Heading to Wyoming soon and want to know what are the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park? I’m here to help!
While it’s not as famous as its neighbour, Yellowstone, Grand Teton is one of the prettiest national parks in the USA and it’s well worth a visit.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the best things to do in Grand Teton and how to make the best of your visit.
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1. Take in the views of Oxbow Bend
Located in the northern part of the national park, Oxbow Bend is one of the most famous photo spots in Grand Teton.
It features a beautiful turn of the Snake River with with island in the middle and the mountains in the background.
It’s absolutely stunning and you will love admiring the scenery here.
You can stop on the side of the road, there is a dedicated car park by the river.
2. Discover Mormon Row
Mormon Row is a historic district in Grand Teton that feature various houses and barns built by a Mormon community in the 1890s.
Grand Teton became a national park quite later on which is why you can find some buildings and houses here, something you wouldn’t see in Yellowstone.
Mormon Row is one of them, it was built by Mormon settlers and is now being renovated. It’s a very quaint area where you’ll love taking photos.
3. Hike up to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls
This is by far the most popular walk in Grand Teton National Park and it’s well worth your time.
Both Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls are located at Jenny Lake.
To get there, you will need to park at Jenny Lake.
PRO TIP: Get there early because that parking lot gets packed!
Once at Jenny Lake, you have two options. The first one is to walk around the lake and then up to Hidden Falls and keep going to Inspiration point.
If you don’t fancy the long walk, you can also take the boat across Jenny Lake and just go up to the falls and viewpoint.
This is a lot shorter.
PRO TIP: I personally recommend walking around the lake to the falls and viewpoint and take the boat on your way back. The walk around the lake is very scenic so it’s well worth it and that way, you get the best of both worlds.
4. Horseback Riding in Grand Teton
Going on a horseback ride is one of the best ways to experience the outdoors and that’s definitely true in Grand Teton.
When it comes to providers you have a couple of options. The first one is to book one of the trail rides at Colter Bay. There is a tour desk next to the shop.
If you don’t mind going slightly off the beaten track, you should consider going to Swift Creek Outfitters. You can find them at the end of a gravel road after Oxbow Bend. They are technically outside of the national park but it’s very nice because you get to ride in the forest, up a mountain and see the wonderful views of the Tetons.
Finally, if you are staying near Jackson, you should consider this ride in the Teton Forest and Jackson Hole.
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5. Hike the Jenny Lake Trail
Jenny Lake is the most beautiful lake in Grand Teton National Park and if you’d like to get some steps in without going on a hard hike, the Jenny Lake Trail will be ideal.
It’s 6.5 miles long and takes about 2h30 to complete. It’s mostly flat since you are on the shores of the lake so it makes for a good walk.
PRO TIP: Make sure to carry bear spray on that walk.
6. Scenic Drive of Grand Teton
While visiting the sights is always a good thing to do, you will also simply enjoy driving around the national park. The loop around Grand Teton is very scenic because you see the range of mountains all the time.
There are also a lot of places where you can stop on the side of the road and take photos. It truly is a great drive.
PRO TIP: I recommend driving it counter-clockwise because you will get nicer views of the mountains.
7. Enjoy the views at Schwabacher’s Landing
This is a lesser-known spot in Grand Teton but well worth the visit if you have time and are interested in the wildlife.
The Schwabacher’s Landing is a small channel of the Snake River boasting beautiful views of the mountains.
It’s also one of the best places in Grand Teton to see beavers, especially if you go there at dusk or sunrise.
You will need to drive a gravel road to reach the parking lot but it’s well worth it.
8. Go to the J.P. Cunningham Cabin
This is another historic site in Grand Teton that is worth visiting. It’s quite similar to Mormon Row in the way that it was built by settlers as a homestead.
As the name suggests, it was built by Cunningham in 1888. It’s quite an unusual cabin since it features an Appalachian style, also called “double-pen”.
From the main road, you can easily drive to the parking lot and walk to the cabin. It’s open so you can go inside and admire the views over the Tetons from there.
9. Stop at Snake River Overlook
This spot was made famous by Ansel Adams in 1942 when he took that famous black and white picture of the Snake River swirling in the valley with the Tetons in the background.
If you’ve seen any historic photos of Grand Teton National Park, you probably already know which one I’m talking about.
Regardless, it’s a very beautiful spot especially if you are into landscape photography.
10. Hike up Signal Mountain
If you are into hiking and want to discover beautiful views of the Teton range and Jackson Hole, Signal Mountain is the perfect place for you.
It’s 7,727ft / 2,355m high which gives you a very nice elevation and therefore fantastic views.
The hike is considered moderately difficult. It’s 8 miles long and takes under 4 hours to complete.
11. Join a ranger-led activity
One of the best things you can do when visiting any of the national parks in the USA is to join the ranger-led activities.
These are free and always amazing. In Grand Teton, they offer wildlife talks, guided walks and more.
You can find the schedule on the newspaper they give you at the entrance of the national park or at any of the visitor centers.
Map of the best activities in Grand Teton
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