- About – A little History
- How to visit
- Stay & Dine
- Best Time To Visit
- Top Things To Do & See In Grand Teton National Park
- 1 Day Itinerary
- 2 Days Itinerary
- What did we miss in this Trip and What we plan to cover In our next visit?
About – A little History
Grand Teton National Park is an American National Park in northwestern Wyoming. Its approximately 300,000 acres and includes the major peaks of the 40-mile long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole.
This national park is only 10 miles south of Yellowstone National Park, to which it is connected by the National Park Service managed John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Grand Teton National Park is named for Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the Teton Range.
The human history of the Grand Teton region dates back at least 11,000 years when the first nomadic hunter-gatherer Paleo-Indians began migrating into the region during warmer months to pursue food and supplies. In the early 19th century, the first explorers encountered the eastern Shoshone natives. Between 1810 and 1840, the region attracted fur trading companies that vied for control of the lucrative beaver pelt trade. U.S. government expeditions to the region commenced in the mid-19th century as an offshoot of exploration in Yellowstone, with the first permanent white settlers in Jackson Hole arriving in the 1880s.
Grand Teton National Park is a popular destination for mountaineering, hiking, fishing and other forms or recreation. The park has more than 1000 drive-in campsites and over 200 miles of hiking trails that provide access to backcountry camping areas. Noted for world-renowned trout fishing, the park is one of the few places to catch Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout. Grand Teton has several National Park Service–run visitor centers and privately operated concessions for motels, lodges, gas stations, and marinas.
How to visit
The best way and the most recommended to get to the park is by flying to the nearest airport and then get around by car. The closest airport to the park is Jackson Hole Airport (JAC).
| Airport | Driving Distance To The Park |
| Salt Lake City Airport, Utah (SLC) | Approx. 300 miles (5 – 6 hrs drive) |
| Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN) | Approx. 485 miles (7 – 8 hrs drive) |
| Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana (BZN) | Approx. 230 miles (4 – 5 hrs drive) |
| Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC) | Approx. 4.5 miles (10 mins drive) |
Quick Tip: If you want to save money, we recommend flying to Bozeman Airport and that way you can cover both Yellowstone and Grand Teton in one trip. However, if you are short of time, we recommend you fly to JAC and then rent a car to get around.
Important Note: If you are planning to fly into JAC, please remember that flights connectivity to this airport is lesser and its the only commercial airport within the national park boundaries. You might end up paying more for the air ticket. So plan accordingly.
Airlines that fly to JAC
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines all offer direct flights to the Jackson Hole Airport. For cheaper air tickets and more connectivity options, you will have to fly to Bozeman especially if you have not been to Yellowstone.
Tips for visiting
- Very Important: Download offline google maps. There is minimum network connectivity in the park. You will only be able to access wifi’s in visitor centers. So plan accordingly.
- If you are doing hiking, we strongly recommend to subscribe for Alltrails. We were initially hesitant to do this but later realized its importance.
- Install the National Park App and download the parks for offline use. This can be very helpful especially in a location where there is no network coverage.
- Always book in advance and try booking shoulder months where you can expect less crowds. Also check on the current road conditions.
- Although it can be hard to stick to your Itinerary due to weather conditions or traffic etc. it is still important to have a travel plan and make sure you always consider traffic when you plan. Please check weather conditions here.
- The weather can be very unpredictable, always be prepared. Have rain coats and have extra pair of clothing.
- Although the population of bears are lesser compared to Yellowstone, you may never know when you will encounter one. Stay on the trails and if you see a bear do not try to get closer and slowly back away. We have often seen people running behind bears to take pictures. Please respect the wildlife.
- Be prepared for the traffic especially during peak times and plan accordingly.
- As we always say, parking spaces can fill very quickly. So start your day early.
- Follow speed limits. Sometimes bears and other wildlife will be crossing the road and majority of the wildlife deaths are due to people’s negligence.
