Grand Tetons in 3 Days

Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Tetons National Park arguably offers some of the west’s most beautiful scenery. It is also known for its unique ecosystem, with flora and fauna that have existed in the same area since prehistoric times. One of the best parts about this park is that, at least during temperate parts of the year, much of it is easily accessible. In fact, you can actually see a lot without even leaving your car! We were fortunate to be able to spend a few days of a western road trip in the Grand Tetons. We packed a ton of activities into our 3 days and we invite you to join us as we recap that visit.

How to Get There

Jackson Hole is a 55-mile long valley located just east of the Teton and west of Gros Ventre mountain ranges. There are a number of communities located in the valley, including Jackson, the largest town in the area. The National Park also extends into the northern portion of the valley.

The Jackson Hole airport is located 10 miles north of Jackson, right in the middle of the park. All the major airlines fly there, and car rentals, Uber and Lyft are all readily available from the airport. You will want to have access to a vehicle in order to take advantage of our recommended itinerary.

If you are driving to the Jackson Hole area, the park is accessible from every direction. However, the main road through the park is the North-South Highway (Highways 191/89/26).

Places to Stay

We rented a condo in Teton Village through VRBO for our stay, but there are tons of options available from private home rentals to chain hotels located throughout the park. If you are interested in having a large selection of restaurants and nightlife though, you should probably opt to stay in Jackson.

Things to See and Do

Are you interested in hiking, kayaking, fishing, camping, history, wildlife viewing or just relaxing surrounded by gorgeous views? If so, the Grand Tetons has all of this and more. While we were not able to get all of these activities worked in while we were there, we did manage to do a lot!

• Day 1

o Colter Bay

We arrived in the Grand Tetons after having visited Yellowstone National Park, which is located only a few miles to the north on Highway 89. Note that there is an entry fee to the Grand Teton National Park of $35 per vehicle or $20 per person. You can check out the fees and ticket options available here. Our first stop in the Grand Tetons was at the Colter Bay Visitor Center located on the shore of beautiful Jackson Lake.

In the Visitor Center you will find a variety of short video presentations that provide informative overviews of the park, exhibits of American Indian artifacts, and a gift shop. You can also pick up some detailed trail maps and ask questions of the knowledgeable park rangers.

TIP: We started our visit from the northern side of the park, but regardless of where you enter, be sure to stop at one of the Visitor Centers so that you can get oriented and pick up useful information for planning your time in the park. Here is a list and location of all of the Grand Teton Visitor Centers.

If you are in the mood to stretch your legs, there are a couple of great hikes that start at the Colter Bay Visitors Center.

Lakeshore Trail – The Lakeshore Trail is an easy 2-mile hike that starts just to the right of the marina that is located behind the Visitor Center. The trail loops around a small peninsula that extends into the lake, forming Colter Bay. About half-way through the hike, you will reach a rocky beach that will give you your first unobstructed view of the major peaks of the Grand Tetons. Be sure you bring your camera so that you can capture the majestic peaks towering over Jackson Lake. Plan on spending from 1 to 2 hours to make the entire loop.

Hermitage Point Trail – For a more challenging hike, you may want to try the Hermitage Point Trail. This trail starts at the south end of the Visitor Center parking lot. Although there is not much elevation change on the trail, it does extend for a total of 10 miles. So, if you hike the entire length of the trail, you could probably spend most of the day there.

We had some other activities planned for the day, so we elected to hike out along the shoreline until the trail left the lake, about .6 miles from the trailhead.

o Signal Mountain

After leaving the Colter Bay Visitor Center, we traveled south on Highway 191 to Teton Park Road. From there we traveled a few miles to Signal Mountain Road. This paved, scenic roadway winds 5 miles and climbs 1000 feet to the top of Signal Mountain. There are actually 2 places to stop on the way up and the views are different at each stop.

While you will be able to see the Teton Range from the overlooks, on a clear day, the real ‘view’ is of Jackson Hole valley. Owing to the switchbacks and winding nature of the road, the speed limit is only 20 miles per hour. So, a trip up and down with stops at the top will take you about an hour.

Along the way, watch for animals on the sides or even on the roadway. Deer, elk and even bear are frequently spotted on the road.

o Self-Guided Historical Driving Tour

We were surprised at the number of historical buildings that are located in Jackson Hole. There are nearly 700, including many that are on the National Register of Historic Places. This brochure provides all the details on the locations and historical significance of each building.

We did not drive the entirety of the loop, but we did spend most of the remainder for our first day touring many of these sites.

