26 Awesome Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park

For years I dreamed about visiting Grand Teton National Park. I love mountains ranges and national parks that have great backpacking and hiking trails. Grand Teton National Park has it all! I was surprised at how much there was to do here. Since I know it can be overwhelming to decide on what unique activities to partake in, I have listed all the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park. I also talk about where to stay, the best time to go, viewpoints, what to pack, and so much more!

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How To Get To Grand Teton National Park

Many people fly into Salt Lake City, rent a car, and drive to Grand Teton National Park. The mileage is 286 miles and is around a 5-hour drive. Flights to Salt Lake City are usually more inexpensive than other airport alternatives.

You can also fly into Jackson Hole Airport, which is closer, but the flight might cost more since the airport is smaller. The airport is only 6 miles from the park.

Since we live in Washington State, we decided to drive to Wyoming, and it ended up being around 13 hours of driving.

>>>Rent A Car Here<<<

Grand Teton Map

Grand Teton National Park Lodging

• Hotel Jackson: A beautiful modern hotel located near Jackson Hole that features a restaurant and hot tub. >>>Check Prices Here
• Inn on The Creek: A cozy Inn located near a cute creek and has complimentary breakfast. >>>Check Prices Here
• Jenny Lake Campground: We stayed here and loved being so close to Jenny Lake. We did not have to worry about parking. >>>Check It Out Here

Read More: Where to Stay in Grand Teton National Park

Best Time To Visit Grand Teton National Park

The best time to visit Grand Teton National Park is from June to October. July and August are usually busy months, while September is a great time to get away from the crowds and to see the wonderful fall colors. Mid May through June might still have snow on some of the trails like the Delta Lake hike.

From November through mid-May, Teton Park Road is closed as well as many other scenic roads.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park: Season by Season

What To Pack

1. Sunscreen: Super important and it is part of the ten essentials!  >Buy Sunscreen
2. Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
3. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
4. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
5. Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent dehydration while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have a plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
6. Water: Stay nice and hydrated. It was soooooo hot when hiking here. Bring water to every hike.
7. Sunglasses: It can get sunny in the summer, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
8. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. >>>Check Out These Snacks
9. Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
10. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
11. Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks in the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
12. Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
13. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
14. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
15. Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Here
16. Jacket: I always have a jacket in my backpack, even if it is hot. I do it just in case of an emergency. It did get cold while hiking so I am glad I had this. >Buy My Favorite Jacket
17. Rain Jacket: The worst feeling in the world is being wet and cold while hiking. You can get hypothermia, so always carry a poncho or a rain jacket when you hike Wyoming. There was a time that it started pouring on us while hiking Delta Lake. >Check Out My Rain Jacket Here
18. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
19. Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here
20. Bear Spray: There are so many bears here! Stay safe and hike with some spray. Everyone should carry one. >Check It Out Here

Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park Wyoming

Drive the 42-Mile Scenic Drive

This drive is breathtaking. Since we were at the park for four days, we drove around the loop many times. If you are only at Grand Teton National Park for a day, then this is a must-do! If you start on the south side, begin at Moose Junction and drive on highway 191 to see Mormon Row, Blacktail Ponds, Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend. Then loop back on Teton Park Road. This Teton Park Road has so many viewpoints and parking that I would stop at pretty much all of them (It is so stunning). Also, do not forget to check out Jenny Lake Road on the way.

Explore Jenny Lake Trail

Jenny Lake is probably the most popular trail and area of the whole national park. The Jenny Lake parking lot is packed by 10 am so get here early. I recommend doing a short hike by the lake. You don’t have to go far to take in the beauty of this lake. Just going less than half a mile up towards the campground is good.

Hike To Delta Lake

If someone told me there was only one activity I could do in Grand Teton National Park, I would choose to hike to Delta Lake. This lake is breathtaking, and I also loved the challenge of the trail.

I will warn you that this hike is probably not for beginner hikers. It is steep, and if it is hot, the sun is relentless! We also got lost for a bit; however, thanks to our navigation skills, we found our way back.

I also want to say that there is a lot of rock scrambling towards the end, so bring some trekking poles to help you with balance.

If you feel like you can hike moderate to challenging trails, then definitely try this one out! I loved this hike! Bring the ten essentials, though, because we would have been in trouble without it.

Visit the Chapel of the Transfiguration

I feel like everyone should stop by the cute Chapel because it is located close to the park entrance. It only takes a minute to take in this stunning structure with the mountains in the background.