- Go hiking. The best way to enjoy the beauty of Grand Teton is by walk. Remember to check out popular hiking places in the park and plan accordingly.
- Bring Binoculars and Good Camera. We bought our binoculars on Amazon. They are not too expensive you can get one for a decent price. Observing wildlife is a popular attraction and you will definitely need binoculars.
- Grand Teton National park is open year-round. Depending on what activities you want to do, you can decide the best time to visit. We usually prefer summer since the wildlife are mostly active in Summer.
- Try to pay your entrance fees in advance. The entrance for the private vehicle is 35$. You can also get America the Beautiful annual pass at any national park entrances and they are 80$ per pass. Its definitely worth It!!
Where To Stay & Dine
There are quite few lodging options inside the park. However reservations are available 12 months in advance on a rolling basis and can be booked online. If you are planning on staying inside the park, make sure to book them in advance.
For lodging reservations, visit Grand Teton Lodging Company website. Some of the lodging options inside the park:
Jackson Lake Lodge – This lodge is close to Jackson Lake and Oxbow Bend and has nice views of the lake and Tetons.
Jenny Lake Lodge – This lodge is a walkable lodge to Jenny lake and the nicest lodge in the park which makes it very expensive. The accommodation includes a nightly five-course dinner, gourmet breakfast, daily horseback riding, and use of their cruiser style bicycles.
Colter Bay Village Lodge – Colter Bay Village has authentic homestead log cabins, tent cabins, campsites, and an RV park. Within walking distance of your accommodation you’ll find Jackson Lake, horseback riding, boat rentals, lake cruises, hiking trails, picnic areas, ranger programs, and a variety of onsite services.
There are also plenty of campgrounds in the park. For more information on campground reservations, visit NPS website.
Staying within the park was very expensive so we decided to stay outside the park. While we were in Grand Teton, we only stayed in an Airbnb (Cheryl’s place) in a town called Viktor in Idaho. Viktor is just about 45 mins drive from the south entrance of Grand Teton National Park.
Cheryl is a super host, very responsive and provided everything we needed for our stay and her place was great and it was perfect for us. We stayed here for two nights and we loved it. We definitely recommend. Total accommodation was about 530$ for two nights and two bedroom (we were 4 people staying) which is still reasonable for the location that close to Grand Teton and we were here during the peak time.
There is a grocery stores near by where you can pick up supplies for your trip. We bought some milk, eggs and bread. Her place had kitchen, one master bedroom and one common bedroom with separate bathroom and amazing living room with fireplace. We made morning breakfast with scrambled eggs and bread and tea. For more details on the listing check here.
Best Time To Go (Early July – Late Sep)
Although the park is open year-round, if you are looking for the best time to visit, then Early July to late September can be the best time when all visitor centers, hiking trails and other park activities including kayaking and fishing are open and accessible. One caveat to this is Tourist crowds and accommodation rates are also at their highest levels of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms are also common in July and August, so consider packing rain gears.
If you want to avoid crowd, go in September. We visited during the month of June and we still observed light showers during the day. We definitely recommend going in August or early September.
The park is very pretty during the fall which is what we are planning to do for our next visit. For more information regarding fall season visit, check the NPS website.
Important: Weather can change very quickly so plan accordingly. Sometimes one visit might not be enough because of challenging weather conditions.
Note: Grand Teton is also popular for its scenic beauty and photographers spend many days in the park to get those stunning pictures. For this you will need very good sunlight. When we went we observed light showers and we were not completely happy with the photos. So we plan on visiting again just for this.
How many days do you need
Spending a day in the park should be doable. But if you want good amount of time to see top attractions in the park, we recommend at least 2 to 3 days. If you have more time, even better that way you can have plenty of time to hit the hiking trails and get some time close by or on the lakes and rivers.
Visitor Centers
There are 4 visitor centers in Grand Teton National Park.
- Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center (April through October)
The grand expanse of the Teton Range rises above the visitor center. Inside, interwoven themes of place, people, preservation, mountaineering, and American Indians encourage visitors to contemplate the past, present, and future of this place. Visit this facility for trip planning information, backcountry or boating permits. Shop at the Grand Teton Association bookstore, enjoy the variety of exhibits and artwork, attend a ranger program or watch a movie about the park.
Physical Address
100 Discovery Way
Moose, WY 83012
Phone: (307) 739-3399
How to get here: Located 12 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming just off US Highway 26/89/191. Turn west at Moose Junction onto the Teton Park Road. Continue for 0.5 mile and cross the Snake River. Turn left/south into the parking lot.
- Colter Bay Visitor Center (May to October)
Colter Bay Visitor Center provides great views of Jackson Lake. Inside, view 35 artifacts from the David T. Vernon Indian Arts Collection. The auditorium hosts ranger-led programs and shows a variety of park-related videos throughout the day. Visit this facility for trip planning information, backcountry, or boating permits. Shop at the Grand Teton Association bookstore, attend a ranger-led program, or visit nearby shops and restaurants.
Physical Address
640 Cottonwood Way
Moran, WY 83013
Phone: (307) 739-3594
How to get here: Heading north on US 26/89/191, turn left (north) at Moran Junction and continue 10.5 miles on US 89/191/287 to the Colter Bay Village sign, turn left (west) and continue about one mile to the visitor center. Heading south on US 89/191/287 from Yellowstone National Park, continue 18.5 miles to the Colter Bay Village sign, turn right (west) and continue about one mile to the visitor center.
General Store at Colter Bay Visitor Center
- Jenny Lake Visitor Center (May through September)
Harrison Crandall built this visitor center in 1921 near the Cathedral Group Turnout as his studio. Today, the visitor center highlights art in the park through Crandall and other artist’s work. Shop the Grand Teton Association bookstore, attend a ranger program or begin your backcountry adventure. Rangers are available in the plaza and on trails for trip planning and information. The nearby Jenny Lake Ranger Station offers backcountry permits.
Physical Address
403 South Jenny Lake Dr.
Moose, WY 83012
Phone: (307) 739-3392
How to get here: Heading north from Jackson on US 26/89/191, turn left (west) at Moose Junction and continue eight miles north to South Jenny Lake Junction. Turn left (west) into the developed area. Heading south from Yellowstone on US 89/191/287, turn right (southwest) at Jackson Lake Junction and continue 12 miles south to South Jenny Lake Junction. Turn right (west) into the developed area.
- Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve Center (May through September)
The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center allows visitors to learn about Mr. Rockefeller’s vision and his legacy of conservation stewardship. Exhibits engage visual, tactile, and auditory senses through a poem by Terry Tempest Williams, audio recordings of Mr. Rockefeller, videos, photography, and a soundscape room. Visitors may relax in the resource room, attend a ranger program, or strike out on a hike to Phelps Lake. The center does not have a sales area or offer permits.
Physical Address
9001 Moose-Wilson Road
Moose, WY 83012
Phone: (307) 739-3654
How to get here: The Preserve Center is NOT accessible to vehicles over 23.3 feet long or trailers. Access to the center will be impacted by Moose-Wilson Road Construction in 2022. Heading north from Teton Village on WY 390, continue 3.2 miles from the Granite Entrance Gate and turn right (east) at the Preserve Center sign. Heading south from Moose on the Teton Park Road, turn south at the sign reading “Wilson Road/Teton Village 9 miles.” Continue 3.7 miles and turn left (east) at the Preserve Center sign.
