Beautiful, rich coasts. steep mountains rising from former lakes. Hidden waterfalls. Grand Teton National Park in northern Wyoming is truly a monument of natural beauty. The Grand Tetons are located just south of Yellowstone National Park and the entrance fee of one will give you access to both.
The largest of the Teton parks is in perfect harmony. The park lies in the flat valley of Jackson Hole. With very few hills to obstruct the view, the Grand Teton Mountains rise directly across the plain. In the valley there are dense forests and green fields; the peaks of the Teton mountains are serrated and covered with snow. It is difficult to find a more perfect combination of mountains and valleys.
Within Grand Teton National Park, there are many recreational activities. The most adventurous can try their hand at reaching the summit of any of the mountains in the Teton Mountains, but they will probably want to stay for a a park with many lakes and rivers. Whatever you do in the park, you are always blessed with a great view of the spectacular Tetons.
Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park has several marinas for larger boats and also allows waterskiing and windsurfing. Many of the smaller lakes allow kayaks, canoes and canoes. Fishing is allowed (with a permit) in public parks. A popular and enjoyable adventure can be swimming the Snake River that runs through the park. String Lake is one of the first spots to swim and there is only one large body of water where String Lake joins Jenny Lake.
There are many wonderful hiking opportunities throughout Grand Teton National Park. A short loop around Swan Lake offers an excellent natural scene. A short hike from Jackson Lake Lodge will take you to the top of Tree Breakfast Hill, a very relaxing and peaceful spot with a great panoramic view of the Tetons. A longer hike of several miles from String Lake is around the back of Jenny Lake and is an incredibly pleasant walk through the woods, along streams, and to the shore of Jenny Lake. It also offers great wildlife viewing opportunities (we saw a bald eagle and a yellow marmot kicking, while others reported seeing a young deer near the trail).
Whether you’re hiking across Wood Lake or taking a boat across Jenny Lake, you don’t want to miss your chance to see Hidden Falls. In all our travels through the west, and of all the many and famous waterfalls we had to see, none of them was so spectacular as the Hidden Falls. Hidden Falls is crept between two prominent tree-covered ridges and is a series of long drops and shorter falls where the water flows down. Although the half mile from Jenny Lake’s dock to Hidden Falls may be steep here, it’s not that far off on a trip to the Grand Tetons.
But, if you absolutely don’t want to hike or engage in any water activities in Grand Teton National Park, you can still see a lot from your car. Take a scenic drive from Jackson Lake to the south south end and be sure to catch some great views. The Signal Mountain Summit Road takes you over the valley 800 feet for a great view of the surrounding area. Finally, the Oxbow Bend turnout is a very short tour that takes you through some great wildlife viewing areas.
Grand Teton National Park has a standard complement of hotel-style cabins, tent and RV campsites, and remote hiking and camping. However, with the popularity of both the Tetons and Yellowstone, campsites fill up quickly and you’ll want to reserve one early if you’re going to be there during a busy season. If you can afford it, you can even stay south of the park in the celebrity retreat town of Jackson, Wyoming.
No matter what your hobbies are, I can tell you that the Grand Tetons are possibly one of the most beautiful mountains in the contiguous United States. If you have all the time for a quick drive through, every moment will be worth it.