Murie Ranch – Brothers Olause and Adolph Murie along with their wives Mardy and Louise lived at this ranch from 1945 to 2003. Both couples were influential in early conservation and environmental causes, culminating in the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964. In fact, in 1998, Mardy Murie received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for all of her efforts.

Although both couples have passed, it was so interesting to see where they lived, worked and the influences they had on conservation efforts through their writings, art work and scientific study.

Menor’s Ferry – Menor’s Ferry first belonged to William D. Menor, who arrived at the homestead on the banks of the Snake River in 1894. Menor constructed a ferry, which was instrumental in providing early settlers with a means of crossing the Snake River. You will be able to see a replica of that first ferry at the site.

Eventually, Menor constructed a bridge for use in the winter and then sold the ferry and winter bridge to another resident of the area, Maude Noble.

Maude Noble Cabin – Maude Noble, a member of a wealthy Philadelphia family, visited Jackson Hole in 1915 and decided to stay. She commissioned the construction of her 3-room cabin, where she lived until 1929. Around 1918, she bought the ferry from William Menor and eventually built a year-round, steel bridge. She charged up to $2 to cross the bridge and made a living from the tolls paid by the influx of curious tourists.

Chapel of the Transfiguration – Regardless of your belief system, do not miss the beautiful, little Episcopal chapel. Built in a Western Craftsman style, the log chapel was constructed in 1925 on land donated by Maude Noble. The most beautiful thing about this chapel is the majestic view behind the altar. That view is not to be missed!

This chapel played a role in the movie Spencer’s Mountain, which was filmed there in 1963. Services are still held here, although due to COVID-19, it has been closed for the 2020 season.

Mormon Row – Mormon Row was first founded in the 1890’s by a group of Mormons who settled the area. Eventually some 27 homesteads were settled and the residents established a community approach to farming the land. In order to irrigate their fields, the settlers dug an amazing series of levies, dikes and ditches by hand, many of which are still there today.

There are a number of buildings that you can visit on Mormon Row. However, one of the most iconic photos of Jackson Hole is the picture of the Moulton family’s barn with the Grand Tetons in the background. Be sure to capture your own photo of this famous barn, like we did!

Luther Taylor Cabins – The Luther Taylor homestead was established in 1916 and is the most intact original homestead in Jackson Hole. None of these building have ever been moved or modified in any way. The homestead is quite interesting on its own, but its probably most famous as the setting for the 1953 film Shane, which won an Academy Award for its cinematography.

• Day 2

On our second day we wanted to do some hiking and wildlife viewing. So, we knew we needed to get an early start. We left our condo in Teton Village around 6:30 AM and began our day in search of some wildlife, and we were successful!

o Moose Wilson Drive

There are several nice, scenic drives in and around Jackson Hole, but we found Moose Wilson Drive among the best for its varied landscapes and potential for spotting wildlife.

The gravel road is about 8 miles in length and connects Teton Village with the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in the town of Moose. On the way, you will wind through hills and wetlands areas. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot beaver, moose and bears, among others. We were fortunate enough to see all of these, along with bison, deer, herons, and ospreys.

Despite the fact that the route is only 8 miles in length, be prepared to spend an hour or more making the trip. Depending on what animals you are able to spot, you will be stopping frequently along the way. We spent about 15 minutes just viewing the bear who was happily munching berries along the side of the road.

Just a word to the wise though, if you happen to come across a bear, everyone is going to stop and there is likely to be a bit of a traffic jam. People are so eager to see a bear and to get a photo, that they forget to watch out for other vehicles, and more importantly, some get way to close to the bear. We saw folks getting within 25 feet of a fully grown bear!

Please remember that all the animals in the park are wild animals. Getting too close to them presents risk not only to yourself, but places undue stress on the animal, possibly provoking it. So please stay in your car if possible, and if you do get out, please stay an appropriate distance from the animals.

o Jenny Lake

After completing the Moose Winslow drive, we followed Teton Park Road and continued on to Jenny Lake. At 1200 acres, Jenny Lake is the second largest lake in the park. There you will find another visitor center, campground, restrooms and parking. During mid-summer and holiday weeks, this hike is very popular and it can be crowded. So, if you are visiting during one of these times, be sure to arrive early in the day.

