Grand Teton National Park Guide: Peaks, Lakes & Wildlife
Nomad Toolkit
Overview & Vibe
Grand Teton National Park covers about 310,000 acres of northwest Wyoming, and its highest summit, the Grand Teton, rises to 13,775 feet with no foothills in front of it. The park counted 3,800,648 visits in 2025, its second busiest year on record. Jackson Lake runs 15 miles along the north end, and more than 100 alpine lakes sit in the high country above the valley floor.
The park records 61 mammal species, including bison, moose, elk, pronghorn and both black and grizzly bears, and more than 300 bird species. Most of the action happens on one loop: the Teton Park Road on the west side of the valley and Highway 89 on the east.
A Brief History
Congress created the park on February 26, 1929, protecting only the peaks and the lakes at their base. John D. Rockefeller Jr. then bought valley ranches through the Snake River Land Company to hand to the Park Service, and Franklin Roosevelt used that land to create Jackson Hole National Monument in 1943 over strong local opposition. The monument and park were combined in 1950 into the park visitors see today (Wikipedia).
Transportation
You need a car or a tour. The closest airport, Jackson Hole Airport, sits inside the park boundary, and the town of Jackson is about 12 miles south of the Moose entrance. There is no park-wide shuttle bus, so the loop is a self-drive trip.
The Jenny Lake shuttle boat cuts two miles of walking each way to the Hidden Falls trailhead. Round trip costs $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for children, and boats leave every 10 to 15 minutes with no reservation. It is busiest from June to August, so check the operator's posted dates before a fall visit.
Language, Customs & Etiquette
English is spoken everywhere. The main rule here is wildlife spacing: the park asks you to stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other animals, including the bison that graze near the roads. When a crowd forms at a roadside moose or bear, pull fully off the pavement and follow ranger directions.
Safety & Security
Grizzlies live throughout the park, so carry bear spray on every trail, keep it on your belt rather than in a pack, and hike in groups while talking. Store all food in a car or a bear box. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so start long hikes early and turn back from exposed ridges when clouds build.
Weather & Climate
Jackson Hole sits above 6,000 feet, so nights are cold even in July. Town averages 82F in July and 27F in January, with about 77 inches of snow a year, and the high country gets far more. September brings fall color and active elk, while snow can arrive any time from October. The table shows Jackson averages from 1905 to 2019.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 4 | 1.5 |
| Feb | 32 | 7 | 1.14 |
| Mar | 40 | 15 | 1.23 |
| Apr | 52 | 24 | 1.14 |
| May | 63 | 31 | 1.8 |
| Jun | 72 | 37 | 1.63 |
| Jul | 82 | 41 | 0.94 |
| Aug | 80 | 39 | 1.2 |
| Sep | 71 | 31 | 1.27 |
| Oct | 58 | 24 | 1.17 |
| Nov | 40 | 16 | 1.3 |
| Dec | 29 | 7 | 1.52 |
Logistics & Practical Info
Entry costs $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 per person on foot or bike, valid for seven days. A Grand Teton annual pass costs $70 and the America the Beautiful pass $80. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless they hold an annual pass. The Moose entrance takes cards only, no cash.
Season matters. In 2026, Jackson Lake Lodge and Jenny Lake Lodge close October 4, Signal Mountain Lodge October 11, and the Jenny Lake Visitor Center October 12. The Teton Park Road closes to cars from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge from November 1 to April 30, and the Moose-Wilson Road closes November 1.
Construction runs across the park this year. The north part of the Taggart Lake Trail is closed through November 15, Death Canyon Road is closed until 2027, and a roundabout is going in at the Moose entrance.
Attractions & Activities
Top Sights and Hikes
- Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point: about 2 miles round trip and 420 feet of gain with the shuttle boat, the most popular short hike in the park.
- Cascade Canyon (Wikipedia): continue past Inspiration Point for about 10 miles round trip and 1,100 feet of gain into a glacier-carved canyon where moose are common.
- Jenny Lake Loop: 7.6 miles and 250 feet of gain around the lake, no boat needed.
- Mormon Row (Wikipedia): homesteaders from Idaho arrived in the 1890s and filed 27 homesteads here. The Moulton barns are the most photographed buildings in the park, and the district joined the National Register in 1997.
- Oxbow Bend: a slow curve of the Snake River below Mount Moran, best at sunrise for moose, otters and reflections.
- Schwabacher Landing: beaver ponds with a reflection of the main peaks, a short gravel road off Highway 89.
Where to Eat
Persephone Bakery at 145 East Broadway in Jackson lists a breakfast sandwich at $8.25 and a croissant at $2.75, good fuel before a sunrise drive. Inside the park, Dornan's in Moose runs the Pizza and Pasta Co. and Spur Bar from 11:30am to 8pm daily, plus a grocery and deli for trail lunches. Its Chuckwagon is closed for the 2026 season.
Health & Medical
St. John's Health in Jackson is the nearest hospital with a 24 hour emergency department. Rangers handle first aid in the park, and cell coverage drops out in the canyons, so tell someone your route. The valley floor sits near 6,500 feet, so drink extra water, wear sunscreen and give yourself a day before big climbs.
Demographics & Government
The park lies in Teton County, Wyoming, and the National Park Service runs it alongside the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, which links it to Yellowstone to the north.
Legal & Substances
Cannabis is illegal in Wyoming and on all federal land. Open containers are banned in vehicles, the DUI limit is 0.08 BAC, and drones are prohibited in the park. Pets must stay on a leash and are not allowed on trails or in visitor centers. Fishing requires a Wyoming state license.
Customs & Shopping
Jackson's Town Square, with its four elk antler arches, is the shopping center for the area, with outfitters, galleries and western wear. Dornan's Adventure Sports in Moose rents bikes and boats, and its wine shop is open daily from 11am to 8pm.
Accessibility & Inclusion
The Access Pass is free for U.S. residents with permanent disabilities and covers entry. The paved multi-use pathway between Jackson and Jenny Lake, the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, and many roadside turnouts, including Oxbow Bend, work without hiking.
Gateway Town Connectivity
Plan to work in Jackson and play in the park. Cell service reaches the developed areas but is unreliable, and the backcountry has none by design. In town, Poppy Coworking at 120 West Pearl Avenue lists day passes from $62, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Download offline maps before you drive north of Moose.
Keep planning: Casper: Central Wyoming Base Camp, Cheyenne: Wyoming's Frontier Capital and Acadia National Park Guide: Maine's Coastal Peaks.
Fees, closures and shuttle fares checked October 2026.