Grand Teton – Exploring From The Roadside

Details
Category: Backroads

Grand Teton National Park is famous for its craggy mountain peaks and photogenic lakes. The park is best experienced by hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing and sailing. But Grand Teton is also a great destination when you want soft adventure and beautiful scenery right from the roadside.

We visited on July 6, 2020, and had a great time. The park was crowded, particularly in the Jenny Lake area, but we found plenty of opportunity to see the sites.

Grand Teton Basic Information

  • Located in NW Wyoming between the town of Jackson and Yellowstone NP.
  • 330 miles north of Salt Lake City, along US Hwy 191
  • The park is open year-round but has limited access and opportunities during winter. (Campgrounds are closed during winter and many roads are not plowed.)
  • Check the park website for the latest information.

We did a day trip, driving north from Jackson. At Moose Junction, we turned onto the Teton Park Road and followed it through the heart of the park. Scenery was spectacular in all directions.

Stop at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center for maps and to learn about current conditions, if you can find a parking spot. That area was congested when we visited.

Take a leisurely stroll along the Jenny Lake shoreline to see what many people believe to be the best scenery in the park. The combination of lake, forest and towering peaks is amazing.

At String Lake, just north of Jenny, we found much less congestion, plenty of room on the hiking trails, and extremely beautiful scenery. Many people were out on the lake in canoes and kayaks, and on paddle boards.

We drove up to Jackson Lake and found that area also had fewer visitors. The general store at Signal Mountain provided welcome refreshment. We strolled along the pathway between the lodge and lake and enjoyed watching the boaters.

We'll be back, scheduling more time, and will plan to boat and fish.

The lodges at Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake offer rooms with stunning views. Park campgrounds are nice but fill up quickly. As I get older, and hopefully wiser, I'm enjoying staying in nice lodges. Here you will find some of the best.

– Dave Webb