Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park offers superb mountain recreation — hiking the spectacular trails (Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon, Hidden Falls, Death Canyon, the Teton Crest), mountaineering the Grand Teton and its peaks (a legendary climbing destination), floating and paddling the Snake River and the glacial lakes, wildlife watching (moose, elk, bison, bears), scenic driving (Teton Park Road, the Jenny Lake area), fishing, and winter skiing and snowshoeing. Taking in the iconic peaks and hiking the mountain trails are the signature draws. The combination of the dramatic Tetons, the glacial lakes, the Snake River and abundant wildlife makes the park a premier destination.

Summer (roughly June through September) is the prime season for the high country, hiking, climbing and water recreation, with wildflowers in the meadows, while fall brings golden aspens, the elk rut and crisp, clear views of the peaks — a spectacular and popular time. Spring brings emerging wildlife and lingering snow up high, and winter deep snow, skiing and a serene, frozen beauty (with some roads closed). Summer for full access, and fall for golden color and the elk rut, are highlights; the peaks are stunning year-round, so come prepared for mountain weather and altitude.

Jackson Hole and the Tetons were used by Native peoples for thousands of years, and the range was a landmark for fur trappers (who gave the peaks their French name). The valley was ranched and homesteaded, and the effort to protect the magnificent landscape — aided by John D. Rockefeller Jr., who quietly bought valley land to donate — led to the national park, established in 1929 and expanded in 1950 to include the valley. The park preserves the Teton Range, the lakes, the Snake River and the valley’s wildlife and homestead history, a treasured and hard-won jewel of the American Rockies.

The Teton Range is one of the youngest and most dramatic mountain ranges in the Rockies, formed along an active fault where the mountains have been thrust dramatically upward while the valley of Jackson Hole has dropped down — the lack of foothills, as the range rises straight from the flat valley, is a hallmark of this faulting. The peaks of ancient, hard rock were then sculpted by glaciers into the jagged spires, cirques and canyons seen today, with glacial lakes (Jenny, Jackson) cradled at their feet. The young, fault-thrust range and the glacial carving created the spectacular, soaring Tetons.

Grand Teton, part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, hosts abundant wildlife — moose in the willow flats and along the river, elk (whose great herds winter at the nearby National Elk Refuge), bison, grizzly and black bears, pronghorn, and a rich community of birds, including trumpeter swans, bald eagles and ospreys, while the Snake River and lakes support fish and waterfowl. The valley, mountains and river support a nearly complete native fauna. The park is an outstanding place for wildlife watching, with the moose, elk, bison and bears among the great highlights, especially in the valley at dawn and dusk.

Grand Teton National Park, part of the largely intact Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, protects a range of habitats — the alpine peaks and high country, subalpine and montane forests, the sagebrush flats of the valley, the glacial lakes, and the Snake River’s riparian corridor — that support abundant wildlife and a nearly complete native fauna, including grizzlies, wolves (which range into the park) and the great elk herds. The river and lakes are vital, and the wildflower meadows glorious in summer. Protecting the mountains, the valley, the river and the wildlife sustains this globally significant Northern Rockies ecosystem and its abundance.

Grand Teton National Park, with the iconic, jagged peaks of the Teton Range soaring above Jackson Hole, holds a treasured place among America’s natural wonders, its sublime mountain scenery one of the most recognized and beloved in the world. From the Native peoples and fur trappers to the conservationists (including John D. Rockefeller Jr.) who fought to protect it, and the millions who marvel at the peaks, climb the Grand, and watch the moose in the willows, Grand Teton embodies the breathtaking grandeur of the American Rockies. It is a cherished icon of Wyoming and the mountain West.

Grand Teton National Park is in northwestern Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone (connected by the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway), with the town of Jackson and the Jackson Hole valley at its southern end, reached via US-26/89/191 and served by the Jackson Hole airport (within the park). An entrance fee applies. The park offers visitor centers, lodges, campgrounds, the Teton Park Road and scenic drives, the Jenny Lake area, trailheads, and river and lake access. Some roads and facilities are seasonal. Check the National Park Service for road status, lodging and conditions before visiting.

The National Park Service protects the Teton Range, the glacial lakes, the Snake River, the valley and the wildlife of Grand Teton National Park, part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Visitors help by staying on trails, keeping required distances from wildlife (especially bears, moose and bison — never approach or feed them), storing food in bear country and carrying bear spray, protecting the lakes’ and river’s water quality, packing out everything, following permits, and practicing Leave No Trace. Protecting the mountains, the lakes, the river and the wildlife sustains this globally significant and treasured Northern Rockies ecosystem.

Grand Teton is bear country — carry bear spray, store food properly, make noise on trails, and keep your distance from bears, moose (which can be aggressive, especially with calves) and bison; never approach or feed wildlife. The high country brings altitude, fast-changing mountain weather, afternoon thunderstorms and lightning, and snow possible any month — carry layers and water, and start early. Mountaineering the Grand and the peaks is serious and for the experienced/guided. On the river and lakes, wear a life jacket and mind the cold water and currents. Respect the wildlife, the altitude, the weather and the mountains.

An entrance fee applies. Stay on trails; keep required wildlife distances and never approach or feed animals. Store food in bear-proof storage; carry bear spray. Backcountry camping, climbing and boating require permits. Camp only in designated areas. Pets are restricted (not allowed on trails). Drones are prohibited. Collecting is prohibited. Pack out all trash. Some roads and facilities are seasonal. Check the National Park Service for permits, road status and current rules before visiting.

The town of Jackson, with the Jackson Hole valley, the National Elk Refuge, and the ski resorts, lies at the park’s south end, with Yellowstone National Park just to the north, the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests, and the Snake River and the Wind River Range in the broader region. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem defines the region. Grand Teton, with adjacent Yellowstone, anchors the premier mountain region of the Northern Rockies, a centerpiece of a national-park and mountain adventure in the wild and beautiful country of northwestern Wyoming.

Take in the iconic Teton peaks from the valley and scenic drives (the turnouts along Teton Park Road, the Snake River Overlook), and hike the spectacular trails — Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and Cascade Canyon is a classic. Float the Snake River or paddle the glacial lakes, watch for moose in the willows, elk and bison in the valley, and bears (carrying bear spray and keeping your distance). Visit in summer for the high country or fall for golden aspens and the elk rut, come prepared for mountain weather and altitude, and pair the Tetons with adjacent Yellowstone.