Hart of Travel

Grand Teton National Park is located in north-western Wyoming in between Yellowstone National Park and Jackson, Wyoming. While it is a small park in comparison to others, it is packed with amazing landscapes, hikes, and wildlife. To help you plan your own trip to Grand Teton NP, I put together this list of 12 things you can’t miss while you’re there. Happy travels!

If you’re interested in more national park info, I have posts about Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, and Bryce Canyon NP.

1. Kayak on Jenny Lake

One of my favorite things we did in Grand Teton NP, kayaking on Jenny Lake is a must do! Being on the water is so serene, and you really get to see how clear the glacial water is. Rental costs are $25/hour or $100/day. You can find rental information here.

2. Hike to Inspiration Point

This 1.8 mile hike takes you past Hidden Falls and then on to Inspiration Point, overlooking Jenny Lake. There are a couple options for this hike – you can take the Jenny Lake shuttle which cuts the mileage down significantly, or you can do the full loop that starts at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center.

3. Hike Cascade Canyon

This trail is an extension from Inspiration Point. It essentially takes you further up into the mountains and into a canyon, offering beautiful views. If you still have energy and food and water, I’d highly recommend continuing on into the canyon! It’s 9.1 miles out and back if you take the Jenny Lake boat shuttle.

4. Hike to Taggart Lake

This 3.8 mile loop trail takes you through dense vegetation and ends at the beautiful Taggart Lake! Along the way, you have breathtaking views of the Teton range. This is a very easy hike, perfect for the whole family.

5. Look for moose at Shwabacher’s Landing

We came here shortly after sunrise one day and we saw a mom! Forewarning, we were one of many people there trying to get a shot – people can be vicious when they’re trying to get pictures!

6. Hike to Moose Pond

This is a 3.8 mile loop trail that takes you past a pond the moose like to frequent. This is another easy trail perfect for the whole family. Most people will hike to the pond and back instead of doing the whole loop. I recommend the whole loop! We were all alone on that part of the trail, and it was very beautiful and peaceful.

7. Go on a ranger-led hike

Go to the visitor center to see what the options are for ranger-led hikes. If you’re at a park during peak season, likely they will be offering something. The rangers can offer unique insight and educational facts about the parks and their ecosystems. One of the reasons we opted for this option is the rangers carry bear spray, and we did not buy any ourselves. I do recommend having bear spray for any of these hikes!

8. Watch the sunrise from Glacier View turnout

Honestly, the sunrise will look amazing from almost anywhere in the park, but I loved the view from this turnout!

9. Kayak from String Lake to Leigh Lake

String Lake and Leigh Lake are connected by a small channel, making it the perfect spot to paddle lazily from lake to lake and take all the gorgeous surroundings in. This area of the park is so serene! If you don’t have a kayak or SUP, you can also hike along the water which still offers beautiful views.

10. Have a picnic at Oxbow Bend

Oxbow Bend is located about halfway through the whole Teton park road loop, making it the perfect stop for a nice picnic.

11. Drive the whole scenic Teton Park Road loop

One great thing about Grand Teton National Park is how easily accessible it is. If you don’t like hiking or don’t have a lot of time, just driving the full scenic loop will give you amazing views of the park and it only takes a couple hours. Here are some great turnouts –

• Teton Glacier
• Jenny Lake Overlook
• Mount Moran
• Signal Mountain
• Willow Flats Overlook
• Oxbow Bend
• Snake River Overlook
• Schwabacher Landing
• Glacier View
• Mormon Row

12. Go searching for wildlife

Grand Teton is home to lots of wildlife including pronghorn, elk, bears, moose, beavers, bison, river otters, and pikas. Here are some of the best spots for wildlife viewing (please be respectful and keep your distance) –

• Moose-Wilson Road
• Gros Ventre river
• Mormon Row
• Jenny Lake
• Moose Pond
• Schwabacher Landing