Grand Teton National Park is one of those places that makes you want to keep coming back. It’s home to an abundance of wildlife, some of the best hiking terrain, picturesque landscapes, and some of the most beautiful mountains. But, with so much to see and do, it can be hard to narrow down your activities to suit your family’s needs. This in-depth guide to Grand Teton National Park will help you in planning your bucket list trip to the area!
Grand Teton National Park Fun Facts
- Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 by President Calvin Coolidge who approved the original 96,000-acre park, which encompassed the Teton Range and six glacial lakes. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the 210,000-acre Jackson Hole National Monument to protect the remaining federal lands on the valley floor. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman and Congress merged the monument, the national park, and a 35,000-acre donation from John D. Rockefeller to create the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park we visit today.
- The Teton Mountain Range was originally called “Teewinot” by the Shoshone people, which means “many pinnacles”. The park received its present name from French trappers in the early 19th century, who decided on “Les Trois Tetons,” which means “the three teats”.
- The park brings in more than two million recreational tourists each year.
- Grand Teton National Park sits on a vault line and earthquakes gave rise to the 40-mile-long Teton Range.
- The Tetons are the youngest range in the Rocky Mountains, with its formation beginning between six and nine million years ago. In fact, they are some of the youngest mountains in the world.
- There are eight peaks towering above 12,000 feet within the park. The highest peak, the Grand Teton, is 13,770 feet above sea level.
- Grand Teton National Park is the only national park in the United States that has a commercial airport. It was later added to Grand Teton National Park when Jackson Hole was absorbed by the National Park Service (NPS).
Must-Do Activities in Grand Teton National Park
Drive Teton Park Road
This is a scenic, 20-mile drive in the heart of Grand Teton National Park. It follows the base of the Teton Range and has many scenic pull-offs.
Scenic Rafting Trip
For a slower-paced activity, you can opt for a scenic rafting trip along the Snake River. The views offer a different perspective than from land. We loved our guide who gave us so many tips about the town and the best places to eat.
Explore Teton Village
This village is located a scenic 12 miles from Jackson. It is a quaint town that is worth exploring if you have the time. There is a Gondola that can take you up for some amazing views of the area.
- Restaurant Recommendations
- Mangy Moose
- Westbank Grill Four Seasons: Highly recommend the steaks, particularly the Bison tenderloin. Pair it with a nice wine for a great evening.
- Spur Restaurant and Bar
- Il Villaggio Osteria
Explore Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is a quaint western town that is centered around a square. There are tons of cute shops, galleries, places to eat, and breweries. I recommend spending an afternoon or morning exploring around.
- Dinner Recommendations
- White Buffalo: I would recommend the bison filet and the wagyu burger!
- Dornan’s: My favorite thing was the ice cream for dessert. It was some of the best I have ever had.
- The Local Restaurant and Bar: The hand-crafted charcuterie board was amazing. Also, recommend the Wild Alaskan Halibut and any steak on the menu!
- Pinky G’s Pizzeria
- Thai Me Up Restaurant and Brewery: Heard nothing but amazing things from multiple people who recommended this place. We did not make it, but we hope to try it out on our next trip.
- Hand Fire Pizza: We had the Apple of My Pie and ate it in the town square. It was one of my favorite memories!
- Breakfast Recommendations
- Café Genevieve: Both the regular and Cajun egg benedict was so good. Definitely recommend!
- Persephone Bakery: I’d recommend the breakfast sandwich and scone skillet along with a bakery item to split. Nothing here was disappointing!
- The Bunnery Bakery and Restaurant
- Lotus Café
- Healthy Being Café and Juicery
- Happy Hour Recommendations
- Snake River Brewing Co: The beers were great and they have a courtyard where you can hang out to enjoy them!
- Bin22 Happy Hour: In the grocery section of the store, you have to grab some Cream + Sugar Mini Sammies. They are locally made and so delicious!
Best Photo Spots in Grand Teton National Park
Are you looking for those iconic views of Grand Teton National Park? Sharing some of the best viewpoints and overlooks the park has to offer. If you can make it at sunrise or sunset, the views are even better!
Schwabacher Landing
Some of the best views of the Teton Range from an area on the Snake River.
Signal Mountain Overlook
From the summit, you will have picturesque panoramic views of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range.
Mormon Row
In 1890, the Mormons settled the area as what we now know as ‘Mormon Row.’ John Moulton Barn is the famous barn that everyone photographs with the Teton Range behind it.
