In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are journeying to Ash’s favorite national park — Grand Teton!
Grand Teton is smaller and lesser-known than Yellowstone (its famous neighbor), but it’s gotten a lot more visibility lately and many people are discovering the magic of this gorgeous national park.
Join us as we cover:
- The special connection Ash has to Grand Teton
- The movie that was filmed in this park
- The road where you’ll find the best Grand Teton views
- Where to stay in the Grand Teton area
- Ash’s crazy moose stories
- The road that takes you to the main viewpoints and mountains
- John’s favorite memory of Grand Teton as a kid
- Why Grand Teton is a great place to go rafting
- Our favorite place to eat at this national park
- Why we love Paintbrush Canyon
- Jenny Lake (and the monster you might need to watch out for)
- The best description of Cascade Canyon
- The trail that gives you the most bang for your buck
- The most magical moments we have had in Grand Teton
There are so many different things you can see in Grand Teton National Park and, in our opinion, it’s one of the greatest national parks you can see in the west.
If you are looking for some help planning your trip to Grand Teton, pick up an itinerary – we’ve got you covered!
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:
Grand Teton Overview
Grand Teton National Park is a smaller park compared to Yellowstone. It offers easier navigation and a more intimate experience, but was often overlooked or just a passing point for visitors trekking to Yellowstone. Grand Teton now attracts more attention, and visitors plan dedicated trips to explore its wonders.
With only an eight-mile distance between the northern boundary of Grand Teton and the southern entrance of Yellowstone, you should definitely explore both parks during a visit, but we recommend making Grand Teton a dedicated trip and not just a side adventure to Yellowstone.
Exploring Grand Teton
1: Iconic Viewpoints Along The Outer Park Road
The Outer Park Road provides stunning panoramic views of the Teton Range and the Snake River Valley. Some must-visit spots along the road include Mormon Row, where the iconic barn stands against the majestic Teton backdrop, Schwabachers Landing, and the Snake River Overlook with picturesque views that showcase the Teton’s dramatic beauty.
Sunrise is the best time to capture the exquisite charm of Grand Teton, as the morning light illuminates the peaks.
2: Exploring Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay
Jackson Lake Lodge is a popular base for visitors with gift shops, dining options, and beautiful views from its back deck. Colter Bay features the Lake Shore Trail and a fun swim beach. Scenic floats down the Snake River provide a unique perspective of the Tetons and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the park’s serene beauty.
3: Signal Mountain, String Lake, Paintbrush Canyon, and Taggart Lake
Signal Mountain offers a lodge, a campground, and various recreational activities such as boat tours and canoe rentals. From Signal Mountain, a scenic drive leads to Signal Mountain Summit, providing awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscape.
Heading south from Signal Mountain, hikers can explore the North Jenny area, which includes breathtaking destinations like String Lake, Leigh Lake, and Paintbrush Canyon. Paintbrush Canyon offers stunning backcountry hiking!
The Taggart Lake Trail provides a family-friendly hike with opportunities to spot wildlife.
4: Wildlife Encounters and Safety Tips
If you’re visiting Grand Teton National Park, you should be prepared for encounters with wildlife, including bears and moose. Encountering bears and other wildlife out on your adventure can feel scary or overwhelming, but you can do things to feel more at ease.
Making noise while hiking and being aware of surroundings can help prevent surprise encounters. Human voices are often enough to deter animals, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors and wildlife. You can read more about what to do if you see a bear here and how to prevent an encounter here.
Grand Teton National Park offers an abundance of natural wonders and breathtaking views, making it a must-visit destination for both avid hikers and those who prefer a more relaxed experience.
While hiking allows you to explore the canyons, beautiful lakes, and rugged landscapes, even those who can’t hike can still appreciate the park’s scenic beauty. With its majestic mountains, rivers, canyons, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife, including a large population of buffalo, the park showcases the essence of the Western frontier and provides a captivating experience for visitors.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Grand Teton Itinerary
- Grand Teton Can’t-Miss List
- Mormon Row
- Snake River Overlook
- Oxbow Bend
- Jackson Lake Lodge
- Pioneer Grill
- Leeks Pizza
- Colter Bay
- Grand Teton Scenic Drives
- Float the Snake River
- Signal Mountain
- Lee Lake and String Lake
- Paintbrush Canyon
- Cascade Canyon
- Taggart Lake
- Bear Safety 101
- Teton Crest Trail
- Camping in Grand Teton
Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!
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We have been enjoying the pod, and will continue listening even if you don’t take this criticism, but please keep the pop culture references to a minimum. Hearing detailed scenes from Lord of the rings (or some movie, show, or book) really detracts from the listening experience. Just our thoughts.
Excited for future eps.
I appreciate the feedback! The pop culture references are a big part of our personalities, so we’ll continue to add those in as an effort to be genuinely us — that’s what it’s actually like to travel/explore the parks with us haha. But thank you for your support of the podcast!
Oh man I have been waiting for this episode! I too am also obsessed with the Tetons. My heart literally feels like it is being squeezed when I start thinking about all my memories in this park. I had the opportunity to help with research related to the Northern Blue Butterfly for two summers here, and I have never been the same since. I am always trying to figure out a way to get my family up there each year. I actually named both of my boys something related to this park. Colter, for obvious reasons, and I was pregnant with him while I was doing research up there the second year. Stetson, because you can rearrange the letters to spell tetons (with an extra s). Anywho thank you so much for making this podcast, I absolutely adore it and helps me feel like I am on a new adventure just listening each week!
That is so cool! What a neat experience doing research in that area. And I totally understand how the Tetons just become a part of you — I named my son Jackson haha. Such a great place. Thank you for listening to the podcast!