Grand Teton National Park

Visited: Aug 2014, June 2016

Nearby city: Jackson, WY

"If you have ever stood at Jenny Lake and looked across to Cascade Canyon weaving its sinuous way toward the summit of the Tetons, you will know the joy of being in a sacred place, designed by God to be protected forever."

-Horace Albright

Because of its proximity to Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park sometimes gets overshadowed by its older brother to the north. I myself have been guilty of this, reserving a few hours to visit the Park as part of a larger Yellowstone trip, etc. But Grand Teton really deserves a trip of its own.

The Tetons form one of the most impressive mountain vistas in the world. Viewing the craggy peaks at the shores of Jackson Lake or Jenny Lake is a breath taking experience. The French fur trappers were certainly inspired when they first espied these mountains, naming the three most prominent peaks "Les Trois Tetons" meaning "The Three Nipples." 😉

There are lots of hiking opportunities in the mountains that unfortunately Tara and I have not taken advantage of. But we look forward to visiting again soon. Even if hiking is not your thing, the scenic views along the road are unparalleled and the scenic town of Jackson has plenty to see and do.

Entering the park at the North Entrance, you are introduced to the mountain skyline right away at the Jackson Lake Overlook. Entrance fee is $30, or $50 combined with Yellowstone.

The peaks, which almost always have snow on them, accompanied by the incredibly blue waters of the lakes and the incredibly blue never-ending sky is a sight to behold. The Tetons truly rival the Alps themselves, they are what "the mountains" are all about.

Our first stop was the Colter Bay Visitor Center for some great exhibits and a nice relaxing 2 mile hike along Colter Bay.

the water was VERY cold

saw this mule deer along the trail

Keep heading south and make sure to stop at the Jenny Lake Overlook. You can hike all the way around the lake (sometimes they'll close the trail if there are bears in the area) or take the ferry (which leaves from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center at the south end of the lake) to the west end of the lake and hike to Inspiration Point. Or just enjoy the views at the overlook off the scenic road.

Enjoy the great views along the scenic road in the park. Stop at the Snake River Overlook along US Highway 89 for the iconic view from the famous Ansel Adams photograph:

Make sure you also stop at the largest and main Visitor Center in the park at Moose Junction.

Just south of the park boundaries is the really posh, uber-over-priced ski resort of Teton Village and Jackson Hole Ski Area. The fun thing to do here is to take the aerial tram/gondola to the top of the Tetons. There was a quirky restaurant on top of the mountain that serves waffles and you get great views of the surrounding area with minimal effort.

we saw a moose from the gondola on our way back down

If you have time, make sure you also stop at the town of Jackson. It's a little overcrowded on a summer weekend. But it's a fun resort town with lots to see and do.

I feel like we only scratched the surface of Grand Teton National Park. We really need to have a trip that is solely devoted to the park and not combine it with a Yellowstone trip so we can explore all that this beautiful park has to offer. Check for more info at: https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm