Things to do Grand Teton National Park

There are so many Things to do Grand Teton National Park, located entirely in Wyoming. It is the United States 17th National Park established in 1929. Jackson Hole is the valley located east of the Grand Teton Mountain Range. The hiking in Grand Tetons is world class. There are five distinct climates in Grand Tetons National Park, and you have the opportunity to explore all 4 while in the park. Driving through the park will make you appreciate everything this amazing park has to offer. There are plenty of options to stay both in and out of the park, camping, hotels. lodges or cabins are all available for the avid explorer. Then you can spend some time exploring Jackson, Wyoming with it’s old West vibes and amazing food options it is worth a visit. You should explore Yellowstone while you are in the area, and as the north gate in Grand Teton National Park is the south gate of Yellowstone National Park, you can make it happen.

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Grand Teton National Park Entrances

There are three entrances to Grand Teton National Park.

• The most southern entrance is the Moose Entrance, it is where the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is located.
• The east entrance is located just north of 191 and 287 Moran Junction and is the Moran Entrance.
• The northern most entrance is called the Southern Entrance, because it is the southern most entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and doubles as the north entrance to Grand Tetons National Park.

Best time to visit Grand Teton National Park

The weather in the Grand Tetons, varies both by season and by altitude.

There are 5 distinct communities in the park, and each has it’s own distinct attributes:

• Alpine high elevation, short growing season, persistent wind and cold, create alpine dessert like conditions
• Forests, mid elevations, darker green fir and pine trees access mountainse water, black and grizzly bears live here
• Sagebrush flats dry habitat, you may see pronghorns here, which look like deer at first sight, bison also roam here
• Wet meadows fall between the sage brush and forest, and moose most commonly feet on willows in this area
• Lakes and Ponds are a great way to see otters, and other wild life

Grand Teton in summer is beautiful, it is warm in the lower elevations and cooler in the higher elevations. The snow melt has occurred so the temperatures are perfect for layering when hiking.

Grand Teton National Park in winter can be much harder to explore, winter conditions begin in November and can run through April. During these months many of the roads are closed for visitors safety. You can still enjoy the views of the mountains from the main road John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Highway, but traversing into the actual elevations of the park can be difficult or impossible if the roads are closed.

What to do in Grand Teton National Park

The first activity you should do in Grand Teton National Park is drive the loop, enter through the Moran Entrance, and stop early morning at the Oxbow Bend Turnout, this is where you will get the epic view of the Grand Tetons reflecting in the lake. The water will be calm and clear in the am so it is the best time to get the amazing shot.

Then you are going to take a left at the Jackson Lake Junction and head towards the Jackson Lake Dam. Stop here and appreciate the sheer impressiveness of the power of water, and relax overlooking Jackson Lake. Then head up Signal Mountain Road, that takes you a winding path up to 7,727 feet elevation to the top of Signal Mountain.

Wind your way back down to Teton Park Road, stop over at Potholes Turnout, where you learn the little oasis looking patches in-between the sage brush are lush circular areas of conifer trees, these are the potholes or “kettles”. The debate continues on which is actual correct, you can debate at your leisure. These kettles are formed when ice-age glaciers retreated , block of ice fell off, mixed with sediment, and created a depression that still fills with sediment and water during spring melts. This creates a micro-ecosystem that supports the trees and wildlife.

Next stop, is Mount Moran Turnout which features a perfect spot for epic photos of the dominant peak, Mount Moran. You can spot all the features that formed the Tetons. There are glaciers still located on the mountains, glaciers have not thawed in thousands of years and move, that is the difference between snow or ice and a glacier.

Make your way to South Jenny Lake Junction, try to arrive early if you want to hike or take the Jenny Lake Ferry. This ferry is a great option to shorten some of the hikes, and won’t lie being able to sit and relax instead of hiking back was really nice. Remember you are at really high elevation before you even start the hike, if you live at a lower elevation normally this may impact your endurance. You don’t want to push yourself to a dangerous level, or injure yourself in the process. There are tons of hikes from the ferry point, easiest being Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, both are must hit locations, and with a distance of 2.4 miles roundtrip (from the ferry dock) its hard to miss this one. The hike up to Inspiration Point is pretty steep, but the view at the top is totally worth it.

Once you finish your hike, hit the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, it was nice but pretty small as far as info and gifts go. It is a great spot to get ice cream as reward for that epic hike you just enjoyed. Restroom stop is a must and maybe enjoy that lake view before you head out again.

This next one doesn’t look like much, we almost skipped it ourselves, but its a must hit. Teton Glacier Turnout, you will view the largest glacier in Grand Tetons National Park. Even during the summer the melt is less than other glaciers, because the ice is sheltered from the sun by another ridge. Glaciers are a rapidly decreasing natural resource that are critical to the success of the ecological environment, and getting to see them in real life is super special.