Watch The Sunrise At Mormon Row Historic District

I am a morning person but getting up before the sun comes up is pretty difficult for me. But, trust me when I say this, Mormon Row Sunrise is worth it! When the sun starts to hit the mountain, something magical happens, and all the surrounding area turns a golden color. The views are stunning.

Ensure you bring a warm jacket as it can get pretty cold in the morning, even during the hot summer. If you can’t make it for sunrise, then at least come over during the day. It is so worth it! This is actually a historical area, and from what I read, Mormons lived here on Mormon Row and farmed. They built levees and dikes to funnel water to the fields.

You can still see many of these waterways in this area, so watch your step when walking around. A small boy was running through the field when we were there and fell in one of the waterways.

Take A Ferry Ride At Jenny Lake

Taking a ferry ride at Jenny Lake is a great way to cut down time on hiking. I highly recommend it! We paid for a one-way trip, but I wish it were a round trip just because I would have loved to explore some more around Inspiration Point.

The cost of the ferry is $10 one way and $18 round trip. The line looked long, but it didn’t take too long to get on the ferry. They were pretty efficient and quick. We also didn’t make a reservation and just showed up.

Hike To Hidden Falls And Inspiration Point

Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point seem to be the most popular activity in Grand Teton National Park. There were so many people on the trail, so if you want to avoid the conga line, get there early.

You can also minimize the amount of hiking by taking the ferry from Jenny Lake visitor center to the west side of the lake (I talk about this above). Or you can save money and hike around Jenny Lake to get to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. As I said above, I would probably spend the money to save time on hiking just because I feel like the views are more impressive around inspiration point compared to the views hiking around Jenny Lake.

I enjoyed Hidden Falls, but there were many people, so it wasn’t one of those spots where you will get peace and quiet in nature. I still enjoyed seeing the waterfalls, even with the crowds. It was pretty easy to get to Hidden Falls, especially if you took the ferry.

Inspiration Point was more challenging to get to. It was pretty steep, and I saw many people struggling. But in the end, most people do make it to this viewpoint and relax and eat their lunch. There are a ton of chipmunks here, so do not to feed the animals!

I wasn’t a fan of Inspiration Point, to be honest. I decided that it was best to go hiking a bit more into the canyon, and I HIGHLY recommend everyone to do this. Yes, even people that struggled to get to inspiration point because the views right after are 10x better and not that hard to get to. See what I talk about below under “Lake Solitude”.

Hike To Lake Solitude

Hiking to Lake Solitude is a whopping 16 miles per Alltrails (Cascade Canyon Trail). But, you don’t need to hike the whole way to enjoy this lovely trail. Around a mile and a half after inspiration point is when the trees start to dwindle, and you see the impressive mountain peaks in the canyon. There isn’t much elevation gain going through the canyon, which is a huge plus!

Getting to Lake Solitude is long, though! So make sure you take the ferry to make your trek a lot easier. We also met backpackers on the route, so you can backpack this trail, but you do have to make reservations.

Drive Up To Signal Mountain

Signal Mountain is an iconic view of the vast mountain range in Wyoming. There are two views at Signal Mountain. The peak view is shown above, as well as the Jackson Lake overlook, which is located on a trail. You only need to hike a few minutes to see the Jackson Lake overlook, and you can find the location on the Google Map above.

Jenny Lake Scenic Drive

Jenny Lake Scenic Drive is a one-way road that takes you right next to the beautiful lake and mountains. We stopped at the Jenny Lake overlook to get the photo shown above.

Check Out Blacktail Ponds Overlook

We decided to look at the Blacktail Ponds Overlook right after visiting Mormon Row, and it was perfect! I loved the green trees with the spiky mountains in the background.

Hike To Taggart Lake

Taggart Lake was the first hike we did at Grand Teton National Park, and it was a perfect way to start our trip. The trail was pretty easy and short. You can do the whole loop, but we opted to do the out and back. There are many rocks you can sit on and enjoy the mountain range. Make sure to dip your toes in the water if it is a hot day!

Bike Through The Park

One of the first things I noticed when I got to Grand Teton National Park was just how bike-friendly it was. There were so many people riding their bikes through the park, and it surprised me since I have been to so many national parks and have barely seen anyone riding bikes. You can read more about biking around Grand Teton National Park here.

