Grand Teton National Park

Last updated on February 6, 2026.

Featuring majestic mountains, pristine glacial lakes, and 230 miles of trails, Grand Teton National Park is the perfect complement to a trip to Yellowstone.

 

Overview of Grand Teton National Park

Separated by just 10 miles (16 kilometers), it would be a crime to go to Yellowstone National Park and NOT visit Grand Teton. While Yellowstone has the “it” attractions such as geysers, canyons, and hot springs, Grand Teton is wildly different, offering a dramatic beauty that almost no mountain landscape can compete with.

Grand Teton National Park, which is one of the 10 most visited in the United States, covers 310,000 acres. Over 300 species of birds and 61 species of mammals have been spotted there, and it hosts over 1,000 species of plants.

 

History of Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park has been settled for nearly 11,000 years. The first non-Native to pass through the area was John Colter (c. 1770/1775–1812/1813), during the winter of 1807/08. In the mid-1820s, Jedediah Smith (1799–1831), William Sublette (1798–1845), and David Edward Jackson (c. 1788–1837) oversaw trapping operations in the Teton region for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.

The 1859–60 Raynolds Expedition, led by U.S. Army Captain William F. Raynolds (1820–1894) and guided by mountain man Jim Bridger (1804–1881), was the first government-sponsored expedition to enter Jackson Hole, but was halted due to the outbreak of the Civil War. It included naturalist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829–1887), who returned to the Yellowstone region to lead the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.

In 1868, the Shoshone living in the Teton and Yellowstone region were relocated to the Wind River Indian Reservation. James Stevenson explored the Teton region in 1872, along with William Henry Jackson (1843–1942), who took the first photographs of the Teton Range. Yellowstone National Park was established the same year, and by the end of the 19th century, conservationists were advocating for its expansion to include the Tetons.

Homesteaders began settling the Jackson Hole valley east of the Tetons in 1884. Ranching was a major economic activity from 1900 to 1920, but an economic downturn put many ranchers out of business. By the 1920s, however, automobile access to the Teton region made it easier for visitors to discover the natural beauty. Dude ranches popped up, allowing tourists to experience the cowboy life.

 

Conservation of the Teton Region

During this period, plans for dam construction in the Teton Range alarmed Horace Albright (1890–1987), the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Rather than an expansion of Yellowstone, Jackson Hole residents favored a separate national park that would include the Tetons and six lakes at the base of the mountains. President Calvin Coolidge signed the executive order establishing Grand Teton National Park on February 26, 1929. It originally covered 96,000 acres.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. (1874–1960) and his wife visited the region in the 1920s. Impressed by its beauty, he contacted Horace Albright to discuss ways to preserve it from commercial exploitation. In 1927, Rockefeller started purchasing properties under the Snake River Land Company with the intention of donating them to the National Park Service. When this came to light in 1930, the residents strongly disapproved.

By 1942, Rockefeller was concerned his land would never be added to the national park. He wrote to Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes (1874–1952) that he was considering selling the land to another party. Ickes in turn recommended to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the land be used to establish a national monument. On March 15, 1943, Roosevelt created Jackson Hole National Monument, which covered 221,610 acres — 32,117 acres were donated by Rockefeller. This caused great controversy, and Congress repeatedly tried to have the monument abolished, but it was combined with the national park in 1950.

 

Planning Your Trip to Grand Teton National Park

I spent two days in Grand Teton. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate. I was only able to get glimpses of the incredible peaks when the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed for a short time. That didn’t take away from my time there, as there’s so much more to the scenery. It allowed me to focus on my immediate surroundings — the trees, wildlife, and human element of the park.

Before getting into some of the trails and highlights of the park, here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip. Check the official website for more info:

 

Entrance Fees to Grand Teton National Park

The entrance fee to Grand Teton varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of January 2026:

• For private vehicles, it’s $35.
• For motorcycles, $30 admits up to two motorcycles with up to four total passengers.
• For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s $20 for adults and free for kids under 16.
• Non-US residents age 16+ must pay an additional $100 per-person fee IN ADDITION to the standard entrance fee, unless entering with a non-resident annual pass.
• Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle, up to two motorcycles, or up to four per-person fees.

Entrance fees are good for seven days. The park is open year-round.

There are three entrances to Grand Teton — from the east at Moran Junction, from the south at Moose Junction, and from the north coming from Yellowstone. I entered from Yellowstone and there was no gatehouse or entrance fee along the road.

