful bull elk enjoys an evening meal near Signal Mountain in Grand Teton NP

If you’re looking for something a little different, you can sign up for a rafting tour along the Snake River through the park (or go whitewater rafting nearby). There are also some organized tours by jeep or bus. We chose a 6-hour private photography tour with Jack and Gina Bayles of Team 399, and it was amazing! Not only did they know all the best spots for photography and wildlife spotting, but they knew exactly when to be where, and they know many of the animals by name, especially the grizzlies! While we didn’t see a grizzly in the park, we did encounter one (Felicia) and her cubs near the highway pass east of the park.

John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway

View to the south at sunset along Rockefeller Memorial Parkway

The John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway which connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks is a National Park unit in its own right, but it’s managed as part of Grand Teton NP. There are a couple of stops like Flagg Ranch which offer river and forest access, but unless you just REALLY want to stay away from the crowds, I would recommend staying in the National Parks and using this area as part of your beautiful drive between the parks.

Other Nearby Attractions Yellowstone National Park, Jackson, WY, ski areas and whitewater rafting on the Snake River

Two boaters have a glassy String Lake to themselves this evening as the sun illuminates craggy Teewinot in the distance

Suggestions. A map can make Grand Teton NP look small, but in reality it’s huge! Driving from the north end to the south end would take a full hour without stops, so plan on 30 minutes to get from place to place. During the summer months, the parking lots fill up, so try to plan your outings to the most popular areas (Jenny Lake, String Lake, Taggart Lake) for either early morning (before 9AM) or evening (after 5PM). Not only will you find parking, but these are the best times to catch wildlife, cooler weather, and calm waters.

Even if you never enter the gated portion of the park, you can still enjoy great views of the Teton Range from one of many pull-outs along the highway

Hikes in Grand Teton start above 6,000 feet elevation and go up from there. If you’re not used to the altitude, be prepared to take more breaks and bring plenty of water and sunscreen! If driving, either bring your own food or plan your stops to be at one of the few restaurants in the park at mealtime. It’s an hour to Jackson from the heart of the park, so popping out for lunch will eat up a good portion of your day. Speaking of driving, keep your eye on other drivers! This park, along with Yellowstone, is a huge draw for tourists from around the world, so driving is not only a mix of different cultural norms, but many drivers are distracted taking in the views or pulling over to look at wildlife.

Nearby Towns Teton Village, Jackson (Wyoming), Victor (Idaho)

Other Nearby Attractions Yellowstone NP, Jackson Hole Ski Area, Grand Targhee Ski Area, Snow King Ski Area, Snake River (white water rafting)

Official NPS Website Grand Teton NP

ILNP Photo Map

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