Grand Teton National Park Tourism Attractions
Area Attractions
Head to the Grand Teton area and marvel at the impressive Teton Range, enjoy outdoor sports year-round, tour the Elk Refuge, and shop and taste the Wild West along downtown Jackson, Wyoming’s boardwalks.
The concern is not “what to do,” it’s “what to do first” when visiting the Grand Teton area. And whether you choose a hike in a National Park, a few hours at a museum, or a rafting or skiing adventure, it will all be happening in one of the most peaceful and environmentally-rewarding places possible.
National Parks, Forests and Wilderness/Refuge Areas
- Grand Teton National Park is a great year-round playground for families who enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and features the distinctive, jutting Grand Teton Peak.
- Yellowstone National Park’s 2.2 million acres remain an ever-popular vacation and recreation destination near the Grand Teton area.
- Rockefeller Parkway joins Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks via 24,000 acres.
- Gros Ventre Area offers 200,000 acres of uncrowded wilderness trails and lakes to visitors.
- The National Elk Refuge is North of Jackson, providing protection to the largest group of elk in the U.S. every winter, yielding great scenic drives nearby and photography and educational opportunities for the whole family via sleigh ride access onto the refuge.
Area Hot Springs
Enjoy a snowmobile ride and warm up with a relaxing soak in Granite Hot Springs, or check out Kelly Warm Springs outside of Kelly along Gros Ventre Road, as well as various springs in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
Lakes & Rivers
Snake River, with its popular “Wilson swimming beach,” attracts anglers and rafters year-round, running through Grand Teton National Park and Jackson. Popular lakes like Grand Teton National Park’s Jackson and Amphitheatre Lakes provide hours of quality recreation, along with other Grand Teton area lakes including Jenny, Bradley, Marion and Phelps.
Nature & Wildlife
A diverse group of wildlife including elk, moose, and coyotes flourishes in the Grand Teton area, delighting locals and visitors with frequent sightings and photographic opportunities.
Museums & Culture
- Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum features a variety of exhibits and photo galleries highlighting Grand Teton area pioneer history and culture.
- The National Museum of Wildlife Art displays paintings and sculptures by Russell Bierstadt and other acclaimed artists.
Activities
In the winter, hit the slopes at Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, and Snow King for some of the best skiing, boarding, and tubing anywhere in the world. Take the tram (at Jackson Hole Resort) 4,139 miles to the top of Rendezvous Peak in 9 minutes to enjoy amazing fresh powder. Try some cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for equally exhilarating exercise and magnificent Grand Teton scenery.
In the summer, the whole of the Grand Teton area attracts hikers, campers, climbers, horseback riders, bicyclists, whitewater rafters and kayakers, anglers, boaters, as well as photographers. The tram operates from about June to September, offering great access to trails and wildlife viewing.
Questions & Answers
Yes. The jagged spires of the Tetons are inspiring in a drive-through park visit and absolutely awesome when experienced from any of the roughly 200 miles of hiking trails traversing the mountains. Grand Teton actually earns significantly more 5-star reviews than Yellowstone on popular review sites, and more than 88.1 percent of the park's reviews come in at five stars. Yellowstone, which is the more famous park nearly appended to the north end of the Tetons, gets a similar 88 percent of five-star reviews despite it's bucket-list designation.
Grand Teton National Park is known for the iconic Teton Mountain Range. The unparalleled grandeur of the photogenic mountainscape provides panoramic views and a rich ecosystem. Opportunities to view forests and iconic wildlife make Teton National Park a special place to visit. Its rich history and endless recreational possibilities thrill visitors and make it a destination vacation spot.
You can admire the park by tackling several scenic driving routes including the 42-mile Scenic Loop, as well as drives to Jenny Lake, Moose-Wilson Road, and Signal Mountain Summit Road. For the adventurous souls seeking a more immersive experience check out kayak rentals at Jenny Lake and guided rafting or fishing tours of the Snake River. You'll find the most immersive and beautiful destinations while traversing the park’s extensive network of backcountry backpacking trails. While you'll often spot wildlife from the road, you'll see the most wildlife away from developed areas.
You can't go wrong since big views of the Tetons dominate the entire 42-mile Scenic Loop Drive. But for some of the most prized views, head to the Snake River Overlook made famous by landscape photographer Ansel Adams and Schwabacher Landing, which includes a reflective beaver pond making a mountain view so nice you see it twice. Other favorite destinations include Jenny Lake for its views of Cascade Canyon across a clear mountain lake, String Lake for its proximity to the mountains, and Jackson Lake, which you can also explore by kayak or motor boat.
Other Area Attractions Resources
Visitor attractions in South Dakota's Black Hills.