 

Visitor Centers at Grand Teton National Park

There are four visitor centers in Grand Teton, open seasonally. At the first three, you can gather information from rangers and buy backcountry permits:

• The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, at Moose Junction, has exhibits about the human element of the park as well as a Grand Teton Association store, a 24-minute film, and ranger-led programs throughout the day.
• The Jenny Lake Visitor Center is situated in a cabin built by photographer Harrison Crandall in 1921. It “highlights the relationship between art, inspiration, and action in Grand Teton”. Ranger programs are offered there and there’s also a Grand Teton Association bookstore.
• At the Colter Bay Visitor Center, you can watch the park film, attend a ranger-led program, shop in the Grand Teton Association store, and check out the exhibit Made by Hand, showcasing works made by Indigenous artists from the Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program.
• The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center highlights the vision and legacy of conservation of Laurance Rockefeller (1910–2004). There’s also general information, ranger-led programs, Junior Ranger programs, and a resource room.

 

Accommodation at Grand Teton National Park

For accommodation, there are several options available including lodges, ranches, cabins, and campgrounds. In some areas, you’ll find amenities such as restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores, gas stations, auto repair shops, and more. Availability can be an issue for popular lodges and campgrounds so book early. Check the official website for details on operating seasons and prices.

 

Lodges at Grand Teton National Park

There are eight options for indoor accommodation. From north to south:

• Headwaters Lodge and Cabins at Flagg Ranch, open early June to late September, features log-style lodging units with two queen beds or one king as well as camper cabins with rental gear. It’s actually outside the northern boundary of the park.
• Colter Bay Village Cabins, open late May to late September, consists of 208 log cabins.
• Jackson Lake Lodge is a full-service hotel with 348 cottage rooms and 37 rooms in the main lodge. It’s open mid-May to early October.
• Signal Mountain Lodge offers lakefront apartments, log cabins, and motel-style units. It’s open early May to mid-October.
• Jenny Lake Lodge, open early June to early October, features 37 rustic yet luxurious cabins.
• Triangle X Ranch, on US 89, is a dude ranch open mid-May through mid-October. They offer different recreation packages.
• The American Alpine Club Alpine Climbers’ Ranch is open mid-June to mid-September. It features “rustic style co-ed bunk rooms”. Guests must supply their own sleeping mat and bedding. There’s a bath house with showers, potable water, and flush toilets, as well as a community cooking shelter with outlets.
• Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins offers eight one-bedroom and four two-bedroom cabins available year-round. It’s near the southern entrance stations.

 

Campgrounds at Grand Teton National Park

You can choose from six developed campgrounds, an RV park, and a tent village. Reservations are required for all them. Opening dates vary each season, but they’re generally open from mid-spring through mid- to late-fall, unless otherwise noted below. Prices per night are current as of January 2026. From north to south:

• Headwaters Campground has 34 standard sites at $59, 97 RV-only sites at $117, and 40 camper cabins at $102.
• Lizard Creek Campground has 60 tent sites at $49.
• Colter Bay Campground has 324 sites at $59 with a vehicle, 13 sites with an electric hookup at $80, and 10 sites for hikers and cyclists at $13.
• Colter Bay RV Park features 112 RV sites. They cost $117 for pull-through and $112 for back-in sites.
• Colter Bay Tent Village has 66 tent cabins with two permanent log walls and two weather-proof canvas walls and a roof. They include two sets of pull-down bunk beds and a wood-burning stove for heating. Sleeping bags and pillows are not included, and guests are encouraged to bring their own linens. The tent cabins cost $104 and it’s open from mid-May to early September.
• Signal Mountain Campground has standard campsites at $55 and campsites with electric hookups for $79.
• Jenny Lake Campground has 51 standard sites at $56 and 10 hiker-cyclist sites at $13.
• Gros Ventre Campground has 279 standard sites at $57 and 39 sites with an electric hookup at $77.

 

Colter Bay Campground

We stayed at Colter Bay Campground. Arriving around noon, we were able to get a great tent site. It’s easily the best site I’ve had in any national park. It was secluded, had a nice flat surface for the tent, a picnic table, fire pit, and its own bear box. We were a short walk from the bathrooms.