Top Things To Do & See In Grand Teton National Park
- John Rockefeller Jr Memorial Pkwy
- View Wildlife
- Jackson Lake Dam
- Jackson Lake & Lodge
- Oxbow Bend
- Mormon Row
- Chapel Of The Sacred Heart
- Snake River Overlook
- Moose Wilson Road
- Schwabacher Landing
- Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point Trail
- Teton Village
- Pilgrim Creek (Grizzly Bear 399 – Queen of the Tetons Birthplace)
- Chapel Of the transfiguration
- Dornans Bakery
- String Lake
- Visit the Jackson Town Square
John Rockefeller Jr Memorial Pkwy
Located at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. The parkway provides a natural link between the two national parks and contains features characteristic of both areas. In the parkway, the Teton Range ramps down a gentle slope at its northern end, while rocks born of volcanic flows from Yellowstone line the Snake River and form outcrops scattered atop hills and ridges. The parkway is administered by the Grand Teton National Park.
Images from left to right: Mule deers grazing in the area, and Jackson Lake.
How to get here: The memorial parkway is 27 miles stretch of Federally owned land that connects the northern end of the Grand Tetons to West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. You can drive the entire 27 mile stretch parkway and see attractions along the way. If your timing is right, you will also spot bears and deers along the way.
Wildlife at Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton’s top attraction is wildlife viewing. Although the chances of seeing wildlife is lesser compared to Yellowstone, its still possible to view wildlife if your timing is right. We were lucky enough to spot bears, elks, moose, Coyote and Mule deers during our visit. We were so lucky to spot a Coyote which we initially thought it was wolf, but later confirmed from the park ranger that it was indeed a Coyote. There were also some deers which we saw along the Rockefeller parkway.
Some of the popular spots to view wildlife in the park are:
- Moose Wilson Road
- Oxbow Bend
- National Elk Refuge
- Mormon Row
- Snake River
- Elk Ranch Flats turnout
(Grizzly 610 seen with her cubs at a distance near Colter Bay Village – Grizzly 610 is daughter of the world famous Grizzly 399)
Important: Colter Bay Area is very popular because of frequent visits by the Grizzly 610 and her cubs. Sometimes they even close off the trails to visitors for the safety of both bears and visitors.
From left to right: Momma and baby moose and Coyote
Jackson Lake Dam
Jackson Lake is a 400 foot-deep natural lake with a dam added on top. The original log-crib dam constructed in 1906-07, failed in 1910. In 1916, the Bureau of Reclamation completed a concrete dam raising the pool level by 39 feet. The increased water level flooded the surrounding forest, drowning many trees. Young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps helped to clear the shores of Jackson Lake and burn the slash piles during the Great Depression. Today, enjoy the views across Jackson Lake or fish in the Snake River below the dam.
How to Visit: If you are coming from Jackson Lake Junction, you can turn left by the dam and park at the designated parking lot. Remember that the parking is limited here. The dam parking is easily accessible by road.
Important: If you are coming in the evening, you will definitely need a bug spray.
What you can do there? You can take photos, Go Fishing or have a picnic. For fishing you will need a license and its a popular activity here. You can drive across the dam to the south side and you will find great parking spots to picnic while overlooking the dam & the Tetons.
Jackson Lake Dam
Jackson Lake & Lodge
Jackson lake is in Grand Teton National Park in the northwestern Wyoming. This natural lake was enlarged by the construction of the Jackson Lake Dam, which was originally built in 1911, enlarged in 1916 and rebuilt by 1989. As part of the Minidoka Project the top 33 ft of the lake is used by farmers in Idaho for irrigation purposes under water rights legislation that was enacted prior to the establishment of Grand Teton National Park. The lake is almost 15 miles long and lies at the base of the Tetons, with Mt Moran towards the southern end and Steamboat Mountain on the north end.
The lake is up to 15 mi (24 km) long, 7 mi (11 km) wide and 438 ft (134 m) deep. The water of the lake averages below 60 °F (16 °C), even during the summer.
How to visit: Jackson Lake is accessible both during summer and winter but the best time being summer. It is accessible by the outer Teton Park Road and John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway.
Important: Please make sure to check at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose for updates before visiting.
Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake Lodge sits on a natural bluff overlooking Jackson Hole and the Teton Range. From inside, visitors have views of the Tetons. Due to its exceptional national importance in the ares of the architecture, landscape architecture, conservation, and recreation, the Jackson Lake Lodge has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
You can do a variety of activities at the Lodge including stay or dining, Hike from the Lodge, plan a horseback ride or just stop at the Lodge.