You can then stop at the Menors Ferry Historic District and the Chapel of the Transfiguration. The chapel was built in 1925, a humble log cabin to serve as the church for the ranchers and dudes. It is a popular spot for summer weddings, and with the mountains framed in the background it is easy to see why.

Last spot on Teton Park Road is the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. It is well worth the stop, you can learn about the crazy rock climbers who used to come and climb the Tetons (before real safety equipment existed), the Native’s who’s land this was before it was stolen and made into a National Park, and the history of the explorers who founded the surrounding towns. You can also spend some money supporting the park on those souvenirs you can’t live without… You probably won’t be back for a while, just do it.

You have now made it to the main road John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Highway (aka 191, 26, 89 not sure why all of those…). From here you can turn right and head down to Jackson and explore the town, or head left and head north to finish the loop. We will cover Jackson below, so lets assume you head north. The first real right turn is Antelope Flats Road, and the Mormon Row Historic District is located here. Honestly, you can skip this and never really miss much. They are rehabbing it to make improvements, but it is really just some old run down buildings. If you are here in summer it is hot, and muggy and there are no real facilities.

Moving right along, to Glacier View Turnout, this is a great stop because the signs will inform you about all the glaciers located in Grand Teton National Park, and there are actually a lot of them. You will recognize them as the blocks of ice that don’t melt, even though there isn’t snow in that area (in summer). In winter they are harder to spot as they get covered with newer snowfall.

The next left, is Schwabacher Landing, the road down to this access point on the Snake River is a combination of paved and unpaved road, 4-wheel drive is recommended to get down in this area. It is not really recommended in the winter. This has access to a boat dock, and to the Schwabacher Landing Trail that runs by beaver dams, and gives some epic photo areas. This is a hidden gem in the National Park and is a must hit if you are up for an off road adventure.

The next left, is Snake River Overlook, it is the perfect spot to hit if you are looking for some sunset pictures. If you time it right you can get the gorgeous colors setting around the Tetons and it is spectacular. Check sunset times, and plan to be there about an hour before so you can catch all the colors.

The Cunningham Cabin Historic Site is the next left, it is also down an unpaved road, 4-wheel drive is recommended. The hours to visit the cabin are basically banking hours, so check that before you set your sites on visiting.

The final left turnout, is the Elk Ranch Flats Turnout, you think you have seen the Grand Tetons from every angle at this point, but you are wrong… just do it, what’s another 5 minutes at this point? Enjoy that view, you may not be able to take it in again for a long time.

You have officially made it back to the Moran Entrance, one full loop complete and likely you are exhausted from a very full day.

All along this road you will see elk, pronghorns, and bison especially at sunrise and sunset. You enter a preserve when you turn onto the main road. This means animals have the run of the place, drive safely, keep your distance and enjoy the nature.

Things to do at Grand Teton National Park

There are literally so many things to do in Grand Teton National Park.

• Drive the loop from Moran Entrance-> Jackson Lake Junction-> Jenny Lake-> Moose Junction-> Moran Entrance
• Hike: there are literally 200 miles of trails to explore
• Cruise to Elk Island (reservations, early morning, and advance planning required)
• Drive up to Signal Mountain (be warned it’s windy)
• Explore the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center
• Take the ferry across Jenny Lake
• White Water Raft the Snake River

Obviously, this is a short list of things to do in the Grand Tetons, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you choose. Driving the loop is a great starting point, it puts you in the exploring mode, and lets you make a mental checklist of where you might want to go back and explore the next day.

Of all the things to do in Grand Tetons, the things I am most happy I personally did are hiking to inspiration point and up Cascade Canyon to see a MOOSE!! Seeing a real life moose was on my bucket list and if it isn’t on yours, may I suggest adding it? They are both giant, majestic and incredibly awkward… it feels like fate that I would relate on a personal level.

Horseback riding in the Grand Tetons, is totally an experience you should think about if you have some time. There are literally tons of options, but Swift Creek Outfitters and Heart Six Ranch seem to have the best overall experience to offer. Personally, I get super sore riding, so this isn’t my go to experience, but if you want to be able to explore more of the park and get the total western experience this may be the perfect thing to do in Grand Tetons.

White Water Rafting Grand Tetons! What an amazing thing to do, for sure plan ahead especially if you are coming in the height of summer, if you are not coming in the height of summer you are likely crazy to debate rafting. It will be so incredibly cold, maybe you are from somewhere cold and you are laughing at my Florida cold tolerance (for reference it is 0). Please be warned the water is chilly, it is snow melt that fuels most of those rivers and that means it is very chilly even in the summer. If you haven’t been white water rafting before, wear swim trunks, a sunshirt, and water shoes, remember sunscreen, have a waterproof bag for your camera (phone), preferably with a string around your neck so it doesn’t fly out, and a towel and change of clothes. You will have a blast, budget the money to pay for the overpriced picture, it will make you laugh for years to come.