The campground is located at Colter Bay Village. We used the small grocery store and souvenir shop for our cookout and repair needs. A gas station, laundry, and showers are available as well. There’s also a decent restaurant which we went to twice to get out of the rain and warm up. It had free WiFi but our server wasn’t very friendly — the same guy twice, unfortunately.

 

Activities at Grand Teton National Park

You can enjoy fishing, back country hiking and camping, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, boating and other activities at Grand Teton National Park. Check the official website for more information on these activities and a schedule of ranger-guided programs.

 

Safety at Grand Teton National Park

Park rangers take bear safety very seriously. We were unlucky and didn’t see any bears, but we were warned of a black bear in our campground. Bear spray is sold at stores in the park and is recommended for hikes. Many other potentially dangerous animals live in the park other than bears, including bison, moose, and elk. It’s best to keep a safe distance from these animals as well.

 

Map of Practical Info for Grand Teton National Park

 

Menor’s Ferry Historic District

The tiny town of Moose, Wyoming, now sits within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park and is the location of the park headquarters. Just north is the ½-mile-long Menor’s Ferry Trail which takes you through the Menor’s Ferry Historic District.

 

Menor’s Ferry

Following the trail clockwise, you’ll come to Menor’s Ferry. Bill Menor arrived in Jackson Hole in 1894 and took up a homestead next to the Snake River. He built a ferryboat and cable works, operating a crossing until 1918. Locals would use it to hunt, gather berries and mushrooms, and cut timber across the river.

The ferry consisted of a platform set on two pontoons. It ran along a set of cables placed across the river, preventing it from drifting downstream. Menor charged 50¢ for a wagon and team and 25¢ for a horse and rider. Pedestrians rode free. He later built a bridge for winter use and dismantled it every spring.

Menor sold the property to Maud Noble in 1918, and she hoped to capitalize on the tourism boom in the region. She charged $1 for cars with local license plates and $2 for out-of-state plates. A steel truss bridge to the south built in 1927 made the crossing obsolete. The current ferry and cable works are replicas. Rangers operate the ferry for trips from mid- to late summer, depending on how the Snake River flows.

 

Menor’s General Store

Next to the ferry is Bill Menor’s house and general store. The west wing was built in 1894, the central section a year later, and the large east wing in 1905. It was made of logs and painted with lime-based whitewash produced by his brother, Holiday Menor, at his own homestead across the river. At the time it was built, Bill Menor owned the only settlement on the west side of the Snake River.

The west wing served as a bedroom and sitting room while the central section contained a kitchen and pantry. In the east wing, Menor operated a store where “settlers and travelers could purchase tobacco, coffee, tea, sugar, flour, canned foods and some items of clothing”. Also on the property is a well built by Menor in 1895, a storehouse, and smokehouse.

 

Transportation Barn

Continuing along the trail is the Transportation Barn. It displays a few historic wagons used in the Jackson Hole area. One is the Robert Miller Wagon, which is one of three brought over the Teton Pass in 1888. You’ll also see some replica bullboats, used by mountain men to transport furs over water.

 

Maud Noble Cabin

The final structure on the trail is the Maud Noble Cabin. Noble relocated her 1916 cabin to the present location in 1918 after she purchased Menor’s Ferry. She later sold the entire property to John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s Snake River Land Company in 1929.

On July 23, 1923, the Maud Noble Cabin hosted a meeting between Yellowstone National Park superintendent Horace Albright and local ranchers and businessmen. This meeting started the process to create Grand Teton National Park. Inside are several photographs from the early days of the park and an explanation of its creation.

 

Chapel of the Transfiguration

Finally, next to the parking lot is the Chapel of the Transfiguration. This log chapel, built in 1925 on land donated by Maud Noble, served the guests and workers of local ranches. It’s owned and administered by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. Services are held every Sunday during the summer.

The chapel featured in Spencer’s Mountain, starring Henry Fonda (1905–1982) and Maureen O’Hara (1920–2015), filmed in 1963. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton attended services there in 1978 and 1995, respectively.

The T-shaped chapel measures 22 feet (6.7 meters) by 50 feet (15 meters) and was designed by C.B. Loomis. The interior features some beautiful stained glass windows and a picture window that frames the Teton Range behind the altar.