How to Visit: To visit Jackson Lake Lodge, you will need to drive Highway 89/191 north towards Yellowstone. Follow signs for Jackson Lake Lodge, just north of the Jackson Lake Junction.
You can stay here during the summer but the rates are very expensive starting from 499 to 549$ USD per night during months of July, August & September.
Important: If you are looking for Gas Stations, there is one near by the Lodge.
Jackson Lodge Lobby Area
Me standing next to a stuffed Alaskan Grizzly Bear which was hunted and killed in 1985 (Look at the size of it!!!)
Oxbow Bend
Oxbow Bend is an overlook along highway 89/191 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. An oxbow is a crescent-shaped section of river lying alongside a flowing, winding river. The oxbow is created over time as erosion and deposits of soil change the river’s course.
Oxbow Bend is home to a variety of birds and animals, including pelicans, Great Blue Herons, muskrats, otters, moose, and bear. On calm days, Mount Moran can be seen reflected on the surface of the water. Oxbow Bend is a popular area to view sunrise or sunset, and is visited by photographers hoping to capture the river and Teton Range.
Oxbow bend overlook from the Rockefeller Parkway
Oxbow Bend Lookout
Mormon Row
Mormon Row, formerly known as the town of Grovont, was settled in the late 1890s by Mormons from the Salt Lake region. Due to the Homestead Act of 1862, which granted land ownership to any person willing to build a house and cultivate the area for five years, this community was able to establish a presence in the area east of Blacktail Butte. Settlers secured 27 homesteads that they built close together to share labor and community.
Today, two picturesque barns highlight Mormon Row. Settlers John and Thomas Alma (T.A.) Moulton build these barns on adjacent homesteads. After nearly 30 years of working the land, John replaced his log home and barn with a new carpenter-constructed, pink stucco frame house and impressive, two-story gambrel barn north of Antelope Flats Road.
What is so special about this? Photographers from around the world stop by the Moulton barns to capture this iconic historic structure with the Teton Range in the background.
Important: Since this is a popular attraction for taking pictures, its very crowded during sunrise and sunset.
How to get here? Mormon Row has two sections: north and south of Antelope Flats Road. The northern side is reached by parking in a gravel lot and traversing along an old dirt road. The road is level but contains ruts and holes.
The southern side can be reached by a dirt road (barns are easily viewed from road) or by parking in a dirt lot and traversing along the flat dirt road.
T. A. Moulton Barn
Chapel of the sacred heart
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart is a wedding chapel in Teton County and its on Catholic Bay of Jackson Lake. The beautiful chapel was built in 1937 and is recognized by the Teton County Historic Preservation Board as being more than 50 years old. The Catholic Church owns the chapel and usually offers Sunday services during the summer. A picnic area is next to the chapel and offers views of Jackson Lake.
Physical Address: Grand Teton National Park, Teton Park Rd, Alta, WY 83414
Phone: (307) 733-2516
Snake River Overlook
In the year 1942, Ansel Adams took the iconic picture of the Snake River and its meandering curves with the Tetons in the background. Not only did he capture the beauty of this area, he did it with black and white film.
The headwaters for the Snake River are in the Teton Wilderness just outside of Yellowstone National Park. After flowing into Yellowstone briefly, the river cuts through Grand Teton National Park, across Idaho and flows into the Columbia River in Washington. Previous names include the Lewis River (after Lewis & Clark), La Maudite Riviere Enragee, the Mad River, Sho-sho-ne-pah (or Shoshone Indians) that lead to the final name Snake River.
Ansel Adams Snake River Overlook black & white photo
Snake River Overlook (Credits: More Than Just Parks)
Important to note: This is not a hike area but just a site you can drive up to and the best time to visit is either during sunrise or sunset when you can get the perfect picture. Remember, its always crowded during sunrise/sunset since many photographers come here around that time just to capture that perfect photo.
