This park is located in northwestern Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone Park, and was declared a national park in 1929.
In its 1,255 km2 there are numerous mountain lakes (the most famous is Jackson Lake), rushing rivers, forests and small glaciers that still remain on the summits of the highest mountains. The park is home to one of the highest mountains in the range, the Grand Teton at 4,197 meters.
But, surely what strikes you most is the name of the park. Its origin dates back to the early 19th century. Some French-speaking settlers called the park "les troix tetons" because of the breast shape of its highest mountains. Later the name would be adapted to English as Grand Teton.
What to see in a day in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton has two main roads that form a sort of circle:
US-191, which runs alongside the Snake River on the outside of the circle and continues north towards Yellowstone. Beautiful viewpoints, such as Oxbow Bend, and photogenic sites such as Mormon Row await you there.
The Teton Park Road, which runs along the Teton Range, through the interior, and then joins US-191 in the north of the park. There you will find such emblematic places as Jenny Lake and its visitor center. To hike it, you will have to pay the park entrance fee.
The most photographed barns in the United States in Mormon Row
We entered the Grand Teton from Jackson Hole and made our first stop at the Mormon Row barns.
This is a historic site as the Mormons settled in this area in the 1890s. Early Mormon farmers built dozens of farms on the borders of what is now the national park. In order to cultivate the land, they built a network of canals that carried water to the crops. These canals and dams are still preserved today.
But, the most famous of Mormon Row are the barns and among them the Moulton Barn, built by a Mormon named Thomas Alma Moulton. This building is one of the most photographed because the beauty of the old wooden construction is joined by the spectacular backdrop of the mountains of the Teton Range.
Glacier View Turnout
Returning to US-191 after visiting Mormon Row, stop at Glacier View Turnout, just 3 minutes north. There, the sagebrush-covered plain offers uninterrupted views of the Tetons.
Schwabacher Landing
A couple of minutes north, take the turn-off for the narrow road to Schwabacher Landing.
From the parking lot, a trail brings you close to the banks of the Snake River. It's an easy and very pretty hike where you'll see the mountains in the background.
Jenny Lake, Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls
The next stop is one of those must-see places in Grand Teton: Jenny Lake.
This lake is the busiest corner of the park: it has a large visitor center, hikes of varying difficulty and a boat, the Jenny Lake Shuttle, which crosses it every few minutes.
Jenny Lake's (and Grand Teton's!) most famous hike is the one that takes you to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point overlook on the west side of the lake.
But there are no roads on the west side of the lake, so the only way to get there is to hike.
You have two options:
Walk the Jenny Lake Trail + hike (5 miles round trip). This trail runs along the west shore of the lake and takes you to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead, the place where the hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point begins. It's an easy hike, though with some elevation gain. From the Jenny Lake Trailhead to Hidden Falls is 7.9 km round trip. If you want to add the Inspiration Point, it is 9.2 km round trip in total.
Take the Jenny Lake Shuttle boat + tour (3 km round trip). This little boat runs every few minutes and sails to the west lake, to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead. In other words, it saves you from walking the west lake trail and drops you off at the place where the tour to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point begins. From the dock to Hidden Falls, it's a 1.6 km round trip. If you want to add Inspiration Point to the tour, it is 2.9 km round trip in total.
The downside of the boat is that it is very expensive for the short trip (when we were there, $12 one way/ $20 round trip) and that, during the day, there is usually a queue to get on (they don't take reservations).
If you want, you can take it only one way. For example, you can hike west of the lake to Hidden Falls and then boat back to the visitor center.
We took the boat and then hiked back part of the Jenny Lake Trail, a very nice trail through forest and lake views.
Sleeping in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson is a town with a Wild West feel. This town was in the 19th century an authentic western town, isolated from the rest of the country.
It's full of stores, restaurants, museums, museums and plans for the whole family.
Bar recommendation: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar - The Cowboy Bar is famous for its unique western cowboy motif, complete with a large collection of western memorabilia, unique knobbly pine architecture, cowboy murals, animal mounts, and genuine saddles for bar stools. The decor alone will keep you fascinated for hours at a time.
How many days it takes to see Grand Teton
If you just want to hike the park's two roads and admire the scenery from the overlooks, one day is enough. But if you are a trekking lover and want to do some of the hikes in the park you will have to reserve at least two days for Grand Teton.
When to go to Grand Teton National Park
The best time to visit is from May to September. But keep in mind that July and August are high season and can be very crowded. The parking lots at the entrance to the main trails fill up very early in the morning.
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