 

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is one of the most scenic areas of Grand Teton National Park — and also the first developed for recreation. It’s been a popular area for swimming, boating, and photography since the early 20th century. Most of the structures date back to the 1920s and 1930s. The Jenny Lake Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

In 1872, explorers on the Hayden Expedition named the lake after the Shoshone wife of their guide, English fur trapper Richard “Beaver Dick” Leigh (1831–1899). Jenny and their five children died of smallpox in 1876.

 

Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat

Jenny Lake Boating operates a shuttle boat ferrying visitors across the lake. They run every 10-15 minutes from mid-May through mid-September. Prices are current as of April 2025:

• Round-trip shuttle rides are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors age 62+, $12 for kids age 2-11, and free for kids under 2 and seniors over 80.
• One-way rides are $12 for adults, $12 for kids age 2-11, and free for kids under 2 and seniors over 80.
• Scenic lake cruises are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors age 62+, $25 for kids age 2-11, and free for kids under 2. Reservations are recommended.

The shuttle provides easy access to popular spur trails connected to the Jenny Lake Loop, leading to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. For example, Hidden Falls is a 5.2-mile hike from the visitor center but only a mile from the west boat dock, saving lots of time and energy.

 

Jenny Lake Loop

The Jenny Lake Loop is a moderate 7.1-mile (11.4 kilometer) trail around the lake providing breathtaking views of the mountains towering above. If you hike the entire trail, there’s a 1,040-foot (320 meter) elevation gain. It’s recommended to hike in a counter-clockwise direction from the visitor center.

 

My Experience on the Jenny Lake Loop

With only a few hours of daylight left, we decided to hike half of the loop going clockwise from the trailhead, starting at about 4pm. After a few minutes, the hike was already paying dividends with some magnificent views of the mountains.

After about 20 minutes and a some slight uphill walking through a colorful forest, we reached a point where we could see across the lake. Adding to the scenery was a gorgeous rainbow that arched across. The trail eventually came back down to the lakeshore.

Before setting off, I had told Martin and Gönül that if I find a spot where I can sit at the water’s edge with a view of the mountains, I’m stopping for lunch. After an hour, I found that spot. To my right was a clear view across the lake. To the left were tall trees with a mountain shrouded in clouds behind them.

After my idyllic meal came to an end, I caught up to Martin and Gönül, who had decided to keep going. We walked through the forest a bit more, passing a small waterfall on Cascade Creek, before arriving at the boat dock. Guess what? No boats — the season had ended a week before!

We chose to hike back the way we came rather than get caught in the dark on an unfamiliar part of the trail, reaching the parking lot around 6:45pm. Overall, we enjoyed a refreshing three hours on the trail in the crisp mountain air.

 

Teton Park Road at Grand Teton National Park

Teton Park Road is a 20-mile (32 kilometer) scenic drive running along the base of the Teton Range, connecting the community of Moose with Jackson Lake Junction at US 89. It passes several turnouts and trailheads, and provides access to the Jenny Lake area. The road is open to motorized vehicles from May 1 to October 31. From November 1 onward, it stays open for cyclists and pedestrians until it’s covered with snow.

 

Windy Point Turnout

Heading north from the Moose entrance, the first stop is the Windy Point Turnout. It’s named for the strong winter winds that cause snow to accumulate there. You’ll enjoy views of the central Teton Range and two wayside signs.

 

Taggart Lake Trailhead

Further up the road is the trailhead for trails to Taggart Lake:

• The Taggart Lake Trail is an easy trail that leads to Taggart Lake. It’s 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) long with an elevation gain of 360 feet (110 meters). You’ll hike through an aspen-covered moraine to the lake, where you’ll enjoy some of the best views of the Teton Range.
• The Taggart Lake–Beaver Creek Loop is an extension of the Taggart Lake Trail, looping back to the trailhead. It’s 3.8 miles (6.1 kilometers) with 620 feet (190 meters) of elevation gain.
• The Taggart Lake–Bradley Lake Loop is a moderate 5.6-mile(9 kilometer) loop trail with 860 feet (262 meters) of elevation gain. It leads to both Taggart and Bradley Lakes before looping back to the parking lot.

All three trails pass the Jimmy Manges Cabin, which is believed to be the first two-story cabin in the valley.

 

Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area

The Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area is just past the Taggart Lake trailhead. You’ll find five picnic tables near cottonwood trees above the creek.