Snake River Overlook
This spot gives you a stunning overlooking view of the Snake River with the Teton Range behind it.
Oxbow Bend Overlook
This area is a crescent-shaped section of the Snake River that gives stunning views of the Teton Range in the distance.
Blacktail Ponds Overlook
From this viewpoint, you get sweeping views of the ponds and wet meadows along the Snake River.
Togwotee Pass
As you drive over the pass, you will get some amazing views of the Teton Range. This spot is famous for van photos on the road (which you have probably seen all over Instagram).
Jenny Lake Loop Road
It is accessible right from Teton Park Loop Road and takes you past Jenny Lake and the Cathedral group of the Tetons.
Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park
Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Distance: 8.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 2349 feet
Level: Difficult
This trail is definitely physically demanding but is completely doable if you are a novice hiker. The hike may just take you a bit longer than those with experience. The hike up is the hardest and longest part, but you will get plenty of breaks stopping for viewpoints and photos throughout the trail. My recommendations include bringing plenty of snacks and water, at least one meal (such as a sandwich), and start your hike early to avoid peak temperatures mid-day. The trailhead parking lot fills up quickly, so I would recommend getting there as close to sunrise as possible or plan on adding some distance to your hike.
You will park in the Lupine Meadows Trailhead parking lot and begin your hike. At each junction, you will continue towards Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. There are a total of six switchbacks. At the end of the sixth switchback, look down and to the right. You will find makeshift steps in the dirt that signal you are at the Delta Lake Trailhead. The last part of the trail is full of boulder fields, loose dirt and gravel, and EXTREMELY steep climbing. But, the views were definitely worth it!
Cascade Canyon
Distance: 9.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1102 feet
Level: Moderate
This trail can start several different ways, but we started at Jenny Lake and took the ferry over. The shuttle boat eliminates a 2-mile hike (each way) to the Cascade Canyon trailhead. The shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes. If you plan to take the ferry, get there early as the line gets long quickly.
Once you arrive on the other side of the lake, you will hike up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point before continuing on to Cascade Canyon. This part of the trail is very busy as lots of people do the short hike up for the views. As you continue on into Cascade Canyon, note that the canyon views are not immediate. Keep hiking and the views are stunning and so worth the hike!
The trail ends at a fork and you can continue on to Lake Solitude (15.3-mile hike) and down into Paintbrush Canyon (18.1-mile loop hike). If you don’t plan on continuing on to Lake Solitude, I would suggest you turn around at the end of the canyon. The short distance left to the fork does not have any must-see sights and the views are pretty obstructed with the tree coverage.
Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake Loop
Distance: 6.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 761 feet
Level: Moderate
This trail was the biggest surprise on our trip. It is fairly moderate with a view of two lakes. You will get an overlooking viewpoint of Bradley Lake first. When you continue hiking you will come across Taggart Lake. Taggart Lake was stunning with mirror-like reflections and tons of places to stop right alongside the water. We stopped here to eat our lunch and the boys took a dip in the freezing water.
Some other popular trails include Leigh Lake, String Lake, Phelps Lake, and Lake Solitude via Cascade Canyon. Although we didn’t get to do these hikes, we can’t wait to go back and cross more hikes off our bucket list. You can check out the All Trails app for more hikes in Grand Teton National Park.
Where To Stay Near Grand Teton National Park
Hotels in the Park
- Jenny Lake Lodge: You can read about the lodge and book a reservation here.
- Colter Bay Village: You can read about the village and book a reservation here.
- Jackson Lake Lodge: The views from the lodge are breathtaking. You can read about the lodge and book a reservation here.
Camping in the Park
There are seven campgrounds spread throughout the park and they can all be booked through the recreation.gov website.
Outside of the Park/Jackson Hole
We chose to stay in town and we loved being close to everything in the evenings and mornings. There are tons of options to choose from, but the prices are steep during the high season. We chose the Wyoming Inn for one of the best prices when we went in July. It is a few miles outside of the square, but there is plenty of parking near town if you want to drive closer to everything. We loved our stay here and would highly recommend it!
I truly hope this guide to Grand Teton National Park was helpful in planning your next trip!
xx,
Ashley
Related Reading: Yellowstone National Park Itinerary: First Time Visitor’s Guide / Big Bend National Park Guide
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