Trip to Grand Teton National Park
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
General
Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwestern part of the state of Wyoming. The Teton Mountains, located on the western side of the park, are a chain of ranges that split off from the Rocky Mountains. The peaks reach heights of up to 4,500 meters and are snow-capped year-round. The eastern side of the park is the Jackson Hole Valley. What makes the park special is the combination of high mountains and a green valley containing eight large lakes and dozens of small ones. The park features glaciers, snow fields, and many forests. The variety of vegetation is vast, providing different habitats for the many animals in the area. The Snake River flows from the east of the park to the northern part of Jackson Lake and continues from its southeastern corner to the center of Jackson Hole. The park's area is about 1,200 square kilometers. Number of visitors to the park: Over 4 million per year, most of them between late May and late September. Grand Teton was declared a national park in 1929.
The park is open to visitors year-round, but service and lodging facilities are only open from June through September.
♦ Recommended accommodation
A short drive from the park is the town of Jackson, which is a charming resort town, and I recommend staying there (or at least visiting it). There are many hotels and motels in the town:
A high-quality 4-star hotel with rooms and suites of up to two bedrooms. Includes a pool and hot tub. Free breakfast, internet, and parking. Gym and spa.
A 4-star hotel with rooms and suites. Spa, wellness center, and massages. Restaurant. Free internet and parking.
♦ Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole A 3-star hotel, free internet and parking. Gym.
A 2-star hotel. Free internet and parking.
Inside the park there are several hotels:
The most luxurious and expensive among them is: Jenny Lake Lodge.
Another high-end hotel is: Jackson Lake Lodge.
In Colter Bay there are pleasant cabins, some with private bathrooms. Rooms with shared bathrooms are cheaper. You can also stay in tent cabins at Colter Bay for affordable prices. For all these hotels, it is necessary to book many months in advance.
In Grand Teton there are also five campgrounds. They cannot be reserved in advance and operate on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
Park Location and Transportation:
Grand Teton National Park is located on the northwestern side of the state of Wyoming, south of Yellowstone National Park, via Route 191-89-287 (one road with three "names") and north of the town of Jackson via Route 191-89-26. From the east, you arrive at Moran Jct. at the eastern entrance to the park via Route 26-287.
The distance between the southern entrance of Yellowstone and the northern entrance of Grand Teton is only 4 km. The distance between the southern entrance of Yellowstone and the southern entrance of Grand Teton is about 90 km. The driving time without stops on this segment is about an hour and a half.
The nearest airport is located in Jackson Hole near the southern entrance to the park. Major airports through which most visitors arrive at the park are: Salt Lake City (Utah), located southwest of the park, and Boise (Idaho), located west of the park.
Weather:
Winters are long and extremely cold. The first snow falls before the beginning of November and continues until the end of March, though there is a chance of snow in any month of the year. On winter nights, the temperature drops below -20 degrees Celsius. In winter, most roads and trails are blocked by snow, and if you are not a fan of skiing and freezing cold, you will not enjoy a visit to the park. The weather in summer is pleasant: the daytime temperature is 21-26 degrees Celsius and nights are cool with temperatures of 6-10 degrees. Light thunderstorms are also common in summer. In September-October, the weather is usually pleasant but can be cold (around zero degrees Celsius), particularly in the evening and at night.
Restaurants
Inside Grand Teton there are several restaurants of various types: snack bars, family restaurants, and elegant restaurants. Prices in all of them, even the simplest, are not cheap. Small food and supply shops are located near the hotels. In Jackson, the variety of restaurants is much larger and the price range fits every budget.
Recommended activities in and around the park:
Booking guided tours from Jackson via GetYourGuide:
In Grand Teton there are four visitor centers; in all of them, you can get maps, explanations, and information about the various activities provided by the Rangers free of charge. Each center has a different and interesting display: At the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, there is a geological display of the park; at the Moose Visitor Center, a display of the rare and endangered animals that live in the park; at Flagg Ranch, an information station about the extended area, including Yellowstone National Park; and at Colter Bay, a nice museum of Indian culture. If your time is short, visit only this visitor center. All visitor centers are located along the main roads in the park. In the park, there are 160 km of roads and 320 km of hiking trails. Many of the trails are intended for experienced hikers and mountain climbers, but some are definitely suitable for families.
Jenny Lake:
Guided nature tour in the park at sunset, bookable via Viator:
♦ Guided Wildlife Safari- Sunset 4-Hour Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure
A tour at sunset. Lasts 4 hours. Departs from the town of Jackson.
The most recommended points to visit in the park are:
Signal Mountain Summit Road:
The road to the summit of Signal Mountain starts about 1.6 km south of the Signal Mountain Lodge and is about 8 km long. The road winds up to the mountain peak, which offers a panoramic view of the entire Teton Range, Jackson Lake, and most of Jackson Hole. Highly recommended!