 

Teton Glacier Turnout

Next is the Teton Glacier Turnout, where you can view the largest glacier in the park. Teton Glacier is a patch of ice that clings to the northeast flank of the Grand Teton. Although the glacier is retreating, ice still flows downhill due to gravity.

 

Geraldine Lucas Homestead

At a parking lot on the west side of the road, you’ll find a short trail to the Geraldine Lucas Homestead. Geraldine Lucas (1866–1938), originally from Iowa City, Iowa, retired from her teaching job in New York in 1912. She arrived in Jackson Hole the following year, joining two brothers and a sister and building a cabin. Lucas filed for a homestead claim that was finally granted in 1922, expanding her property to 428 acres. In 1924, at the age of 58, she became the second recorded woman to climb Grand Teton, guided by 16-year-old Paul Petzoldt (1908–1999).

Lucas was vehemently opposed to the activities of John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s Snake River Land Company and refused to sell her property. After her death in 1938, it was acquired by J.D. Kimmell, who had plans to subdivide and develop the land. Instead, he sold the property in 1944 to his friend Harold Fabian (1885–1975), administrator of the Snake River Land Company, in exchange for rights at Jenny Lake. Under a deal with the National Park Service, Fabian and his family moved into the Lucas cabin in 1946, spending summers there until his death in 1975.

The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 24, 1998. In 2016, the National Park Service repaired the homestead and added interpretive signage to improved public access and make it a better visitor destination.

 

Lupine Meadows Trailhead

A road before the Jenny Lake area leads to the Lupine Meadows trailhead. The trail switchbacks up to Three-Mile Junction where it splits into two strenuous trails:

• The Garnet Canyon Trail is 8.2 miles (13.2 kilometers) round-trip with 2,430 feet (740 meters) of elevation gain. When you reach Three-Mile Junction, follow the trail to the left. After about a mile, you’ll reach a boulder field where scrambling is required to cross. Once in the canyon, you’ll be surrounded by Nez Perce, South and Middle Teton, Grand Teton, and Disappointment Peak.
• The Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail is 9.8 miles (15.8 kilometers) round-trip with 3,070 feet (940 meters) of elevation gain. When you reach Three-Mile Junction, follow the trail to the right. The trail switchbacks up into the mountains for five miles before reaching Surprise Lake. It’s another ¼ mile up to Amphitheater Lake, which is just below the summit of Disappointment Peak.

Keep in mind bears may be active in the area — hike in groups, make noise, and carry bear spray.

 

Cascade Canyon Turnout

After passing the Jenny Lake area, you’ll reach the Cascade Canyon Turnout. When it’s not cloudy you can look down Cascade Canyon, which was carved by glaciers.

 

Mountain View Turnout

Next is the Mountain View Turnout. An interpretive panel explains how the mountain landscape continues to change due to wind, water, and ice.

 

Mount Moran Turnout

Continuing along is the Mount Moran Turnout. Named for landscape painter Thomas Moran (1837–1926), who accompanied the 1872 Hayden expedition to Yellowstone, Mount Moran is the dominant peak of the northern Teton Range. It rises 12,610 feet (3,840 meters). There are usually spectacular views, but you can see from the pictures there wasn’t much visibility during my visit.

 

Potholes Turnout

A few seconds up the road is the Potholes Turnout. It highlights a stand of conifer trees that took root in a depression. Locals called these depressions “potholes”, while in other parts of the country they’re called “kettles”. They were formed by blocks of ice falling from retreating glaciers that may have been buried by sediment. The ice later melted, leaving behind a depression that trapped moisture and dust, forming a micro-environment that could support trees.

 

Signal Mountain Summit Road

Signal Mountain Summit Road is a nice scenic drive that climbs 800 feet (242 meters) over five miles (8 kilometers) to the summit of Signal Mountain. The entrance is south of the Signal Mountain Lodge. At the top, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Jackson Hole valley, Jackson Lake, and the Teton Range.

 

Chapel of the Sacred Heart

The Chapel of the Sacred Heart is past the Signal Mountain Lodge. This small Catholic church was built out of logs on the shores of Jackson Lake in 1937. It seats about 115 and is a popular place for weddings. Regular Sunday masses are celebrated June through September, administered by Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Jackson.

 

Jackson Lake Dam

Finally, before reaching Jackson Lake Junction, you’ll drive over the Jackson Lake Dam. This concrete dam was built between 1911 and 1916, raising the water level of Jackson Lake by 30 feet (9 meters). It replaced a log-crib dam constructed in 1906–07 that raised the lake by 22 feet (6.7 meters), but eventually failed in 1910.