Moose Wilson Road
Moose wilson is a corridor road connecting the towns of Moose and Wilson. The road winds through forest and marsh habitats, and is home to various species of wildlife. The stretch of road provides access to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, and the Granite and Death Canyon Trailheads.
If you are on this road early in the morning and later in the evenings, your chances of viewing a wildlife are very high. Keep an eye out along the slopes of the roadside and the underbrush. While you’re here, you’re also likely to spot deer, otters, bald eagles, and swans. Rangers told us to drive through this road especially in the early mornings to see Moose and Bears. We were fortunate enough to see Mamma and Baby moose however they were facing away from the road but it was definitely worth the drive.
Schwabacher Landing
Schwabacher Landing is named after a family of German immigrant settlers who arrived in the area in the late 1800s and established a homestead near the landing. While today the area is popular for photography thanks to its still waters and scenic qualities, in the not too distant past the area served as a boat launch and landing providing important access to the Snake River.
Schwabacher Landing is a famous viewpoint at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Beaver dams have altered the course of the river here to create this tranquil landing which is nearly perpetually glassy, making for perfect mirror reflections of the iconic Teton Mountains looming over the river.
Schwabacher Landing is a favorite spot among photographers who visit the park due to the sensational mirrored reflection of the Teton Mountains found here. Schwabacher Landing is easy to access for visitors of all ages and abilities requiring only a short walk from the parking lot.
About
Trail Length: 0.1 miles
Trail difficulty: Easy
Location: 5 miles north of Moose, WY
Grand Teton National Park Map (Source: NPS)
Directions: Schwabacher Landing is located 5 miles north of Moose, Wyoming in the heart of Grand Teton National Park. The landing is just 25 minutes from the Jackson, WY, which serves as a convenient base camp for most tourists visiting the park.
From the parking lot visitors have the option to visit both Upper Schwabacher Landing and Lower Schwabacher Landing. Both are beautiful views but Lower Schwabacher is the more photogenic site.
Parking at Schwabacher Landing: Parking is divided into upper and lower Schwabacher landing. Upper Schwabacher offers its own unique views and is usually quite a bit easier to find parking than the lower landing.
Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point Trail
Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake Scenic Drive is a one-way road that follows along eastern edge of Jenny Lake and this drive is on the North entrance of the lake. Along the way, stop at the Jenny Lake overlook for best views of the lake.
How to do the Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point hike: The hike to hidden falls and Inspiration point journey will start with a boat ride across the beautiful Jenny Lake. As of 2024, the boat ride which runs every 10 – 15 mins costs 20$ per person for the round trip as per their website.
Important: If you are not up for walking too much, then this ride is best way to eliminate the 2 miles from your hike. Advance reservations for the boat ride are not required but recommended. Lastly remember to check on the last boat ride back which is at 7pm during summer. If you miss this boat ride, you will have to hike the additional 2 miles.
Whether you ride the shuttle boat or the hike the whole way to Jenny Lake, you will start at the Jenny Lake visitor center which is located off of Teton Park Road, 7.9 miles from the turnoff on US highway 191.
Shuttle Boat dock area
Important: There are two entrances to the lake. Jenny lake South and Jenny Lake North. You must enter at Jenny Lake South for the boat ride and hike. Jenny Lake North will take you to the Jenny Lake Drive which is the scenic drive and this entrance is also the entrance for String Lake which we will discuss later in this guide.
Taking a boat ride is also another way to enjoy the scenic beauty of this lake. Once you get off from the shuttle boat, you will hike to Hidden falls, Inspiration Point and then back down to the boat.
Inspiration Point is an easy, 1.8 mi (2.9 km) RT out and back hike with 550 ft (170 m) of elevation gain with an average slope of 16%. The first stop in this hike is the hidden falls and its called that way for a very good reason. Keep an eye out for the short left turn at the sign for hidden falls. Upon continuing along the Hidden lake, you will see a sign for the inspiration point.
