Grand Teton National Park is the southern neighbor of Yellowstone National Park and was established by congress in 1929. You won’t find any geysers here, though. This park is all about the beauty of the tall, jagged Teton mountain range, which was formed by earthquakes pushing one of the earth’s plates on top of the other over 12 million years ago.

The Majestic Tetons

Even when visiting for the first time, Grand Teton National Park seems familiar, and that’s because it has been used for decades as a backdrop in many western movies, TV series and commericials. Over 4 million people visit the park annually.

Nearest major city: Jackson (aka Jackson Hole), Wyoming

Famous for: Hiking; biking; rafting; wildlife viewing

Park Hours: Open year-round but most of the visitors center are closed during the winter season. Only the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center is open year round (with the exception of December 25).

Admission: $20/vehicle, $15/individual on motorcycle or $10/individual on foot or bicycle for a 7-day pass. This pass covers access to Yellowstone National Park, as well.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program and earning a badge; fishing the Snake River; ranger-led Naturalist programs in the summer

Families with teenagers will like: Horseback riding on the trails; wildlife spotting – the Jenny Lake area is a good place.

Other park highlights: Biking the park is gaining in popularity and roads are slowly being widened to allow for this. Hiking along the Snake River one can spot everything from elk and bison to bald eagles and beavers.

Easy site seeing: The Jenny Lake Scenic Drive is a one-way self-guided tour that offers numerous spots to stop and take in the great views, as well as photographic opportunities.

Best hotel in the park: There are several lodging options within Grand Teton National Park, ranging from the dormitory-style accommodations of Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch (starting at $20/person/night) to the more tradtional-style accommodations at the Jackson Lake Lodge.

Best campground in the park: There are six campgrounds within the park. Jenny Lake Campground ($8-$20/night) is the most popular due to its location and spectacular views. It is one of the more rustic though, and has no RV sites. For those traveling in RVs or with camp trailers, try Colter Bay Campground ($40-$55/night), but get there early as slots tend to fill by mid-afternoon since it’s the only campground equipped with electric hookups.

Other Lodging Options: Jackson also has a wide variety of lodging options, from hotels to campgrounds, to choose from.

Best months to visit for weather: Summer month temperatures average mid-70s during the day and 40s at night.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Late May and Early September are best to encounter low crowds with mild weather.

Getting There:

  • Flying – Jackson, Wyoming, is serviced by many airlines
  • Bus – Greyhound services Jackson.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Grand Teton National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

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