The dam is 65 feet (20 meters) high and 4,920 feet (1,500 meters) long. It’s 24 feet (7.3 meters) wide at the top and 72 feet (22 meters) wide at the base. You can see an arm of Jackson Lake on the west side. On the east side is the spillway and the Snake River, which flows about 1,080 miles (1,740 kilometers) through Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

 

US Highway 89 in Grand Teton National Park

US Highway 89 runs through the east side of Grand Teton National Park. There are several turnouts and a few points of interest along the road. We stopped at a few of these spots during our trip. Each turnout gives a unique perspective of the mountains but I had bad luck with the weather and could barely see them.

 

Sleeping Indian Turnout

Starting from the south and heading north, first is the Sleeping Indian Turnout. It provides views of both the Teton and Gros Ventre Ranges. It’s named for the view of Sheep Mountain, nicknamed “Sleeping Indian”.

 

Albright View Turnout

Next is Albright View Turnout, from where you can view Blacktail Butte and the Gros Ventre Range as well as Albright Peak in the Teton Range. Albright Peak is named after Horace Albright (1890–1987), the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and director of the National Park Service from January 12, 1929, to August 9, 1933.

 

Blacktail Butte Trailhead

A mile north of Moose Junction, you’ll come to the Blacktail Butte Trail. It’s about 5.7 miles (9.2 kilometers) round-trip along the west side of the butte, climbing up to a gully on the south side for views of the Teton Range. Rock climbers can use the trail to access bolted climbing routes.

Originally called Gros Ventre Butte by the Doane Survey in 1876, the name had changed to Blacktail Butte by 1899. It’s named for the blacktail deer — now known as mule deer — that live in the area.

 

Blacktail Ponds Overlook

The turn to the Blacktail Ponds Overlook is a bit further up on the west side of the road. You’ll get views of the wetlands along the Snake River and of course the Teton Range.

 

Glacier View Turnout

Next is Glacier View Turnout, where there are spectacular views of the Teton Range without the obstruction of foothills.

 

Schwabacher Landing

The road to Schwabacher Landing is on the west side of US 89. It sits along a branch of the Snake River and is an ideal spot for viewing wildlife and the mountains. Moose and beavers are often seen there.

 

Teton Point Turnout

Continuing along is the Teton Point Turnout. Along with more great mountain views, there’s an interpretive panel explaining how the terraces of the Snake River were created. This is where I was able to get the best look at the Tetons during my visit to the park.

 

Snake River Overlook

Although the exact location is unknown, the Snake River Overlook is roughly where Ansel Adams (1902–1984) took his iconic photograph of the Teton Range and Snake River. Rafters access the river at Deadmans Bar nearby.

 

J.P. Cunningham Cabin

A gravel road on from US 89 leads north to the J.P. Cunningham Cabin, where you can take a short trail around the homestead. John Pierce Cunningham lived in the two-room Appalachian-style cabin from 1888 to 1895 with his wife, Margaret. It measures about 41 ½ feet (12.6 meters) by 15 ¼ feet (4.65 meters). He later built a larger house and used the cabin as a barn.

Cunningham became a successful rancher and by 1924 owned 560 acres of land. Initially one of the biggest opponents to the expansion of Grand Teton National Park, an agricultural depression in the 1920s caused him to realize the valley’s touristic potential. He changed his tone and supported the conservation of the area, teaming up with neighbor Josiah David Ferrin to write a petition signed by 97 ranchers. He eventually sold his property to the Snake River Land Company in 1928. The cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

 

Moose!

Just after leaving Cunningham Cabin, we noticed a long line of cars parked on the side of the road. About 20 people dashed out with their cameras. We stopped and asked what all the commotion was about and a woman told us there was a moose walking through the area. I joined the rest of the crowd and got my first look at a moose in the wild!

 

Elk Ranch Flats Turnout

The next stop is Elk Ranch Flats Turnout. Other than spectacular views on a nice day, you can see the remnants of Elk Ranch — one of the largest cattle ranches in the area. It was owned by Josiah David Ferrin (1873–1944), nicknamed “Uncle Si”, who was a rancher from nearby Jackson. Ferrin staked his claim in 1908 when Theodore Roosevelt opened the land to homesteaders, and, after purchasing adjacent properties, he had the largest ranching business in Jackson Hole. The ranch headquarters were first homesteaded by Otto Kusche in 1911.