Jenny Lake Entrance and you can see the parking area behind.
Directions to Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point along the hike
Hidden Falls
Inspiration point isn’t much farther from the hidden falls and its about 0.5 miles of hike. You’ll walk along the carved out rock ledges and enjoy a fantastic view of valley below. You will know when you get to inspiration point, because you will see the views of Jenny Lake and the Jackson Hole valley open up to you.
Note: If you are interested in hiking further, you can continue your hike to Cascade Canyon. Cascade Canyon is moderately Strenuous and takes about 9.4 miles round trip via Shuttle Boat. We saw many people who continued their hike from inspiration point. We didn't do this since we were short on time. But if you are up for it and have more time its highly recommended because of the stunning views along the hike.
Teton Village
Teton Villager is small town in Jackson Hole that surrounds the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This is a place you want to check out for Live outdoor music, climbing walls, tram rides, hikes and mountain biking trails during the summer. Its also a place for high end boutiques and sporting goods stores. During winter, this is the ideal location for Skiing, Snowmobiling, Dog Sledding and tons of other activities. You can check here for more information.
For more information on things to do, calendar of events, check out the website.
Pilgrim Creek
Have you heard of the World famous Grizzly Bear and the Queen of the Tetons? Well thats Grizzly Bear 399. She is a grizzly bear inhabiting Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest. She is followed by as many as 40 wildlife photographers,[and millions of tourists come to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to see her and the other grizzly bears. Grizzly 399 is the most famous brown bear mother in the world, with her own Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
The reason she is famous is because she is the oldest Grizzly bear (27 years old) and has given birth to 18 children and has numerous grandchildren and most recently she gave birth to another bear at the age of 27 in 2023. Every year photographers from around the world gather near the pilgrim creek area just to catch a glimpse of her coming out of hibernation. In the year 2020, she gave a surprise to all the photographers when she came out of hibernation with her 4 cubs.
During our visit, we spent so much time circling around the pilgrim creek and the oxbow bend and snake river area just to catch a glimpse of her. But unfortunately, we could not see her. However we were able to see the fresh foot tracks of her and her cub. We got to know from one of the local photographer that she had visited the area just few mins back with her cub. He was kind enough to show us the picture and even asked us to use it. Special thanks to Michael Flannery. He has visited the park so many times and has stayed for so many days and has been following 399. You can also check out his facebook profile here.
Many people believe that this might be 399’s last cub because of her age and her cub is dearly named as Spirit from photographers around the world because of its gigantic size and its super active for a bear cub. Some people also dearly call the cub as miracle. If you are interested to learn more, you can check out her instagram and Facebook page and if you are interested in reading, there are some books as well. You can buy them on amazon for 46$ USD.
Grizzly 399 and her cub Spirit. Photo Credits: Michael Flannery
For more information, you also can check out the wiki page and this article by Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery.
Chapel Of the transfiguration
This is a small chapel located in the town of Moose, WY. This is a small log chapel build in 1925, offers spectacular views of the Teton Mountain Range and a majestic place to pray. This chapel will seat 65 people with additional seating outside, weather permitting.
How to Visit? Located 15 miles from the town of Jackson in Moose, WY and please close to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.
Dornans Bakery
Although we did not visit this place, we plan to visit here next time when we are in Grand Teton. This is a popular family-owned and operated resort located in the heart of Jackson Hole on the bank of the Snake River inside the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park.
They have Pizza & Pasta & wine shops and they also serve nice Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. They also have lodging options. For more info, visit https://dornans.com/dining/
Physical Address:
12170 Dornans Road
Moose, WY 83012
String Lake
String Lake is a shallow lake and is popular area for picnics and swimming. You can also bring your own boat and paddle around String Lake before going up to Leigh Lake.
If you are interested in hike around the lake, there is an easy 3.7 mile loop hike with 540ft of elevation gain and an average slope of 6%.
