Grand Teton National Park – The Ultimate Summer Getaway

Sharing one of Wyoming’s scenic gems is particularly satisfying.

I’m standing at the Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park, the very spot where in 1942 legendary photographer Ansel Adams captured the iconic image of the Snake River winding gracefully toward Wyoming’s Teton Range. That photograph has inspired generations of photographers, including me.

I’ve been here before, often, but this time I am sharing my love for this park with my girlfriend, Jen, who has never been to Grand Teton. My daughter, Karlie, and Jen’s daughter, Kinsey, are with us, and both girls are first-time visitors, too. This park offers opportunities for many outdoor activities, including river rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding and fishing, but we’re here to hike and to explore scenic drives.

Founded in 1929, Grand Teton National Park features a wealth of postcard-worthy vistas. Its diverse landscape spans roughly 310,000 acres and encompasses the jagged Teton mountain range, glacial lakes, alpine tundra, sagebrush meadows and countless forest streams. As part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, bison, black bears and grizzly bears — providing some of the best wildlife-viewing in the county.

Our first morning, we fill up on breakfast burritos and piping hot coffee at the Cowboy Coffee Co., a local favorite in Jackson, just 5 miles south of the park. Then we pile into our rental car and head out in search of wildlife. We start on the Moose-Wilson Road, a picturesque drive that takes you through Moose, a small community that houses the park headquarters and a visitor center. Suddenly, from the back seat Kinsey squeals — she’s spotted a moose wading in Lily Pond. Later, we encounter several elk along the road, and we also see a great gray owl in a spruce tree. On Antelope Flats Road, 2 miles north of Moose Junction, we stop to admire several pronghorn sheep and countless bison.

Waterfalls and Iconic Vistas

Karlie and Kinsey enjoy hiking here because the loops are relatively easy, and the dense canopy of the forest provides some much-needed relief from the afternoon sun. Small waterfalls and fast-flowing creeks are prominent, and the sound of rushing water allows us to become fully immersed in this pristine preserve.

On our final day in the park, we explore more scenic drives and visit overlooks in the park. We start at the famous Oxbow Bend, along Highway 89/191 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. On a day with no wind, you’ll see crystal-clear reflections of Mount Moran and Signal Mountain in the Snake River. Next, we set out on Teton Park Road, about 9 miles south, in search of more views of the Tetons’ classic alpine mountains. Insider tip: If you drive north to south, you will be facing the mountains most of the time.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable overlooks is the T.A. Moulton Barn on Mormon Row, part of an early homesteading settlement established in the 1890s in Jackson Hole Valley before the national park was established. Located along Antelope Flats Road between the towns of Kelly and Moose, the historic barn is impossible to miss. Wildflowers blanket the surrounding fields, and the barn and other buildings are dwarfed by the mountain backdrop. 

Our last stop of the day is Schwabacher’s Landing, a boat landing along the east shore of the Snake River where the terrain flattens out. A road winds its way from the main highway down to a small parking lot, and just steps from the car you’ll find small creeks and beaver ponds. This is one of my favorite views in the park, perhaps because of the way the intimate waterways are juxtaposed with the mountains rising majestically behind them.

Jen, Kinsey, Karlie and I stand in awe of the beautiful landscape, soaking up the last remaining rays of sun at the end of our first Grand Teton National Park getaway together. Without a doubt, we’ll be back.