Grand Teton – Nature at its best and finest!
In my first two years in the U.S., I dedicated most of my holidays (PTO) to travel to countries in Central and South America. My good friend Oli always reminded me that it was about time to make a trip in the U.S. and see all the incredible things that the country has to offer. He was damn right! Finally, in August I made a 1-week trip to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. I had heard that these places were cool and the pictures where amazing. However, I couldn’t imagine how beautiful these places actually are. I have seen few if any, natural wonders of this caliber around the world.
I did do a fair amount of planning as I was traveling for a week and half of the time I camped. However, with hindsight, I can tell that detailed planning is key to make the most of this trip. Once you get there, you are into the wild in its literal sense. No cell phone coverage in most places or quite basic and poor service. Trust me, you don’t want to notice you didn’t download the trail you want to do, or the relevant Google Maps section once you get there.
In conclusion, with this post, I will try to share all the know-how I acquired and all the recommendations I wish someone had given me before going.
As always, I hope you like it and find it useful. Let’s get to it!
Grand Teton National Park in a Nutshell
Fly to Salt Lake City (SLC) and drive to Jackson Hole, or fly directly to Jackson Hole if budget is not a concern.
Visit one of the most amazing national parks in the U.S., discover all that nature has to offer and get ready to run into bears, elks, moose and what not. Do some amazing trails that will lead you right into the wild. In your spare time, try some of the nice restaurants in Jackson Hole and get a shot of well-deserved calories and wine/beer.
Finally drive back to SLC and have a nice dinner before heading back at one of the fine trendy restaurants of the city.
The details
So first of all, let’s make sure we get some good background information and interesting facts of the place!
Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwest of the state of Wyoming. It comprises the Teton mountain range that gave the park its name, which peaks at 4,000 meters (12,000 ft.) and the Jackson Hole valley.
It has a vast extension of 1,300 km2 (310,000 acres) and is located at only 16 km. (10 miles) from Yellowstone National Park.
Interesting facts about Grand Teton National Park
- Sixty-one species of mammals and over 300 species of birds and 1000 species of vascular plants have been recorded.
- The name originates from the French trappers “Les Trois Tetons”, which means “The Three Teats”, which was shortened to Teton.
- Grand Teton is the 8th most visited national park in the U.S.
- It is the only U.S. national park with a commercial airport.
- Human history in Grand Teton dates back at least 11,000 years when the first nomadic tribes began migrating into the region.
- The first White explorers came in the early 19th century when the region attracted fur trading companies.
- A string of pristine water lakes, fed by mountain streams can be found right next to the mountains.
- John Rockefeller Jr. was at one time the richest man in America, and he spent part of that money creating Grand Teton National Park.
Why go to Grand Teton National Park
To me, the response to this question is obvious. Because it is one of the most amazing national parks in the whole U.S., it is super close to Yellowstone and it has a cool town right next to eat where you can eat like the Gods!
If that’s not enough maybe you should consider the extraordinary wildlife, crystal clear lakes, magnificent alpine terrain, snake-shape river of 200 miles of trails. Not to mention the peace of mind that the park brings to its visitors.
When to go to Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton is an extremely popular destination throughout the year. However, the activities you can do vary depending on the weather.
Hiking, backcountry, rafting, biking, and fishing are most popular in summer when the days are warm and the nights are not too chilly.
During the winter months Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing are pretty big in the area.
Bottom line, you can visit all year round but if you are looking to camp and/or hike, aim for the summer months.
How to get to Grand Teton National Park
As mentioned earlier, Grand Teton is the only U.S. national park with a commercial airport. You can fly to Jackson Hole, which is super convenient. However, the prices tend to be 2-3x the price of flying to Salt Lake City.
American Airlines, Delta, SkyWest, and United fly to the Jackson Hole airport, which is 15 minutes driving from the park.
Personally, I decided to fly to Salt Lake City. The flight was less than half the price, it is only 300 miles away and I had never been to SLC. It is a 5-hour flight from NYC and I paid about $350 for a round-trip. Prices vary from $275 to $400 generally.
Driving from SLC to Grand Teton takes about 4.5-5 hours (Link).
Another alternative is Denver, which is 500 miles away from the park (Link).
What to do in Grand Teton National Park
Hiking, backcountry, rafting, biking, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, kayaking, golf, boat cruises… The list is quite large.
You can find some very useful information in this link GTLC activities
To me, the best thing to do is explore the park and its hidden gems hiking. The places I would suggest you not to miss are the following:
- Schwabacher’s Landing – This is a short drive off Hwy.89. Perfect spot to get awesome views of the Snake River. You can see otters, osprey, beavers and if lucky, moose.
- Mormon Row – a great spot for wildlife. Remember to take your binoculars. Bison and Antelopes are quite common. Coyotes are hard to spot but this is possibly the best place to get lucky.