Hiking in Grand Teton National Park

Bear Safety- from experience

• Make noise while hiking, putting a bell on your pack is a good idea
• Hike with a group and do not separate
• Keep space at least 100 yards, or 5 school buses
• If you see the bear, do not make eye contact and do not run, move sideways to get out of the area
• Clap your hands, wave your arms and make noise
• Keep your food in your pack, and always take your pack with you
• Bring Bear Spray (or rent it), watch a video on how to use it, but really if you get to the point where you need to use it you have probably not read the above safety tips and therefore did not watch the video on how to use it so best of luck 

Grand Teton National Park has 47 hard, and 200 miles of trails, it’s hard to pick the best Grand Tetons hikes, but here are a few that you just can’t miss. Take the Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat, to the West Shore Boat dock, make the climb to Inspiration Point, ignore the children throwing cheetos, take in the view, but keep it moving you got a moose to see. Start the climb into Cascade Canyon, this is where 2 moose call home, sometimes three. Moose like to eat in the morning, and then they bed down in the water during the day, it is best to get out on the trails early to see the moose standing, but you may still be able to see them if you come by 9ish. Be bear aware in Cascade Canyon, Moose are not the only animals making it their home. You can hike as far as you would like through Cascade Canyon, keeping in mind you will need to hike back down. Make your way back down, rest and relax at Inspiration Point, take some selfies, deep breaths and take in the view! Ok suit up, the walk down to hidden falls is narrow, sheer cliff and likely very peoply… Hidden Falls is gorgeous, and honestly not that hidden considering all the signage. It’s another great resting stop, before making your way back to the shuttle boat back across Jenny Lake.

Another one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park is Phelps Lake Trail, it is south of the Moose Entrance to the Park. The trail begins at the White Grass Ranger station. It climbs around the glacier fed lake, and although only 4 miles it is coded as strenuous for its elevation gain. This is great way to get away from the crowds and really enjoy nature. Parking can be difficult to get here, so make sure you are up and at it early to snag a spot. Again be bear aware!!

Taggart Lake Trail is a great option when hiking Grand Teton National Park, at a mild 3 miles, with wide paths and minimal elevation it truly delivers on the views. You will get epic views of Grand Teton (she’s the tallest of the Teton’s), the whole way, and with all the extra space on the trails it is a great option for bringing the tiny humans (kids, children, etc.).

Another hike in the Grand Tetons, that looked amazing, but a little long for my current stamina is the Paintbrush Canyon Hike, beginning at the String Lake Trailhead for 2 miles, then making the one-way trip of 7 very steep miles, this is for the more experienced hiker. However, if this is remotely in your wheelhouse you will be greatly rewarded with the quite and the epic views of nature and the Tetons at their finest.

Finally, hiking in Grand Tetons National Park is not just an amazing adventure, it is creating those memories you will truly never forget. Now if you want the story, then hiking Death Canyon is the one for you. Trail begins at the White Grass Ranger Station, and climbs (this is not a drill) for 4 miles to Static Peak Junction, this is a natural turn-around spot, but you could always continue to Teton Crest Trail. Remember this is a one way hike, so allow yourself plenty of time and light to get back to the trailhead safely.

Hotels at Grand Teton National Park

There are four lodges in Grand Teton National Park, The Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch is the furthest north and most convenient if you are sharing time between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. The Jackson Lake Lodge has the best views over the largest lake in the park Jackson Lake, and can help to coordinate horseback riding if that is on your list. The next lodge south is the Signal Mountain Lodge, also located on Jackson Lake. Jenny Lake Lodge is the most expensive and luxurous of the lodges in the park, be prepared to spend $1,000 a night to stay here.

There are also cabins in the Grand Tetons, Ccolter Bay Village Cabins are conveniently located on Jackson Lake, have plenty of amenities and the price point can be more achievable than the lodges. The Cabins at Flagg Ranch are nice because they are very far north, making them helpful when you want to split time between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. It is less convenient if you are trying to get parking at the always packed Jenny Lake, or some of the trailheads later in the day.

You need to book any of the Cabins, or Lodges in Grand Tetons through the NPS website, and you should attempt to do so 366 days in advance. If you haven’t tried already, you can try now. This can help keep your costs lower, and save you driving time when staying else where.

If you cannot stay in the park, then the next best option would be to shop around in Jackson Wyoming. There are quite a few options if you are looking for cabins, traditional hotel, or lodge style accommodations.