 

Oxbow Bend Turnout

At Moran Junction US 89 turns left and passes the Moran Entrance Station. Shortly after the entrance station is the Oxbow Bend Turnout — one of the most photogenic spots at Grand Teton National Park. On a good day, you can capture Mount Moran and its reflection in a bend on the Snake River. With an overcast day, there wasn’t much luck for me shooting in any direction. Trumpeter swans, otters, beavers, and bears are often spotted there.

 

Lower Willow Flats Overlook

Continuing north, past Jackson Lake Junction is the Lower Willow Flats Overlook. Along with spectacular views of the Teton Range across Jackson Lake, you might have the chance to see grizzly bears, elk, and sandhill cranes.

 

Upper Willow Flats Overlook

Upper Willow Flats Overlook is a bit further up the road. It’s another great place to view the mountains and spot wildlife.

 

Christian Pond Trailhead

A short drive away is the Christian Pond Loop, an easy 3 ½-mile (5.6 kilometer) loop with 490 feet (150 meters) of elevation gain. It leads Christian Pond, named for Charles A. Christian, commonly known as Tex. He was the caretaker of the Amoretta Inn, which later became the original Jackson Lake Lodge.

 

Sargents Bay Picnic Area

Past Colter Bay Village you’ll come to the Sargents Bay Picnic Area. It’s named for John D. Sargent, who in the 1880s built the Merymere, a guest lodge above Leeks Marina, with Robert Ray Hamilton. They were related to artist John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), respectively. Sargent was suspected of murdering Hamilton, leading to the name of Signal Mountain.

 

Arizona Island Picnic Area

The Arizona Island Picnic Area is next. It consists of a few picnic tables in a picturesque meadow. Arizona Island, just offshore on Jackson Lake, was a peninsula that became in island after the lake was dammed. It’s named for Arizona George, who trapped in the area with his partner, Dog-faced Pete. George was found dead in 1888 on a creek that bears his name.

 

Lakeview Picnic Area

Further north is the Lakeview Picnic Area, right on the shores of Jackson Lake. This large picnic area features breathtaking views of the Teton Range.

 

Jackson Lake Overlook

The Jackson Lake Overlook is the final stop along US 89 before it exits the northern boundary of Grand Teton National Park. You’ll enjoy great views of Jackson Lake with the Teton Range in the background.

 

Mormon Row

Mormon Row is a collection of homesteads 1 ½ miles down Antelope Flats Road, east of US 89. It’s an excellent place to learn about the human element of the park and of course for some stunning photography.

In the 1890s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent settlers from Salt Lake City to establish new communities. A group of families settled in the Antelope Flats area of Jackson Hole. Originally named Grovont (Gros Ventre), a total of 33 homesteads were established but only six remain. Mormon Row was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1997.

 

John Moulton Homestead

The John Moulton Homestead is just north of Antelope Flats Road. John lived in a log home for nearly 30 years before he replaced it with the Pink House. The property also contains a bunkhouse, barn, granary, and pump house. To the north is the Reed Moulton Homestead.

 

T.A. Moulton Barn

About a half mile down the road to the south is the T.A. Moulton Barn. It’s all that remains of the homestead built by Thomas Alma Moulton and his sons between 1912 and 1945. Along with the John Moulton Barn, it has featured in many iconic photos of the park. The weather didn’t allow me to capture the scenery at its best.

 

Clark and Veda Moulton Homestead

Continuing south is the Clark and Veda Moulton Homestead, which contains a house, a barn, a granary, a bunkhouse, and other smaller buildings. Hal and Iola Blake, descendants of T.A. Moulton, rented cabins on the property between Memorial Day and September up until  2018, when they sold the land to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

 

Andy Chambers Homestead

Across the street is the Andy Chambers Homestead, which is the biggest surviving complex on Mormon Row. Chambers claimed the land in 1912. The family lived without running water until 1927 and electricity until they erected a windmill in 1946. Power wasn’t supplied to Mormon Row until the 1950s.

 

Roy Chambers Homestead

To the south, you’ll find the Roy Chambers Homestead, which features a home, garage, windmill, bunkhouse, and chicken coop.

 

Map of Grand Teton National Park