"Enjoy the Beauty of Grand Teton National Park" Grand Teton National Park by KimberlyAnn

Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide: 314 reviews and 923 photos

View of Grand Teton From the Colter Bay Marina

Grand Teton National Park is located just south of Yellowstone. I am not sure if this is fortunate or unfortunate for the Tetons. Yellowstone may be the country’s most popular park, so this puts millions of people within a close drive to the Tetons. Because of this close location to Yellowstone, some people visit the Tetons, who would not otherwise have visited it. On the other hand, Grand Teton National Park is often treated like a place to view while driving to or from Yellowstone through the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. If you love beautiful mountain views, don’t skip Grand Teton, even if you can only fit in a day to visit. They are not the tallest mountains in the U.S., but the way their jagged peaks rise up out of the valley, with no foot hills blocking the view, is truly stunning. For grand vistas, and breath taking mountain views, Grand Teton National Park is one of my favorite places in the country. This is one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world. Beginning 10 million yeas ago, movement of the Teton fault created huge earthquakes, which caused the mountains to rise, while the valley floor dropped. Erosion then sculpted the mountains, while massive glaciers flowed south from Yellowstone and filled the valley. The glaciers helped to carve the peaks and canyons. You may have heard the term Jackson Hole, often mistakenly thought of as the name for the town of Jackson, Wyoming, but the Hole is actually the high mountain valley surrounded by the Grand Teton Mountain Range on the west, and the Gros Ventre Mountain Range on the east. The snake river runs through this valley, adding another lovely detail to the area. The name, Jackson Hole Valley, originated from early trappers who felt that coming into the valley was like descending into an enormous hole. The national park is a paradise for people who love the outdoors. Here you have a number of outdoor activities to choose from such as mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and float trips, along with cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Outside of the park, but within Jackson Hole you will also find both cross country and alpine skiing, as well as hunting. You may enjoy viewing wild life such as moose, deer, elk, bison, bears, and a variety of birds, including hawks, eagles, and trumpeter swans. The park includes 485 square miles of pristine wilderness, as well as areas with developed hiking trails and a park road with turnoffs to enjoy the views.

The park is open all year, although most of the park facilities only operate from mid-May to mid-October.

Visit Grand Teton National Park’s web page at http:www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm

Please Note: I have numbered my "Things to Do" tips in the order you would pass them while driving the park road. For this reason it is best to veiw my tips as "Members Choice" to make your reading and planning more organized.

Ways to Explore the Park

Hiking to Inspiration Point

There are many ways to explore Grand Teton National Park. One of my favorite ways is to get out and hike the back country. There are a variety of trails, from easy to difficult, so if you are into hiking, you should be able to find trails that fit your abilities, and time frame.

Mt. Maran Turnout Along the Park Road

If you are not physically able to explore on foot, or do not enjoy this type of activity, but enjoy great mountain views, you can choose to take a boat ride on one of the lovely lakes in Grand Teton, a float trip on the Snake River, as well as driving the park roads, stopping at the pull offs along the way for photos, and information about the area you are viewing.

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:A great place for outdoor activities and mountain views.

Last visit to Grand Teton National Park: Sep 2010
Intro Updated Aug 21, 2011
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Reviews (57)

The Main Lodge Building Sits on Jackson Lake - Grand Teton National Park

On the Shore of Jackson Lake Hotels (7)

Signal Mountain Lodge is the only lakeside lodging in Grand Teton, however, this does not mean that your accommodation... more travel advice

Colter Bay Village Cabins - Grand Teton National Park

Lodging in Colter Bay Village Hotels (7)

In Colter Bay Village, you will find 166 log cabins available for your overnight stays. These are rustic log cabins,... more travel advice

Cottages at Jackson Lodge - Grand Teton National Park

Separate From the Lodge Hotels (7)

Besides staying within Jackson Lodge, you have the choice of staying in one of the cottages that are considered part of... more travel advice

Items to Make Hiking Safer and Enjoyable - Grand Teton National Park

Items to Help You Enjoy the Outdoors What to Pack (1)

Although summers are generally warm, you can still get chilly weather, even in July and August. If you are going to... more travel advice

Sports & Outdoors (4)
See All If You are Planning on Bringing Your Own...
Shopping (3)
See All Shopping In Colter Bay
Restaurants (4)
See All A Restaurant in Dornam
Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All Dornams, In the Park, But Not Part of...
Things to Do (29)
See All Yellowstone National Park

Warnings and Dangers (1)
Watch Wildlife From a Safe Distance
Local Customs (1)
People Who Serve You
Favorites (2)
See All Jenny Lake Visitor Center
Transportation (2)
See All KJAC Jackson Hole Airport
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travelgourmet Nov 16, 2011 at 4:54 PM

Great to get tips on Jenny Lake and Colter Bay. I have driven through but never stopped. My loss. The entire area is just so beautiful, and to see the Snake River and the Grand Tetons was a fantastic sight. :-)