At Jenny Lake you will find all sorts of hikes for all ability levels. We chose the Jenny Lake Loop Trail, which is 7.5 miles in length and is of moderate difficulty. You can follow the trail either direction, but we chose to hike it in a clockwise direction. The trail follows the shoreline and offers terrific views of The Cathedral Group, Mt. Owen, The Grand Teton and Mt. Teewinot.

Along the way you may also be able to spot various wildlife, especially ospreys and eagles. You will also pass through an area called the Moose Ponds, where you will likely be able to spot beaver and possibly even moose!

If you have a little extra energy, we recommend making the side hikes to both Inspiration Point and the Hidden Falls. Getting to these two spots will add a little more mileage to your hike, but they are both well worth the effort.

TIP: If you want to cut some mileage off your hike, you can take a ferry from the Visitor Center to the opposite side of the lake. The cost is $18 for adults and will save you 4 miles of hiking (round trip). The ferry will drop you about 1/2 mile from Hidden Falls and about 1 mile from Inspiration Point.

We spent about 5 to 6 hours hiking at Jenny Lake, including the additional hikes to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. However, you can choose just to do as much or as little hiking as you want. But do not miss at least stopping at the Visitor Center and taking in the views of the Teton Range from the shore of the Jenny Lake.

TIP: If you would like to see Jenny Lake from your vehicle, you can drive the Jenny Lake Loop Road. This is a well-maintained, paved road that is 5 miles long and will take you 15 to 30 minutes to complete. The road traverses the eastern shore of the lake and you will be able to view the peaks of the Teton Range.

• Day 3

On the last day of our visit to the Tetons, we wanted to do some more hiking and also take some time to visit the town of Jackson. So, once again we got an early start in order to beat some of the crowds.

o Hike from Taggart Lake to Bradley Lake

Taggart and Bradley Lakes are two of the park’s glacially formed lakes and they are located just 2.5 miles from the Moose Entrance Station. The hike begins at the Taggart Lake Trailhead. If you choose to hike the loop to Bradley Lake, the total distance will be about 5.5 miles. Follow the signs for Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake. The hike is easy to moderate, with a bit of elevation gain in some sections of the trail.

Early in the hike you will cross a footbridge just below a lovely waterfall. All along the way, you will have tremendous views. (The picture on the right is the view from the trailhead.)  Because you must pass over a moraine between the two lakes, you will be several hundred feet above them at some points of the hike. The view of the mountains and the lakes below is just stunning. Throughout the hike, be on the lookout for wildlife. We did not spot any large animals, but we did see some marmots and plenty of mountain bluebirds and woodpeckers. Be sure to bring your camera on this hike!

TIP: Another reason to hike early, especially on a clear day, is to see the reflection of the mountains in the waters of the lake, making for some excellent photo opportunities!

In order to lengthen the hike a bit, we elected to return to the Taggart Lake Trailhead via the Beaver Creek Trail, which extended the hike by about a mile. The trail passes through pine forests and meadows. Since this portion of the trail was completely deserted, we were on the lookout for animals, especially bears. Unfortunately, a summer rain storm was brewing and we did not really see any wildlife.

TIP – Speaking of bears, they really are fairly prolific in the park. It is recommended that you carry bear spray on all hikes. If you are carrying bear spray, make sure it is accessible and that you know how to use it effectively. If you do need it, you will not have time to dig it out of your backpack, so we recommend keeping it strapped to your belt.

We spent about 6 hours hiking around Lake Taggart and afterwards we were ready for a late lunch, so we headed into Jackson.

o Jackson

Do not confuse Jackson Hole with the town of Jackson. As explained earlier, Jackson Hole is a valley. Jackson is a lovely little town of about 10,000 full time residents. Not only is it a wonderful summer destination, but Jackson is probably even better known for its proximity to downhill skiing and other winter sports. Since Jackson is a year-round destination, the town has all the amenities that you might expect from a larger city.

Excellent restaurants representing all sorts of cuisines, art galleries, and quaint shops abound in downtown Jackson. You can even grab takeout and relax with your lunch in the cute town square, complete with its unique ‘antler arches’. We stopped in for lunch at the Roadhouse Brewing Company, where we sat outside overlooking the town square. They have a great selection of entrees and even better craft beers!

We hope you enjoyed following along on our visit to the Grand Tetons. It is an amazingly beautiful and pristine place and was another ‘bucket list’ destination for us. We recommend pairing a visit to the Grand Tetons with its neighboring Yellowstone National Park just down the road. In fact, we are going to be reviewing Yellowstone in some upcoming blog posts. So, stay tuned if you are interested in learning more about another amazing national park.

Safe travels!