Located just north of Jackson, Wyoming, Grand Teton has a diverse and long-standing history that includes human use from more than 11,000 years ago. Nomadic Indians, American Indian tribes, early American explorers and permanent settlers once called this national park home. Today, you can explore the park’s extensive history and culture through ranger-led programs, visitor centers and historical points of interest like Mormon Row and the Moulton Barns. In addition to a fascinating history, Grand Teton’s stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife provide the perfect location for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. Delve deeper into this region’s breathtaking scenery with a backpacking trip (permits required). Or start planning and booking your stay early to reserve campsites or comfortable lodging within park boundaries. Wherever you rest your head, make sure you wake up ready to explore all the activities Grand Teton offers, including hiking, boating, rock climbing, wildlife tours and more.
Age-Old Granite Cathedrals
Tall and proud, the Tetons rise dramatically from the grasslands, cutting through bluest skies and brightest sunrises. Snowcapped in the winter and stark gray in summer, these granite masterpieces are home to all seeking serenity in mountains.
Located only 10 miles from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park is a stunning national park in Wyoming.
The areas around the Grand Teton mountain range and its lakes were established as a national park in 1929 in order to protect the land from commercial exploitation. The protected area was extended into the surrounding valley in 1950. This truly special federal park boasts a diverse ecosystem with 310,000 acres of terrain ranging from summertime wildflower meadows to rushing whitewater streams. These ancient mountains also contain some of the oldest rocks in the National Park Service, dating to nearly 2.7 billion years ago.
There are also numerous serene lakes with deep blue pools, echoing the stillness and color of the glaciers that shaped them. The wild and winding Snake River descends through the park in a rush of water and the dense forests blanketing the mountainsides provide habitat for a vast array of fauna and flora, with some species dating back to the prehistoric era.
Visitors to the park enjoy many outdoor activities including nature hikes, biking, climbing, fishing,and boating.
Although the entrance gates are open year-round, Grand Teton National Park has areas that close for winter and many of the facilities and visitor centers are closed on Christmas Day.
Planning a Visit?
For information about the park, visit the National Park Service website for Grand Teton National Park: nps.gov/grte
Why you should go to Grand Teton National Park
Sharpened by glaciers, Grand Teton National Park’s snow-etched mountains erupt above Jackson Hole valley, composing one of the most iconic views in the country. “The Tetons rise to over 13,000 feet in a matter of miles. Just seeing that makes you feel humble,” says Vasu Sojitra, a professional athlete and disability access advocate, who completed the first disabled ascent on crutches of the Grand Teton in 2014.
Some 200 years ago these majestic mountains were called Pilot Knobs by fur trappers because they could be seen from miles away. One of the Tetons’ tallest peaks, Teewinot, meaning “many pinnacles” in the Shoshone language, references the region’s ancestral roots. The 1800s homesteading tradition in the nearby town of Jackson gives the valley its moniker “The Last of the Old West.” Gazing out at verdant plains, towering crags, and fields of lemon-yellow balsamroot blooms, visitors understand why the park has become an emblem of the American West.
Today, adventure athletes travel to the park to climb historic mountaineering routes, backpack into wildflower-strewn basins, or ski down advanced backcountry slopes in winter. But the park is also ideal for leisurely activities like biking, photography, and canoeing—set against the backdrop of the meandering Snake River, numerous lakes and streams, and the Grand Teton range.
Although a fraction of the size of nearby Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton offers equally dramatic mountain vistas and impressive wildlife viewing. Outdoor photographer and Jackson local Steven Shelesky says it’s common to see wildlife, including elk, moose, pronghorn, and bison, while simply driving through the park.
Where to find the best views in the park
Shelesky says getting up early to catch a sunrise in the park is well worth the effort. “The entire Teton range is east facing, which makes for an amazing spectacle,” he says. Located about 350 yards from the parking lot, Schwabacher Landing offers particularly memorable views of a beaver pond off the Snake River. “You can see beautiful reflections of the Grand Teton on the water’s surface,” says Shelesky.
Nearby, the Snake River Overlook is another vista Shelesky recommends. The famous viewpoint captured by photographer Ansel Adams in 1942 highlights the curving river framed by the towering Tetons. Look for the Snake River Overlook turnout sign off Highway 191/89.
Where to find the park’s best hikes
Beginning at the Taggart Lake Trailhead on Teton Park Road, Taggart Lake is an easy hike that leads to a gorgeous lakeside picnic spot, where the Tetons reflect in the water. The three-mile round-trip trail rises just over 300 feet as it crosses bridges and weaves through a grove of quaking aspen trees, whose leaves tremble at the slightest breeze. For a more moderate hike, it’s well worth the extra steps to tack on the Taggart Lake-Bradley Lake Loop, which takes you 5.6 miles to both lakes. Both trails are also popular snowshoeing routes in winter.
Hikers looking for a more challenging route can follow the roaring Cascade Creek up the Forks of Cascade Canyon trail, where the glacially carved landscape leads to numerous viewpoints, including Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. The 9.8-mile out-and-back route can be made more challenging during the day or as part of an overnight trip (permits required), by trekking 14.1 miles to Lake Solitude. You can book a round-trip ticket on the Jenny Lake Shuttle Service to avoid hiking an extra four miles roundtrip.
Where to find the best drives in the park
Teton Park Road and Highway 191/89/26 make a 42-mile loop that takes you to several pullouts and viewing sites in the park. Signal Hill Mountain Summit Road winds to the top of Signal Hill (nearly a thousand feet), where you’ll find two overlooks of the plunging Jackson Hole valley. The narrow road is five miles long and closed during winter.
Where to find the best spots for seeing wildlife
Whether you’re on the slopes of Mt. Moran or canoeing Jackson Lake, wildlife abounds in Grand Teton National Park. Find elk and pronghorn in the sharp sagebrush of Timbered Island, just south of the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Bison and moose roam the woods near various overlooks including Oxbow Bend along the Snake River, while bald eagles and osprey circle the sky.
Climb up the glacially carved Cascade Canyon trail and look for yellow-bellied marmots as you listen for the high-pitched chirp of pikas, a small lagomorph related to rabbits and hares. You just might see them collecting wildflowers and grass, which they store in hay piles for cold, snowy winters.
