One of two national parks in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park is only 10 miles south of Yellowstone, the other park in the state. It is best known for the spectacular peaks of the Teton Range as well as the Jackson Hole Valley. The park actually has a rich and interesting history of preservation and conservation. It took over half a century and a lot of effort and dedication to preserve all the land and eventually turn it to a national park. You can’t help but be glad that it finally happened. Here are 6 ideas for a great visit to Grand Teton National Park.
6 Ideas for a Great Visit to Grand Teton National Park
1. Drive the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
Because this is a very popular thing to do, arrive early for a more pleasant experience. It’s no fun looking for a parking spot or driving behind a bunch of cars. The highlight of the drive is the Jenny Look Overlook. Make sure to stop here for dramatic views of the Cascade Canyon and the lake itself. You can catch the Jenny Lake Trail here and either do the 6.6 mile loop of the lake or just hike for a bit and turn around.
2. Stop at String Lake
Right along the Jenny Loop Scenic Drive, before your hit the Overlook, you will come to a fork with a road to String Lake. Definitely take it. This lovely lake has beautiful views of the Grand Teton. It also seems like a great lake to kayak on.
3. Enjoy views of Mount Moran from Mount Moran Turnout
This is a picturesque stop along the Teton Park Road. Essentially, you’ll have splendid views of the glaciated Mount Moran and the whole Teton Range. The meadows here look fabulous as well.
4. Explore the Signal Mountain Area
Drive up to the top of Signal Mountain for beautiful views of the Jackson Hole Valley and the Teton Range. Because parking is limited do this early in the morning. Later, hang out by the marina and enjoy spectacular views of Jackson Lake and the Tetons seemingly emerging right out of the lake. The business area has a nice coffee bar with outdoor picnic tables and free WiFi, so it’s nice to sit there and send a couple of pictures to family and friends.
5. Check out the splendid views of the Snake River from the Snake River Overlook
Located along Highway 191, the Snake River Overlook gives you another vantage point to admire the Tetons from, this time with the winding Snake River in the foreground. Slightly north of the overlook, you can drive the Deadman’s Bar Road and access the river. This is a spot where a lot of rafting trips start and fly fishing trips terminate. When we were there, it was pretty quiet, and so it was nice to sit there and watch the river flow by.
6. Drive the Moose Jackson Road to Teton Village
The drive is very pleasant and you can look out for wildlife along the way. We spotted a cow moose in the wetlands but no bulls, unfortunately. There are several trailheads to different canyons, so if you’re up for a hike, this area is less crowded than the main roads in the park. Also, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve is located along the way with a trailhead to Phelps Lake. This is a prime bear country, so make sure to carry bear spray. By the time we arrived, the parking lot was full (parking along the road is not allowed), so we missed out on a hike.
Finally, enjoy spending some time at the Teton Village. Even though we were here during the coronavirus pandemic, their gondola was working with some safety protocols in place. We didn’t pursue the option but it would be a fun thing to do at another time.
Want something else to do? Drive the Pacific Creek Road and admire the wildflowers
When we visited, at the end of July, the whole park had beautiful flowers. However, the Pacific Creek Road was simply amazing. It was essentially a jungle of colorful meadows. If you’re here around that time, definitely check it out.
