Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park, Moose, WY
Jackson Hole, WY
A range of raw granite peaks that leap almost 7,000 feet straight out of the valley floor with no foothills to soften them, mirrored in a chain of cold glacial lakes at their feet.
Some mountains build up slowly, rising through foothills until the peaks appear. The Tetons do not. They shoot straight up out of the flat floor of Jackson Hole, a wall of raw granite spires climbing nearly 7,000 feet with nothing in front of them, so that the whole range seems to stand up all at once. It is one of the most instantly recognizable mountain skylines in the world, and Grand Teton National Park exists to protect it and the valley at its feet.
Below the peaks lies a chain of glacial lakes, Jackson, Jenny, String, and Leigh among them, cold and clear and cupped right against the base of the mountains. The Snake River winds through the sagebrush flats, moose browse the willows, and elk and bison graze the valley. It is a park of astonishing scenery in a compact space, where you can stand at a lakeshore with the Grand Teton itself towering almost 14,000 feet directly overhead.
What Guests Love
- The jagged Teton skyline rising straight out of the valley
- A string of clear glacial lakes right at the base of the peaks
- Moose, elk, bison, and pronghorn in the sagebrush and willows
- Hiking and paddling at Jenny Lake below the high country
Worth Knowing
- The park sits at high elevation and weather changes fast, so carry layers even on warm summer days
- This is grizzly and black bear country; carry bear spray, make noise on trails, and never approach wildlife
- Jenny Lake is the busiest area, so arrive early for parking and the boat shuttle to the trails
- The Teton light is best early and late in the day, when the peaks glow above the valley
Details
Jackson Hole, WY
Learn about Grand Teton National Park
The Teton Range
The Tetons are a young range in geologic terms, still rising along a fault that drops the valley on one side and lifts the mountains on the other. That fault is why they have no foothills: the range climbs straight from the valley floor, topping out at the Grand Teton at 13,775 feet. Snow and small glaciers cling to the high couloirs into summer, and the sharp granite spires have long made the range a magnet for climbers and photographers alike.
From the valley, the effect is unforgettable. Turnouts along the park road frame the peaks above the sagebrush and the winding Snake River, including the famous Snake River Overlook, and in the low light of morning and evening the whole range glows. Few mountain views in America are as concentrated or as dramatic.
Lakes at the foot of the mountains
A line of glacial lakes runs along the base of the range, left behind by the ice that carved the canyons above them. Jenny Lake is the heart of the park for many visitors, a deep, clear lake reflecting the peaks, with a boat shuttle across to trails climbing to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Larger Jackson Lake spreads to the north, while String and Leigh Lakes offer quieter shores.
These lakes make the park wonderfully accessible. You can paddle a canoe with the Tetons overhead, walk an easy shoreline loop, or use the lakes as gateways to longer trails that climb into the canyons and up toward the peaks. Everywhere, the water doubles the mountains in its reflection.
A valley alive with wildlife
Jackson Hole is one of the best places in the country to see large wildlife. Moose browse the willow flats along the rivers, elk and bison graze the open sagebrush, pronghorn race across the flats, and both grizzly and black bears roam the park. In fall the valley echoes with the bugling of elk, and just to the south the National Elk Refuge shelters thousands of them through the winter.
That abundance is part of what makes Grand Teton special: it is not only a scenic park but a living one, part of the larger Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that stretches north into Yellowstone itself. Drive the park roads at dawn or dusk, keep a respectful distance, and the valley below the peaks comes alive.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Jackson Hole
Jenny Lake
In the park
A clear glacial lake at the base of the Tetons, with a boat shuttle to trails climbing to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Town of Jackson
About 10 miles south
A lively mountain town with the famous elk-antler arches on its square, galleries, and the gateway feel of Jackson Hole.
National Elk Refuge
About 12 miles south
Winter home to thousands of elk on the edge of Jackson, with sleigh rides among the herds in the snowy months.
Yellowstone National Park
About 30 miles north
The world's first national park, connected to the Tetons by a scenic parkway, famous for geysers, canyons, and wildlife.