You will not forget the moment when your eyes first spot the massive, monumental peaks of the Grand Teton Range. It is truly a jaw-dropping moment. As you drive through the park, you will find it difficult not to stop at every pull-out and scenic viewpoint to take in the views. In addition to beautiful and picturesque landscapes, Grand Teton National Park provides visitors with excellent hiking and plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. This travel guide highlights all of the best things to do and see in Grand Teton National Park, including a free four-day itinerary to help you plan your next adventure.
When to Visit
Although the park is open all year round, the most popular months to visit are May through September, when most roads and facilities are open. You can find information regarding park road openings and closures here. There is even a map displaying the current road status. We traveled to Grand Teton National Park at the beginning of September. The weather was perfect as the days were warm and the nights were cool.
Where to stay
There are several options for in-park lodging in both the north and south areas of Grand Teton National Park. The Grand Teton Lodging Company operates all-in-park lodging. You can make reservations up to 12 months in advance either by calling or booking online. Advanced reservations are highly recommended, especially for Jackson Lake Lodge, the most popular location. This National Historic Landmark is a full-service hotel known for providing panoramic views of the Tetons.
There are eight options for camping inside the park. To find campsite information and available amenities, as well as a map with site locations, visit the national park website. You can make campground reservations six months in advance by booking online at Recreation.gov. During our visit, we camped with our rented campervan at Signal Mountain Campground. Even though the campsites are close together, our location was surrounded by trees and felt more remote than our experiences at other campgrounds. Additionally, the location is great as it is close to viewpoints, scenic drives, and excellent hiking trails.
What to do and see
Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake is one of the most popular areas in the park. Tucked below the Grand Teton Range, the shoreline of this lake provides a landscape of unmatched beauty and gives visitors a sense of natural serenity. Visitors have many options for exploring the area including hiking the lakeshore trail, taking a boat tour, kayaking, or just relaxing by the lake. There is also a visitor center and a small gift shop. The Jenny Lake area is the starting point for many popular hikes and backpacking trips. The parking lot fills up quickly, especially in the morning.
Scenic Drives
This was one of our favorite activities at Grand Teton National Park, especially at dusk when the wildlife was most active. There are several options for scenic drives both inside and outside the park.
Teton Park Road – From Jackson Lake Junction in the north to Moose in the south, this 20-mile road provides up-close views of the Teton Mountains. Along this stretch of road are several pull-outs to allow visitors to stop and take it all in. Keep your camera out for this drive, as it surely is a beautiful one.
Moose-Wilson Road – We ventured down this road every evening during our visit to Grand Tetons National Park, as this area provides prime wildlife viewing. It is a shorter road, only stretching about 8 miles, but it sees plenty of visitors. We saw moose, elk, and a black bear on this drive.
Antelope Flats Road – This 10-mile road is technically outside the national park. It is a beautiful but bumpy drive surrounded by sagebrush fields. We saw pronghorn antelope, bison, and fox during our late afternoon drive. You will not be disappointed if you pair this drive with a stop at Mormon Row during sunset. It was truly a highlight of our Grand Teton trip.
Mormon Row
The area known as Mormon Row today was originally a Mormon ranch settlement that started in the 1890s. Today, there are a few barns and cabins still standing and the area is on the National Register of Historic Places. The most famous of the remaining structures is the Moulton Barn as it appears in many photos of the Grand Tetons. Photographers flock here during sunrise and sunset hours to capture these rustic structures with the Grand Tetons rising in the background. I highly recommend visiting Mormon Row at both sunrise and sunset.
Signal Mountain
Drive, bike, or hike to the top of Signal Mountain. The summit has two overlooks: Jackson Point Overlook on the south with Teton Mountain views and Emma Matilda Overlook on the north facing the Absaroka Range.
Oxbow Bend
Oxbow Bend is also another prime location for photography, especially during sunrise when the reflection of Mt. Moran can be seen in the Snake River. It is also a good location to spot wildlife during dawn and dusk hours. Make sure to arrive early for sunrise or sunset as the parking lot fills up quickly.
Best hiking trails
Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail is a relatively easy hike that follows the shoreline of Jackson Lake. It is a double loop trail that is approximately 2.2 miles with 100 feet in elevation gain. Hikers will be rewarded with excellent views of Jackson Lake and the Teton range. There are plenty of picture-worthy spots along this trail. Plan for at least two hours to complete this hike.
The Grand Viewpoint Trail provides panoramic views of Jackson Lake and the Tetons. There are two options for hiking to the viewpoint. The shortest route starts at the Grand View parking area and is a 2.2-mile out-and-back trail with 550 feet of elevation gain. The longer route starts at Jackson Lake Lodge and is 6.1 miles with 790 feet of elevation gain. Depending on the selected route, this hike can take anywhere from three to five hours to complete.
The Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows Access Trail leads to a beautiful, secluded glacier lake at the base of the Grand Teton. Part of the trail is an unofficial and unmaintained trail, which can add to the already difficult status of this trail depending on the conditions. According to All Trails, this 7.4-mile hike takes approximately four and a half hours to complete and has an elevation gain of 2,299 feet. Along the trail are two difficult boulder fields that require hikers to scramble. Hikers that complete this challenging trail are rewarded with incredible views once they reach Delta Lake.
The Taggart and Bradley Lakes Trail provides hikers with two options for enjoying the trail. The shorter option is a three-mile hike to Taggart Lake and back. The more scenic but longer route is about 5.6 miles and includes both Taggart and Bradley Lake. The longer version rewards hikers with incredible views of the Grand Teton from the lake. The elevation for this hike ranges from 400 to 900 feet. Plan for two to four hours depending on the selected route.
The Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and Forks of Cascade Canyon trail was our favorite hike at Grand Teton National Park. Along the way to Cascade Canyon, hikers will be rewarded with a waterfall and beautiful views of Jenny Lake. The real highlight of this trail for us was the views of the surrounding peaks from inside the canyon. This area is rich in wildlife as well. During our trek, we saw moose, pika, and pacific marten. This trail is 9.4 miles out and back with 1,480 feet of elevation gain. Plan for about five hours to complete the hike.
To reach the trailhead, take the Jenny Lake boat shuttle or hike the southern portion of the Jenny Lake Loop, which adds four miles. Hikers can also choose to do a hybrid model by taking the boat shuttle one way and hiking the other.
The Jenny Lake Loop trail is a 7.1-mile hike with 1,040 feet of elevation gain. This trail loops completely around Jenny Lake providing beautiful views of the lake and the Teton Range. This trail is very popular with park visitors. Plan for about four hours to complete the entire loop.
Grand Teton National Park ITINERARY
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