Grand Teton National Park is known for its stunning, jagged mountain peaks, aqua blue alpine lakes, dense green forests, and plethora of WILD wildlife. Outdoor lovers and mountain adventurers flock to the Teton mountains year after year, with the hopes of getting a little taste of the remarkable mountains known as the Tetons. What most people do not realize about the park, is that there is a plethora of Grand Teton activities that are fun for the whole family! Between hiking and biking and just laying by the emerald blue lakes and even horseback riding; Grand Teton has something in store for all!
Whether this is your first time to visit Grand Teton, or you’re coming back for more; you should consider doing one (or many) of these epic adventures in the Tetons during your trip.
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Easy Grand Teton Activities
Catch a Sunrise
If you are not a morning person, I would suggest doing this earlier in your trip so you “get it out of the way”, but I PROMISE you will not be disappointed. Seeing the first light of the day light-up the perfectly, imperfect peaks of the Teton Mountains is an experience that you will remember forever! You might even decide to make it out for a sunrise another day as well!
Sunrise spot suggestion: These are two of our favorite spots to catch the sunrise in the park. Remember to give yourself enough time to travel to the location and get to your sunrise spot BEFORE the sun starts to rise! That way your efforts won’t be for nothing.
- Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher Landing
Wildlife Viewing
This is a MUST while you are visiting Grand Teton. The area is bursting with life, making it the perfect habitat for multiple species of wildlife to live. There are even specific areas where you can go that almost guaranteed animal sightings!
Here are a few areas where wildlife frequent-
- National Elk Refugee
- Blacktail Ponds
- Mormon Row
- Oxbow Bend
- Willow Flats
If you are not too excited to go hop around yourself to find the wildlife. then you can always book a local tour! Personally, I like the challenge of trying to find them myself, but I’ve heard good things about the company Brushbuck Wildlife Tours.
Of course, you will want to keep your eyes peeled at all times, because a wildlife encounter can happen no matter where you are! Check out our post on what to do if you encounter a bear on the trail.
Signal Mountain Summit Drive
Signal Mountain drive is a 5-mile scenic drive on a paved road that climbs to the top of Signal Mountain. At the top, you will be greeted with panoramic views of the Teton Range and Jackson Hole Valley. The drive climbs about 1,000 ft via many switchbacks, taking an average of about 20 minutes to reach the summit. This is a super easy and fun way to get a bird’s eye view of the Tetons!
Note: Trailers and RVs are prohibited from making this drive.
Mormon Row Historic District
Have you ever seen that photo of the old wooden barn, with the Teton mountain range framed perfectly behind it? THAT is from Mormon row! The area was first settled in the 1800s by Mormons that moved from Utah. GTNP acquired the land in the mid 1900s and in 1997 the area was added to the national register of historic places. The famous barn takes a nice little walk down memory lane and it’s just a bonus that the Tetons are framed so perfectly in the background.
Catch a Sunset
There is NO better way to end each day than watching the sun set behind the towering Teton mountains. Grab a beer and secure your spot to enjoy the ending of another day in the mountains.
Sunset spot suggestion: These are our favorite spots to catch the sunset. Also, NEVER underestimate a sunset. Sometimes the best sunsets are the ones that look like they’re going to be a bust.
- Mormon Row
- Snake River Overlook
Active Grand Teton Activities
Go Bike Riding
One of the most underrated ways to see the park is to grab your bike (or rent one) and hit the biker paths in the park! Grand Teton is super easy to navigate and has multiple paved paths to enjoy a scenic day biking through the park. Pack a lunch and a beer or two and spend all day exploring the various mountains and lakes that the Tetons have to offer.
Paddle Board/Kayak Grand Teton Lakes
If it is a hot summer day, then this is a MUST DO! There are a ton of lakes in the park and hopping on your board/kayak is a great way to experience them. The best lakes to paddle are Jenny Lake, Leigh Lake, and String Lake. They are the most accessible for boaters being that you can drive up and drop your vessel right in the water.
Bradley, Taggart and Phelps Lake are open to paddling as well, but they do require a slight portage just to access the water’s edge, therefore making these lakes much less popular.
If you plan to do any boating, know that Grand Teton National Park requires permits for all vessels including SUPS, kayaks and canoes. It is $17 for non motorized boats and it lasts for a full calendar year. You can purchase that here.
Hiking in Grand Teton National Park
This is a no brainer! Grand Teton has TONS AND TONS of incredible hiking! Hiking is one of my favorite ways to spend time in the park. We put together a whole post on the best hikes in Grand Teton, so check it out if you don’t know where to start.
Go Horseback Riding
Picture yourself in an episode of “Yellowstone” and that’s exactly what youre going to get! No trip to Wyoming is complete without a horseback ride through the mountains! Such a fun and unique experience that the whole family will love!
Adventurous Grand Teton Activities
Phelp's Lake Rock Jump
This famous rock jump is a must do for adrenaline junkies!!
Phelp’s lake is one of Grand Teton’s best lakes for water activities. Locals and tourists both will flock to the lake on a hot summer’s day to cool off. The lake itself is beautiful, but its most famous feature is a 20 ft rock feature (depending on water levels) that is protruding over the water! The water below the rock is deep, making it the PERFECT place to take an epic alpine plunge!
Even if it’s hot outside, the lake will be COLD! It is best practice to always swim with a buddy, as the frigid water can shock your body/mind and be dangerous.
Raft the Snake River
Take a scenic rafting trip down the Snake River! While we have never experienced it ourselves, we have heard great things about this adventure. It is also another wonderful opportunity to see some wildlife! Our friends, who are local to the area, suggest booking with Teton Whitewater.
Climb the Grand Teton Mountain
Need I say more?! Advanced adventurers ONLY- check out our post on climbing the Grand Teton.
Stay Up and Watch the Stars
With little to no light pollution, the Tetons provide the perfect dark sky to do some stargazing! We love getting out at night, throwing a blanket down, and just gazing up at the sky (another great opportunity for a beer or two).
What to Pack for Grand Teton National Park
Shoes: We LOVE these Salomon’s in women’s and men’s!
Pack: A good day pack makes ALL the difference! We both use this 30L Ortovox pack. It’s the perfect size for day hiking and we love that it unzips all of the way down the front!
Sun protection: a brimmer hat and sun hoodie (women’s and men’s) are essentials in the sun!
Cooler: Keep a few snacks and drinks cool in the car with this affordable soft sided cooler! It’s a game changer on a hot day!
Water: Be sure to bring a water bladder for your daypack. Plus this packable water cube and a reusable water bottle are great to keep in the car!
Snacks: Make sure to pack some trail snacks too! We love these meal replacement bars (although we use them as a snack not a meal!)
First aid kit: Just this standard first aid kit should suffice if anything were to happen on the trail!
Light: A headlamp and extra batteries are important to carry in case you are out hiking later than you suspect.
OF COURSE you should always carry the 10 essentials as appropriate to your hike & environment! 🙂
Happy Adventuring!
