On a trip through Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks, Grand Teton was probably the park I was the least excited about. I constantly thought, “It’s just a big mountain, right?” Well, technically yes, Grand Teton is a very big mountain. But this 310,000 acre park in Wyoming includes many peaks of the Teton Range.
And outside of the mountains it is a park of wide open spaces and – my personal favorite – great wildlife viewing opportunities.
We visited the park for 2 full days, plus an evening before and a morning after those days. While a lifetime probably wouldn’t be enough to explore the abundant beauty of Grand Teton National Park, this short trip was enough to get a feel for the park and find some favorite spots.
Arrival to Grand Teton National Park
Things to Do
Hiking
There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the park. We limited ourselves to about 12 miles as we hiked Cascade Canyon.
Photography
A few minutes in the park is enough to realize that there is an endless supply of Instagram worth views. Check out my favorite photo spots.
Camping
Grand Teton National Park is home to beautiful accommodations such as Jackson Lake Lodge, but we found the most beautiful accommodation to be in the park’s campgrounds. I am also of the mindset that the cheaper I can make each trip, the more trips I can take! Camping is the biggest savings hack I know.
Video Recap of Grand Teton National Park
Go
Grand Teton National Park is worth the trip. If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, build on an extra few days and take the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway south to Grand Teton. Similarly, if you are planning a trip to Grand Teton, build on an extra few days to visit Yellowstone. Two of the nation’s most iconic parks are only about 30 miles apart – visit them both while you’re in the neighborhood.
We flew into Salt Lake City and made the 5 hour drive to the park via the southern entrance. My excitement built with the winding road that follows the Snake River and passes through the National Elk Refuge.
I visited in late June and was worried about the crowds. Early bedtimes and early starts kept us away from most tourists and we found ourselves completely alone with nature at many times.
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