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Grand Tetons National Park Camping

There are a ton of options for Grand Teton campgrounds, starting North to South:

• Flagg Ranch Campgrounds
• Sheffield Campground
• Lizard Creek Campground
• Colter Bay Campground
• Pacific Creek Campground (requires 4 wheel drive, road is unpaved)
• Signal Mountain Campground
• Hatchet Campground
• Teton Canyon (requires 4 wheel drive, road is unpaved)
• Jenny Lake Campground
• Atherton Creek Campground
• Crystal Creek Campground (requires 4 wheel drive, road is unpaved)
• Gros Ventre Campground
• Mike Harris Campground
• Trail Creek Campground

As you can see there really are a ton of campgrounds in and near Grand Teton National Park. Make sure you are prepared for the elements if you go the camping route, and you keep all food in bear safe containers. You are out in the nature and nature is hungry, don’t attract them to your food, it never ends well.

The views and the amazing experience that camping Grand Teton National Park will give you, will be the best memories and experiences for a lifetime, and you will for sure be amazed at how truly proud of yourself you will be when you can say you camped in Grand Tetons National Park.

Grand Teton National Park RV Camping

Grand Tetons RV camping options are also numerous in locations, but not so numerous in quantity, they fill up really quickly and can be difficult to snag if you don’t book early: Magic number is 366 days in advance

Grand Teton Locations for RV Camping

• Flagg Ranch
• Colter Bay
• Lizard Creek Campground (no hook-ups)
• Gros Ventre
• Fireside Buffalo Valley RV Park (not in Grand Tetons, but just outside of the Moran Entrance)

If you are rolling in an RV, staying in the Grand Teton RV camping options on site are amazing. The electric spots fill up fast, so we went with the Fireside Buffalo Valley RV Park. They had easy pull through spots, put us along a fence where beautiful horses trotted by in the evenings, and you could watch the sunset over the Tetons. I like RV’s, but I don’t like roughing it… yes that is my french press in there… so this is the best option. Full electric and water hook-up and a super short drive to the entrance of the park. The price was decent, not as inexpensive as dry (no hook-up) camping in the park, but for the amenities, I’ll take a hot shower any day.

Jackson Hole to Grand Tetons

Maybe you are a baller and you flew into Jackson Hole, (you are smart the 3,000 mile drive might be a little much), you are halfway between Jackson Wyoming and Grand Tetons National Park. If you are trying to ball on a budget and didn’t fly in there, then coming south out of Grand Tetons you take a right on the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Highway and drive 13 miles southeast to Jackson. During the summer this drive can take you 30-60 minutes depending on traffic.

On the way stop by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, it is on the right and hard to miss, the Elk statues are amazing. Even if you just take a quick drive to admire the statues on the outside of the building you can’t go wrong.

Jackson Hole is the valley east of the Grand Teton Mountain Range, the town is just call Jackson. Asking a local will sometimes help you seem like you got the lingo more put together. Spend an afternoon exploring, shopping and maybe even catch a quick meal. Be warned though, during the summer it can get very busy, and you might just want to do the shopping, grab a coffee and make some food at your camping/ lodge/ cabin location to save on headaches.

The Cowboy Coffee Co. is a great little stop and its location on the square cannot be beat. Grab yourself a Huckleberry Mudpot as this is the only place you can get a moose on your coffee. What a perfect way to start or end your day!

If you are staying in Jackson, then enjoy exploring and being in the center of it all! If you are not, remember your drive back will likely get dark early and you are in the big animals nature so keep in mind the time it will take to drive back and drive safely.

Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park

Planning a trip from Yellowstone to Grand Teton can be logistically difficult, but it can be an amazing adventure.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton are two connecting National Parks, and as the North gate of the Grand Tetons is the South gate of Yellowstone it is easy to pass from one to the other. You will have to pay for entrance fees to both parks, as each park costs $35 for a week you will be better off paying for the America the Beautiful Pass, which gives you access to all National Parks for a whole year.

Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are both located in Wyoming. If you can plan 4-5 days in the area, you can have an amazing trip, plan 2 days in Yellowstone and 3 days hiking, and exploring Grand Tetons.

A Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary

Day 1-Yellowstone

• Explore North Yellowstone, Mammoth Springs, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Old Faithful

Day 2-Yellowstone

• Explore South Yellowstone, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, hike natural Bridge

Day 3- Grand Tetons

• Drive the loop from Moran Entrance through the park and back again

Day 4- Grand Tetons

• Head to Jenny Lake, hike to Inspiration Point and beyond if you are feeling ambitious

Day 5- Grand Tetons to Jackson

• Pick another hike in Grand Tetons, head to Jackson and explore the lovely small town vibes

Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park is the perfect summer vacation. It will be an epic adventure, exploring two of the United State’s best National Park’s. It is an amazing opportunity, the animals, the views, the mountains, the unique terrain, all of it will be a life changing experience. Take a moment to take it all in and enjoy the process.