Important: Black Bears are common around String lake. So always be in groups and stay alert.
How to get to String String Lake: You can access the String Lake Trailhead from the Jenny Lake Scenic loop Drive. Turn west at North Jenny Lake Junction, bend north where the road splits and choose from a series of Parking lots. First Parking lot is the String Lake Trailhead and the second lot is for Canoe Launch for string lake. The third lot provides access to the Leigh Lake Trailhead and String Lake Picnic Area.
We did not do the hike. Instead we parked at the String Lake Trailhead and took some pictures and spent some time along the shore of the lake. If you are short on time, we recommend you do this instead of the 3.7 mile loop hike.
Jackson Town Square
Jackson’s Town Square, formally named George Washington Memorial Park, is the cultural, civic, and business heart of our community. Dedicated as a park in 1934, each corner hosts arches made from elk antlers collected from the nearby Elk Refuge. The first antler arch was built in 1953, and each arch is disassembled and recreated periodically. The center of the park contains a stone memorial honoring local veterans.
This beautiful town square is surrounded by local businesses of all kinds including restaurants, art galleries, and retail shops. This is also the place to start your day with nice breakfast and have some nice Coffee at Cowboy Coffee Co.
There is also a famous Cowboy bar located on the town square in the heart of Jackson. For more information, visit Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
Cowboy Coffee Co In Jackson Town Square
1 Day Itinerary
- Craig Thomas visitor center
- Take the 42 mile scenic drive
- Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher landing
- Mormon Row
- Moose Wilson Road (perfect place to catch glimpse of moose during dawn or dusk)
- Jenny Lake
- Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point
- Snake River overlook
- Jackson Lake & Overlook
- Jackson Lake Lodge
- Visit the Million Dollar Cowboy bar in downtown (When we went the restaurant was booked for the night)
- Must visit to Pilgrim Creek Area (If you are lucky you will be able to catch a glimpse of World famous Grizzly 399 bear)
- Dornans Bakery
2 Days Itinerary
Do all from Day 1
- String Lake
- Taggart Lake (We didn’t have time to do this and this is definitely on our list for next visit)
- Chapel of the transfiguration
- National Museum of Wildlife art (We didn’t have time to do this and this is definitely on our list for next visit)
- Persephone Bakery (We didn’t visit this. You can also do this on day 1 if you can squeeze in sometime)
- Visit Teton Village & Gondola Ride (We didn’t do the Gondola Ride but just visited the Teton Village)
- Visit National Elk Refugee (We didn’t have time to do this and this is definitely on our list for next visit)
What did we miss in this Trip and What we plan to cover In our next visit?
Of some of the attractions we missed during our trip to Grand Teton, the most important was Sunlight (Yes that’s right!!) and getting a chance to see the world famous Grizzly Bear (Bear 399 – Queen of Tetons).
Most of the iconic pictures on social media and also one of the popular attraction in Teton is taking pictures and for that you will definitely need great Sunlight. When we visited in June, the weather was very gloomy for the two days we spent there and we were very disappointed with the photos we took. We definitely plan on visiting Grand Teton again just for this and to see the World famous Grizzly Bear.
For our next trip, we plan on covering the below attractions along with revisiting the top attractions of the park:
- Taggart Lake (3 mile Round trip hike with 360ft of elevation gain, located roughly 2.3 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station).
- Phelps Lake Loop (6.4 miles round trip loop trail with 1060 ft of elevation gain. This is moderate trail providing access to Phelps lake as well as wells into the Death Canyon and the southern end of the Teton Range).
- Signal Mountain (7727 ft mountain in Jackson Hole. You can access the summit of the mountain by car or foot. From the Summit, you can have panoramic views of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range). You can also do the Signal Mountain Trail which is a moderate 6.8 miles out and back trail. It takes about 3-5 hrs on an average to complete the hike. To access the trail you will need to park at Signal Mountain Lodge.
Coming Soon: A youtube video on the Grand Teton National Park.
ARPostCardJourneys 