- Inspiration Point – one of the best viewpoints of Grand Teton. You can get outstanding views of Jenny Lake and the Jackson Hole valley. Also, it is on the way of the Lake Solitude trail, which I strongly recommend.
- Table Mountain – This one is hardcore. Very tough hike to the top of the mountain. But if you make it, you will get unique views of the Tetons.
- Amphitheatre Lake – Not easy to get to this one either but it is special enough to make the effort. Nice views here too.
- Lake Solitude – This is the furthest point of the Lake Solitude trail. Beautiful lake in the middle of the mountains with outstanding views. Perfect food pit stop.
- Hidden Falls – 100-feet waterfalls next to Jenny Lake. This is one of the most popular attractions in the park. It’s also easy to get here so it’s big for families.
- Signal Mountain – another amazing viewpoint to see the Tetons, Jackson Lake, and Jackson Hole valley. It is accessible by car and a short hike.
- Oxbow Bend – Another good spot for wildlife.
My favorite trails
I think the best way to get the most out of the park is hiking. My top picks are the following:
- Lake Solitude Trail (Trail Link) – This was my absolute favorite. It’s pretty long i.e. 15 miles (24 km.) but it is worth it. You get amazing views of the park and you run into all sorts of animals. We saw otters, chipmunk, osprey, moose and even a black bear! Actually, the origin of the name The Bear Snacks is based on this trail. See About The Bear Snacks. Whatever you are looking for in Grand Teton, you will find it here. Trail link.
- Jenny Lake Trail (Trail Link) – If you want something a little lighter, this is a nice hike around Jenny Lake. You can also incorporate some cool add-ons like Inspiration Point or Hidden Falls.
- Delta Lake Route (Trail Link) – if you want something a bit hardcore, off-track and with higher chances of running into bears, this one is for you. Isn’t this what you came here for?
- Amphitheater Lake Trail (Trail Link) – 10 miles trail that offers stunning views from Amphitheater Lake and Surprise Lake.
- Bradley – Taggart Loop (Trail Link) – a 6.5 miles hike that is quite light and easy and good to take some nice pics and a break from the harder trails.
Where to stay in Grand Teton National Park
Lodgment is pretty easy in Grand Teton although booking way in advance, especially if you visit during the summer, is key if you want to get one of the top spots.
You can stay in the park itself, in a campground, lodge or hotel, or in one of the many options in Jackson Hole and surrounding towns.
Personally, I think camping is always the most authentic and immersing experience. However, it is not for everybody and it requires to bring a fair amount of luggage with you.
We decided to stay in a really nice Airbnb we found, as we were planning on camping in Yellowstone and a mix of comfort and campground is quite desirable. If you are combining Grand Teton and Yellowstone, the latter is much further from everything else so staying inside the park is key. In Grand Teton it’s no big deal as Jackson Hole and the surrounding towns are pretty close to the park and it’s an easy drive.
Finding and Airbnb is pretty easy and as long as you are close to Jackson Hole you will be fine.
Lodges
Lodges are a great option. However, they are a bit pricey and it is necessary to book way in advance.
Use this link to help you make a decision (GTLC Lodges). You will see the location, price, and features of each lodge. Generally, the closer to Jenny Lake the better, as this is a convenient central location to visit the park.
Camping
Camping is a great option too but only feasible mid-May through mid-September/October (depending on the campsite). The campground options are the following (GT Campgrounds):
- Colter Bay
- Gros Ventre
- Headwaters at Flagg Ranch
- Jenny Lake
- Lizard Creek
- Signal Mountains
You can find all the info in this link: NPS GT Campground Site
Use this link to help you make a decision and to book GTLC Campground summary
Where to eat in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole
Options inside the park are not vast. You have some fine dining options in the different lodges of the park (see the links in the previous section). Also, in this link, you will find all the available options and prices GTLC Dining options. In addition to this, there are some stores that sell basic stuff, gear, basic medicines, etc.
To me, the best is to have a nice dinner in Jackson Hole. This town has several really good options that you will like.
The one restaurant I did really like is called Bin22 (Link). It is a great option for a number of reasons. First, the produce is fresh and good and the food is innovative and tasty. Second, it is attached to a wine store, where you can get a bottle at retail price and take it to your table. Third, it has a nice terrain with heaters. If the weather allows, go for the terrace.
If you want a quick option, the pizza in Hand Fire Pizza (Link) is amazing!
Top things I wish I had thought about before going to Grand Teton National Park
- Download the map of the area in Google Maps.
- Check the trails you want to do and download them in AllTrails or whatever app you use.
- Buy or rent bear spray and take it with you to the trails. Renting is preferable as you won’t be able to bring it back with you on the plane as it is highly inflammable.
- Nights are chilly even in summer, so if you plan to camp come ready!
- If you don’t have them, I suggest you download the following 2 apps:
- Take your binoculars and a good camera. You won’t regret the extra weight.
