Grand Teton National Park is named after the highest point (13,775 feet) in the Teton Range. It is located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. The jagged mountains of the Tetons overlooking a valley of pristine lakes and creeks make this national park the perfect home to wildlife like bear, moose, elk, and more. Spend 2 days in Grand Teton National Park to take in its beautiful landscapes, scenic drives, and majestic wildlife.
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Arrive by Plane
If you are flying to the Grand Tetons, you will fly into Jackson Hole, Wyoming which is located next to the Teton Range. Your descent into the airport may behold the most beautiful views of any flight taken in the United States. Depending on the head winds, your plane may land from the north or the south, so I cannot give you advice on which side of the plane to sit on. If you luck out, you will have an up-close and personal view of the Teton mountains. But do not worry, if you sit on the “wrong” side of the plane, you will get views of Yellowstone National Park from above. There is really no wrong way to go.
Lodging
We stayed in a cabin at Colter Bay Village, and I highly recommend doing so. Colter Bay Village has a large gift shop with a small grocery market attached. The village is located on Jackson Lake. If you want to brave the icy cold waters of the lake, you can swim or participate in water activities here.
Entrance Fees
You will need to purchase a park pass to enter Grand Teton National Park. The pass is $35 and is good for 7 consecutive days. Depending on how often you visit this park or all U.S. National Parks, you may want to consider purchasing an annual park pass or an America the Beautiful park pass, which will allow you into all national parks for a year. Also, if you have a 4th grader in your household, you can get a family pass to the national parks that is good for a year. Find out more about that benefit here.
Combine with Yellowstone
After spending 2 days in Grand Teton National Park, continue your vacation to Yellowstone National Park. The South Entrance of Yellowstone is roughly 30 minutes from Colter Bay Village. Start your week with 2 days in Grand Teton and end with 6 days in Yellowstone for the perfect national parks vacation.
What to Pack
Join my mailing list to receive the ultimate packing guide, but here are some things that I feel are especially important for you to bring to Grand Tetons.
- Bug Spray – The mosquitoes are bad in Grand Tetons, and you will need bug spray to keep your sanity.
- Bear Spray – Bears are rampant in Grand Tetons and can walk up on you at anytime. Arm yourself with bear spray. The stores in Grand Tetons sell bear spray if you do not bring your own.
- Rain Gear – A rainstorm can come out of no where, so you will want to pack your rain gear in your car or backpack every time you go out.
- Clothing – Duh! What I mean is pack various types of clothing, so you can dress in layers. In the mornings, I wore a tank top, long sleeve t-shirt, and a hoodie to keep warm. By mid-day, I was down to just the tank top to keep cool. Layers are important!
- Comfortable Shoes – You will be walking a lot, so pack comfortable shoes.
DAY 1
Scenic Drives
After arriving in Jackson Hole in the morning hours, get acquainted with Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton has many scenic drives where you can see wildlife grazing in valleys or drinking from lakes or streams. Many of the scenic drives are named, and I have listed those here. However, some of the drives we took were on lesser known roads. If you see a road you want to turn down, do it. Your chances of seeing wildlife are better on the path less traveled. Scenic drives you must take include:
- Teton Park Road
- Signal Mountain Summit Road
- Moose-Wilson Road
- Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
- Lupine Meadow (We saw a moose and a bear on this road.)
- Cottonwood Creek Road
Oxbow Bend
Make sure to stop at Oxbow Bend pullout for the most beautiful spot in all of Grand Teton National Park. This bend in Snake River provides still waters and has the perfect reflection of Grand Teton. We also saw a beaver swimming in this part of the river.
Time for Ice Cream
About now, it is time to check in to your cabin at Colter Bay Village. After settling in, take some time to shop at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Treat yourself to some huckleberry ice cream in the grocer section of the visitor center.
Go on a Bear Hunt
After dinner and ice cream, go on a bear hunt near Pilgrim Creek to see if you can spot the famous Grizzly 399. Grizzly 399 emerged from her den this spring (2020) with 4 little Grizzly cubs. Several other vacationers had seen her in the Pilgrim Creek area. Unfortunately, we were not as lucky.
DAY 2
Jenny Lake – Hidden Falls – Inspiration Point Trail
Wake up early the morning of Day 2 to avoid crowds and hiking in the afternoon when the sun is hottest. Take the Jenny Lake boat shuttle from the Visitor Center to the other side of the lake. Make sure to only purchase the one-way ticket because you will be walking back. Once the boat docks, begin a 1.8-mile hike to Hidden Falls and then onto Inspiration Point for views of Jenny Lake and the valley behind it.
After you descend down the trail from Inspiration Point, begin the walk around Jenny Lake back to the visitors center. This part of the hike hugs the lake. There is also an optional Moose Ponds Loop trail that you can access from the Jenny Lake trail. This loop will add 3.2 miles to your overall hike.
Jackson Hole
Spend the rest of the day exploring Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This cute town hosts many souvenir shops, art galleries, and ice cream shops. Take a picture under one of the large arches made of antlers.
For other great outdoor adventures, visit the Krystal Clear Trekking Outdoor Adventure page.