Hike To Leigh Lake

Leigh Lake is a fantastic easy hike with almost no elevation gain. There were so many people enjoying the water on the way to Leigh Lake so bring a bathing suit if you feel like getting in (mainly at String Lake)! However, Leigh Lake seemed like one of those remote lakes away from crowds. I also noticed that you can backpack and camp at the lake (but make reservations).

Read More: The Ultimate 7-Day Grand Teton To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary

Watch Sunrise At Oxbow Bend

I tried to do Oxbow Bend for sunrise as this is a well-known sunrise spot, but as you can see, the clouds were not forgiving this morning. Do not let my mediocre photo deter you, as I have seen some pretty fantastic photos of this place during sunrise. There were many photographers there during sunrise, but they were disappointed with the unrelenting clouds like me.

Go Swimming

You can definitely go swimming at some of the beautiful lakes in Grand Teton National Park. One of the most popular spots to swim is String Lake. The water isn’t too cold, especially on a hot day. Just make sure to store food in bear canisters. The lake has many bear canisters to store your things when you swim.

Kayak Or Paddleboard

While hiking around String Lake, we noticed so many people were kayaking and paddleboarding. In the hot weather, it seemed like a perfect opportunity! If you are bringing your kayak or paddleboard, you would need a permit and check-in when you arrive at the park. You can learn more about that here.

You can also rent a kayak at Jenny Lake right here.

Go White Water Rafting

When exploring Grand Teton National Park, you will notice a great river everywhere you go. This river is called the Snake River. You can take some rafting tours while visiting Wyoming, and this is an excellent idea if the weather seems to be blistering hot (Like it was when we were there).

Camp In The Park

I loved camping at Grand Tetons National Park. We stayed in Jenny Lake campground, and it was so convenient. Since the Jenny Lake parking lot was busy, it was nice that we did not have to worry about parking. We would just walk on over to the lake whenever we wanted to enjoy it. To reserve, you need to go to recreation.gov months in advance.

You can also go backpacking which I would love to do someday. I saw so many backpackers on the trails and it seems like a great way to get away from the crowds. You can reserve in advance so check out all the information here.

Scenic Flights in the Tetons

There are planes that can take you over and around the Teton Mountain Range! How cool is that! You can book a flight here.

Sunrise At Schwabacher Landing

Schwabacher Landing is another fantastic sunrise spot at Grand Teton National Park. The reflection on the river, combined with the bright green trees and grass, makes it a superb location for the early morning. I did Schwabacher Landing one morning, Mormon Row another morning, and Oxbow Bend another morning. I feel like these are the top three sunrise spots at Grand Teton National Park.

Drive The Moose-Wilson Road

The Moose Wilson road is a great drive that connects Grand Teton National Park and Jackson. The route can be a little iffy, so SUVs are best but not needed. There is a good chance to see wildlife here, so if spotting a moose or a bear is high on your list, make sure to drive this road.

Snake River Overlook

Right after Schwabacher Landing, we drove over to Snake River Lookout, and it has some fantastic views of the Grand Teton’s. This is an excellent viewpoint, but I did prefer Schwabacher Landing over this one. I know many people are limited on time, so I wanted to give you my preference on viewpoints.

Visit The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve

The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve offers trail information, weather, and other general information. This is also where you can hike out to Phelps Lake, a 7-mile trail with a 725 ft elevation gain.

Visit Jackson Hole

Visiting Jackson Hole was not on my list of things to do, but we decided to do it as a break from the unrelenting hot sun. There are many restaurants and shops in this area. I enjoyed exploring here. Me and Jameson loved Cowboy Coffee Co. and Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream. I highly recommend stopping by this cute town as it is vibrant and fun to explore. Many towns near national parks in the USA are not the best, but I enjoyed Jackson Hole.

Check Out Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake is enormous! It is a lot bigger than Jenny Lake and is another excellent spot for photography. We explored by stopping at many of the lookouts and eating at the Jackson Lake Lodge. We had some drinks and burgers while taking in the stunning views.

There is also a Grand Teton Scenic Lake cruise you can book to explore the lake even further.

Final Thoughts On Things To Do At Grand Teton National Park

Thanks for reading all about what to do in Grand Teton National Park! Make sure to read about my other national park blog posts:

• Best Things To Do In Glacier National Park
• 25 Absolute Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park
• 13 Stunning Idaho Hot Springs
• The Ultimate 7-Day Grand Teton To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary
• 12 Great Tips On Biking Going To The Sun Road In Glacier National Park

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