Grand Teton is such an underrated park! It's on my top five national parks list for sure. Grand Teton is made up of a section of the Teton Range of mountains, many lakes, and peaks including Grand Teton Peak. It's such a gorgeous place, and there is so much to do. I love hiking, taking photos, having lake days, and seeing the old pioneer buildings that are still there!
Grand Teton was officially made a National Park in 1929. Over the next few decades, more land was added to the park including the old Jackson Hole Monument. Grand Teton has it's own village with an airport in the park, and many camping areas and cabins. It's near the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, famous for it's western style, shopping, fishing and outdoor activities, and skiing. The park gets around 3 million visitors per year, less than Yellowstone's 4 million per year. Grand Teton Park and Yellowstone Park are connected by the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway, and are very close. John D. Rockefeller actually bought and donated a good bit of the national park that used to be private land.
Grand Teton even has a few receding glaciers in the tallest peaks that you can hike to! There are many lakes, and the bigger ones are popular for boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing. The Snake River also runs through the park. Antelope Flats in the park contains Mormon Row, preserved pioneer homes that still stand on their original ranches. You may be familiar with the famous barn in front of the Tetons photos that photographers love to take. The Teton mountains are so sharp because they are actually the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains! Grand Teton, the highest peak is over 13,700 feet above sea level, and 7,000 + feet above the nearby town of Jackson Hole. Grand Teton Park is also open in the winter!
Let's jump in!
Things to do at Grand Teton National Park:
1. Photograph the Tetons! A must do at the Grand Tetons. Whether you are a professional photographer or phone camera enthusiast, you have to take photos of the mountains while you're there. There are a few different places to get good photos of the Teton Range: Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Antelope Flat, and the various pull-outs along the highway through the park. My favorite place to photograph Grand Teton Peak is Jackson Lake. For a better view of all the mountains, head to Antelope Flat near Mormon Row. Mormon Row will have old barns for you to photograph as w
2. Hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point! This is such a great, amazing hike. Hidden Falls is located in Cascade Canyon, across from Jenny Lake. You can walk about 3-5 miles around the lake to get to the trail, or take a shuttle boat across the lake right to the start of the trail. From there, it's a half mile hike up to Hidden Falls and another half mile to Inspiration Point. While this seems short, it is all uphill, especially steep after Hidden Falls. It takes longer than you'd think. You'll have gorgeous views of Jenny Lake, the Tetons up close, waterfalls, and a wide look at the park.
3. Have a lake day at Jackson Lake! Jackson Lake is my favorite lake at the park! You'll have a great view of the Tetons, clear water, pine trees lining the shore, and a beautiful marina. You can rent a boat or bring your own and cruise along the lake! They also sell permits for kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, etc. There is a cute shop at Colter Bay that has some great souvenirs. Wear lots of sunscreen due to the high elevation and reflection from the water!
4. Stop by Mormon Row! Mormon Row in Antelope Flats is a historic ranch community that pioneers lived on! There are a few barns and houses to see and photograph, and informational signs as well. We usually see wildlife when we go out there including antelope, deer, and moose. Take your own photo of the iconic barn with the Tetons behind it!
5. Take the 42 mile Scenic Loop Drive! If you want to see as much of the park as you can but don't have as much time, take the scenic loop drive! It's made up of Teton Park Road, Jenny Lake Scenic Drive, and Highway 89. You'll get to visit places like Snake River Overlook, Cunningham Cabin, Moose WY, Jenny Lake, and more.
6. Take a Rafting Trip on the Snake River! River rafting is so much fun! I recommend taking a guided trip down the Snake River while you're in Wyoming. It's such a great rafting river, and has many many options for difficulty level, length of time, and number of people. Some even come with lunch or dinner! Google will be your best resource for this, make sure you read reviews while choosing a guide.
7. Fish the Rivers and Lakes! The Teton Range is world famous for fishing! There are a rew rare species of cutthroat trout there, and other types of trout to catch as well. You can fish anywhere in the park with just a Wyoming State Fishing License that can be purchased in the park or at almost any gas station nearby. Fly fishing and spin cast fishing are both popular in the park.
8. Visit Teton Village! Teton Village is a cute little village inside the park, right next to the small airport. There are shops and restaurants and fun things to do there! Definitely check it out.
9. Shop and Eat in Jackson Hole! I love walking around Jackson Hole! It has a western vibe, and the cutest shops and restaurants. I love getting souvenirs and unique items from Jackson Hole. Make sure you take a photo by the antler arches in the town square! There are so many yummy restaurants in town as well. This year, we ate at Silver Dollar Bar and Grill and Gun Barrel Steakhouse and they were so good. Wild West Designs, Lee's Tees, and Teton Harley Davidson are our favorite shops!
10. Get professional photos taken! Grand Teton is such a great place for photo sessions. From couple to family to wedding, your photos will look AMAZING. Bring your fancy clothes and have photos taken in the mountains. I am always up for traveling to Grand Teton for sessions! You can see my website & portfolio here to book a National Park session.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope your Grand Teton National Park trip is absolutely terrific. Comment if you have any questions or thoughts! See more on my Instagram and Pinterest. Below are our other Jackson Hole area recommendations!
Lodging:
Snake River Lodge and Spa
The Lodge at Jackson Hole
The Wort Hotel
Elk Country Inn
Local camping on BLM land or in the NPS campgrounds
Food:
Silver Dollar Restaurant, Jackson Hole
The Wort Hotel, Jackson Hole
Flying Saddle Resort, Alpine
Family / Wedding Photography:
Abigail Erin Photography - Click here to see their website.
Nature Photography:
Abigail Erin Photography - Click here to see their website.
Souvenirs:
Park Visitor Centers (don't forget your National Parks passport stamps)
Lee's Tees
Jackson Hole Trading Company
Wild West Designs
Colter Bay Store
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