Grand Teton National Park is a boon to any outdoor enthusiast, a call to something wilder through the incredible miracle of the natural world.
Visiting the park means immersing yourself in that world, where you’ll find dense forests, serene waterfronts, and commanding peaks to scale at every turn.
Grand Teton National Park: Top 12 Things to Do
As a popular attraction that brings thousands of visitors every year, it’s no surprise that Grand Teton National Park has many of the best things to do. Here are some of our favorites.
1. Grand Teton
It wouldn’t be a visit to Grand Teton National Park without taking in its biggest and most imposing namesake: the Grand Teton. While the Teton range is made up of three mountains, the Grand Teton rises to over 13,000 feet in elevation, living up to its name.
The mountain is a popular and challenging climb for mountaineers, typically achieved either by the Owen Spalding Route or the Upper Exum Ridge.
In addition to being a rock climber’s dream, the Grand Teton is located close to many of the park’s other attractions and has camping available in its backcountry with some regulations and permits.
2. Jenny Lake Trail
Grand Teton National Park is well known for its incredible hiking opportunities, and the trails surrounding Jenny Lake certainly top that list.
At just under 2,000 acres, Jenny Lake is one of the largest bodies of water in Grand Teton, and its circumference (known as the Jenny Lake Loop) is a hiking distance of just over 7 miles.’
In addition, the lake offers several other hiking trails at varying levels of difficulty, each leading visitors to incredible mountain vistas and more. Check out the Forks of Cascade Canyon, the rushing beauty of Hidden Falls, or amp it up in glacier territory at Hurricane Pass.
3. Inspiration Point
Speaking of Jenny Lake’s fantastic hiking trails, one of the most famous in all of Grand Teton National Park is Inspiration Point, and for good reason. A shorter hike at a less drastic elevation, the Inspiration Point trail is a popular option for hikers at all skill levels, and the payoff is nothing short of breathtaking.
Not only does the Point offer a full view of Jenny Lake, but you can also see the Grand Teton, Cascade Canyon, and nearby Jackson Hole. Pack your camera because this is a view you’ll want to take home with you!
4. Mormon Row Historic District
The history of Wyoming is rooted in freedom, representing Western settlers striving to live their lives their way. At Grand Teton National Park, another group is honored in the Mormon Row Historic District, founded by Mormon leadership in the late 1800s.
What once operated as something like a commune for many Mormon homesteaders is now two historic buildings, the Moulton Barn and the Chambers Homestead. Visitors are welcome to take a look and imagine what a day in their lives consisted of back in the 1900s.
5. Teton Park Road
Picture yourself cruising down the road, windows down, and your favorite music playing, moving leisurely toward one of the most picturesque mountain ranges you’ve ever seen. You can do just that in Grand Teton National Park on Teton Park Road. In about an hour, you can journey along the Teton Range, following its base and admiring the mighty mountains without ever scaling them.
You can use the road to visit attractions like Jenny Lake and Lupine Meadows or enjoy the stunning sight of grassland inching toward towering peaks.
6. Jackson Lake
If a day at the beach tops your list of must-dos on your getaway, Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park is calling your name. Fed by the abundant Snake River, Jackson Lake rests at the foot of the Teton range, framing your beach vacation with a striking mountain backdrop.
While swimming and getting a tan are popular activities here, boat rentals are also available for excellent salmon or cutthroat trout fishing and island camping at one of 15 islands within the lake.
7. Snake River Overlook
Calling all photographers: your visit to Wyoming is sure to be packed with natural beauty, and if you’re looking for the right angle to snap that breathtaking shot, why not use a famous one?
As its name suggests, Snake River Overlook provides a beautiful view of the Snake River as it winds through Grand Teton National Park, and the sight is so striking that it has been immortalized by one of art’s biggest and best names. Ansel Adams, famed photographer specializing in black and white photos, captured “Tetons and the Snake River” right here.
8. Taggart Lake
There’s something so special about hanging out lakeside and looking up to find the Tetons towering over you, and Taggart Lake is a great spot to slow down and appreciate the scenery.
Made by glaciers, this Grand Teton National Park hotspot is surrounded by lush greenery leading to frosty white mountain tops and has ample space for hiking (notably the Taggart Lake Loop).
If you hope to take a beat and do a little fishing, you will find plenty of trout, but beware — the fish are crafty, and rumor has it this is one of the Park’s more difficult fishing holes.
9. 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive
When exploring an area the size of Grand Teton National Park, sometimes the best way to ensure you don’t miss a minute is by utilizing some horsepower. The 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive will take you from Moose, WY, to Jackson Lake and back again, spanning many of the lookout points that give you the best views of the Tetons.
However, this route doesn’t just highlight the mountains; you can expect to see glaciers, dams, historical structures, and so much more. You may even catch a glimpse of bison, elk, and bears in their natural habitat.
Pro tip: the 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive is only available from May-October.
10. Schwabacher Landing
There’s something poetic when water mirrors its stunning natural surroundings, and Schwabacher Landing at Grand Teton National Park is known for doing just that! The Teton Range is displayed in the tranquil, still water, which makes it the perfect place to relax or to score an Instagram-worthy photo.
Beyond the mirrored reflection, you can also observe the handiwork of beavers who are always hard at work on an impressive dam along the water.
11. Signal Mountain Summit Road
Want to scale some rocky peaks without having to make the (literal) hike up a mountain? Grand Teton National Park has paved the way with Signal Mountain Summit Road, a tapered roadway that climbs to two spots where you can hop out of the car, take pictures, and soak in the sights of the park without breaking a sweat.
The sweeping view is incredible, showing all the way to Jackson Hole and, of course, the Tetons.
12. Chapel of the Transfiguration
Your visit to Grand Teton National Park takes a spiritual and historical turn at the Chapel of the Transfiguration near Moose, WY. Since 1925, this quaint log structure has served as a main house of worship for those living in and around the Teton range and visitors to the area.
In addition to being added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Chapel of the Transfiguration is still an active Episcopal church in the summer, providing guests a place to pray with some of the most beautiful views in the country.
FAQ: Things to Do in the Grand Tetons
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Grand Teton National Park provides you the opportunity to reconnect with nature, grounding you and bringing you back to yourself. Find out more, and plan your trip today.