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point:
The trail departs from the western side of Jenny Lake and climbs moderately up a hill from which a magical view of Jenny Lake and the entire valley is seen. The trail passes next to a stream, and on the way, you can see the Hidden Falls. The path is rich in vegetation, including beautiful flowers and small wildlife (mainly squirrels). The walk duration (round trip) is about two and a half hours (3.5 km) to Inspiration Point. You can reach the western side of the lake by walking several kilometers on the trail around the lake, but a much more convenient and faster way is by a small ferry boat (for a fee of 4 dollars per adult and 2.5 dollars per child round trip) to the trail's starting point. The boat sails frequently between 8:00-18:00 from the southern bank of the lake, near the visitor center. Highly recommended!
Jackson Lake Dam Overlook:
The dam, located about 1.6 km west of the Jackson Lake junction, raises the water level in the lake to a maximum of 13 meters. Park your car on the southwestern side of the dam and walk along a short trail by the lake. The view of the lake and the summit of Mt. Moran is beautiful, and the vegetation is rich and colorful.
Menor’s Ferry:
About 800 meters north of Moose, you will reach a short trail, about 800 meters long, called: Menor’s Ferry Trail. A walk along it will give you a glimpse into the lives of the pioneers who lived in Jackson Hole. It is worthwhile to cross the Snake River on a ferry that is a replica of the original that operated in the area during pioneer days (summer months only).
Boating on the Lakes:
You can rent a boat (motor or oars) and sail on one of the lakes (Jackson or Jenny). On Jackson Lake, you can also join a cruise to "Elk Island" which lasts an hour and a half. The ship sails several times a day from the Colter Bay Marina.
Jackson Lake:
Rafting in White Water:
Don't miss rafting in the white waters of the Snake River on large rubber boats. Besides the experience of paddling and the currents you will have to deal with (to keep you from getting wet from the cold river water, you will receive long raincoats for protection), the views you pass through are breathtakingly beautiful. The rafting is organized by private companies.
Inside Grand Teton and also outside of it, in the town of Jackson and other settlements near the river, there are many additional companies organizing similar rafting trips. For a family, an 8 km trip is definitely enough. For those afraid of white water, there are rafting routes in the calmer and quieter parts of the river. It is highly recommended to book in advance!
Additional activities organized in the park: horseback riding and fishing. For further details, check at one of the visitor centers.
♦ Booking a calm or stormy river rafting in the area (Book via Viator):
Sites in the Immediate Vicinity of the Park:
The Town of Jackson
The town, located at the southern entrance to the park, serves not only as a place for lodging and meals and a starting point for a trip to Grand Teton, but is also a tourist attraction in its own right. The town center is very pleasant and decorated with arches made of elk antlers. It is highly recommended to ascend to the mountain peak by an open chairlift to the "Snow King" site. The chairlift ride takes about 20 minutes in each direction. From the mountain peak, you can see Jackson spread out before you, adorned by the white peaks of the Teton Mountains. It's worth joining a guided Ranger tour at the mountain summit about the local flora and fauna and the effect of fires on nature. This is an interesting tour in a lovely landscape.
Near the chairlift's starting point is an "Alpine Slide" that children will not want to miss: you ascend by chairlift a distance of over 800 meters, which you return by riding a special sled on a winding track down the slope.
The site also features a mini-golf course and horseback riding tours. All these attractions are open and active only from late May until early September.
Jacksonhole Aerial Tram
For another stunning viewpoint, you can also take the Jacksonhole Aerial Tram, also known as "Big Red." This is a large cable car (designed for a maximum of 100 passengers) leading to a breathtaking 360-degree view at the top of the mountain, offering vistas of the Grand Teton and the surrounding mountain range. The cable car ride lasts 12 minutes. At the mountain peak, there are hiking trails, observation points, and a restaurant (whose sweet waffles have become famous and a particularly well-known dish...).
The town of Jackson from the mountain viewpoint:
In Jackson, many companies organize white water rafting on the Snake River. A refreshing and soaking experience that is suitable and highly recommended for families with children aged 6 and up. Each company has a variety of routes that differ in boat size, route length, and flow intensity. It is desirable to go for a rafting trip of about 3-4 hours. Most companies also have rafting in quiet and calm areas of the river for those looking for more serenity and not wanting to get wet.
In summer, various festivals and musical comedy shows take place in the town. The Wyoming Rodeo is a colorful rodeo competition held in the summer months twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. This is a recommended and inexpensive family experience. It is worthwhile to purchase a discounted family ticket. It is advisable to book tickets in advance.
Another recommended typical Wild West experience is a horse-drawn covered wagon trip that includes dinner with a show: Bar-T-5 Covered Wagon Cookout, only from mid-May until late September on all days of the week except Sundays.
National Museum of Wildlife Art
In winter or if the weather is rainy, it's nice to visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The museum has over two thousand works of art from North America, Europe, and the Far East, presenting and describing wildlife and the relationship between humans and nature.
Address: 2820 Rungius Road Jackson WY 83001.