Fall in Grand Teton
I’ve almost finished sorting through gigabytes of photos from my trips to the U.S. national parks. I’ll start posting them little by little. I’ll put together the route and a general overview of the trip once I’ve got more posts up.
There won’t be a lot of text. I’m no Henry David Thoreau or John Muir. Just photos and practical tips — where to go and where the main viewpoints are.
Today it’s autumn in Grand Teton. Early October. I got lucky with the weather — warm, sunny, and the trees glowing in yellow, red, and green. The views are fantastic. Look, it’s not only photographers who’ve gathered here, but painters too.
Practicalities: where it is, how to get there, where to stay
The state of Wyoming. Jackson Hole (JAC) is the closest airport to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
We got to Grand Teton by car from Salt Lake City. Actually, from Las Vegas, where we rented the car (strongly recommend Discovercars). But that was a long drive, and before Grand Teton and Yellowstone we spent the night in Utah’s capital.
How many days to plan
Usually people just drive through Grand Teton on the way to Yellowstone, hurrying to get there. That’s a big mistake. We arrived at the park around 10 a.m., spent the whole day there, and stayed overnight in Jackson Hole. And that was without any real hiking — just short walks near the parking areas. There’s definitely enough to do and see for a full day.
Where to stay in Grand Teton
You can stay right inside the park. Around Jackson Lake there are lodges — Tent Village, Colter Bay Village, Signal Mountain Lodge. Keep in mind that prices are sky-high, and in peak season everything gets booked well in advance. At Colter Bay you can also find RV sites and campgrounds.
We stayed in Jackson Elk County Inn. Very good place if you’re planning to stay several days.
Jackson Hole is a typical tourist town, surrounded by mountains and made up of shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants for visitors. After all, two of the most popular national parks are right nearby. It’s worth noting that Jackson Hole — despite the name — is far from a backwater. According to unverified sources, various celebrities own property there — Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Bill Gates.
As for where to eat, I can’t give recommendations, but there’s plenty of choice and not just fast food. After a full day of walking around, we ended up having dinner in the room, having stocked up beforehand on beer and prepared food at Whole Foods Market, not far from the motel.
How to explore Grand Teton
From south to north, two roads run through the park: Teton Park Road and Highway 191. Make sure to drive both — the views are completely different. From Jackson Hole we first drove along 191. Near Oxbow Bend this road continues into Yellowstone, but we turned back along Teton Park Road. The next day, early in the morning, we headed to Yellowstone again via 191.
There’s also an audio guide with a map of Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
Here’s my suggested route with the main viewpoints.
Highway 191 seemed to me to have more dramatic scenery. It runs along the Snake River, and that’s where you’ll find those classic postcard views of Grand Teton.
Sunrises and sunsets — with the mountains, forest, and water in view — are best enjoyed somewhere along 191 as well. But Teton Park Road is absolutely not to be missed either. Especially if you want a chance to spot big wildlife, like moose or deer. Bison are everywhere, you’ll definitely see them.
Next, I’ll show you the views from the most popular lookout points.
Snake River Overlook
In 1942, the great landscape photographer Ansel Adams, commissioned by the National Park Service, captured the beauty of the American West on film. One of his most famous shots is The Tetons and the Snake River. You won’t be able to recreate the photo — even if you climb on top of a car (in the photo he’s actually shooting in Yosemite). The trees have grown taller since then. Still, the view is stunning and remains one of the most popular spots for landscape photography enthusiasts.
Mormon Row & The Moulton Barns
The most photographed barns in the world. And why not — they make a perfect foreground with the Tetons rising behind them. They’ve even become a symbol of Jackson Hole.
This whole area was settled by Mormon pioneers in the early 20th century. These barns are all that remains of the homestead of Thomas Alma Moulton, built in 1912. The Moulton family sold the land and all its buildings to the National Park Service in the 1990s.
To get to the barns, you need to turn off Highway 191 onto Antelope Flats Road. It’s better to do this a little earlier and drive part of the way along Gros Ventre Road. There’s another campground there, and on the banks of the Gros Ventre River you might spot deer cooling off in the water. We weren’t so lucky — maybe the deer weren’t tired that day.
I decided not to do what everyone else does and skip the cliché shot of the same barn you see everywhere. After all, it’s not the only one there. So here are my wooden relics of the Wild West.
Jackson Lake.
Schwabacher’s Landing
A sunrise spot. In the early morning, dozens of photographers gather here, waiting for the sun to rise over the Tetons and paint the mountain peaks in warm light — especially during peak fall foliage.
I’m not always up for such early-morning feats, so I decided this would be my sunset spot instead.
The next day we headed to Yellowstone, again along Highway 191. That morning frost, the mist, and the mountain peaks — unbelievably beautiful.
This wasn’t even a viewpoint, we just pulled over by the side of the road.
Roaming herds of bison in Grand Teton and Yellowstone are a common sight. It’s terrifying when one passes right near you. Truly frightening.
For the first time in my life, I saw these things in person. And that’s just a small portion of the photographers — behind me there were about 50 more, all with similar setups. I was pretty embarrassed to pull out my 24–105mm. People with phones get tapped with sticks and shooed away.
Life hack: if you see someone in a national park with a big lens pointed off into the distance, it means there’s a beautiful wild animal over there. We always stopped and looked too.
Oxbow Bend Overlook
A very meditative spot. Early morning, the incredible shades of foliage in the trees lit by the rising sun, the reflection of Mount Moran on the mirror-like water, and the quiet. Although, I’m lying — there’s no real silence or solitude. This is also a “sunrise spot” for photographers. At the right time, it’s packed with people and tripods.
It’s best to arrive at least half an hour after sunrise.
Willow Flats Overlook и Jackson Lake
Wide open spaces, Jackson Lake, and the mountain range. Autumn really is the best season.
More Oxbow Bend.
Next up, there will be a lot of Yellowstone.
