I took my first trip to the Tetons in 2015 and it was love at first sight. I owe most of my Jackson knowledge to my friend Jess, who was my tour guide that first trip and several times since. I make a point to visit Grand Teton National Park at least once a year—it’s my favorite National Park!
Things to do in Grand Teton National Park:
Jackson Hole: Take a photo with the iconic arches on Jackson square, walk through art galleries, window shop (my favorite shop is MADE), buy a t-shirt, grab a milkshake, eat dinner, or check out the farmer’s market.
Jenny Lake: During the summer, you can take a boat ride or rent a canoe. Scenic boat tours are offered three times a day, or you can take a boat shuttle to the other side of the lake to hike to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and/or the south side of the lake. The parking lot fills up QUICK during the summer, so be sure to get there early or save this spot for the evening. During the fall when boat services are closed, you can still hike around the lake.
Rent Canoes or Kayaks at Colter Bay: Get there early if you can since they get busier throughout the day. You can rent in two hour increments and paddle out onto Jackson Lake.
Mormon Row & Schwabacher Landing: Mormon Row is a historic row of houses settled by pioneers and is home to the most photographed barn in the world. Schwabacher Landing is a quick drive down the road from Mormon Row and is a beautiful spot to watch sunrise or sunset (the mountains reflect into the water of the river—it’s a great spot if you’re into landscape photography). We’ve seen wildlife around these spots close to sunrise and sunset as well.
Lakeshore Trail Hike: A two mile figure eight loop that leaves from Colter Bay. It’s a pretty walk through the woods with spots where you can step out onto the lake shore.
Lake Creek-Woodland Trail Loop Hike: This is a 3.4 mile loop that takes you on a walk through the woods to Phelps Lake.
Oxbow Bend: A great spot for watching and photographing sunrise. It’s on the north side of the park, so if you’re camping at Signal Mountain or Colter Bay, it’s a short drive away.
Jackson Lake Lodge: If you walk through the lodge and out onto the back grounds, there is an incredible view of the Tetons: you can see the whole range spread out in one long line.
Road Bike: There’s a paved trail (Grand Teton National Park Pathway) that runs from Jackson to Jenny Lake. It’s a beautiful ride with a great view of the Tetons. You can bike the whole 20 mile stretch or start from one of the parking lots inside the park. There are places to rent bikes in and around Jackson, or you can bring your own.
National Elk Refuge: If you’re in Jackson in the wintertime, you can drive the Refuge Road and see Bighorn Sheep up close—they’ll come up and lick the salt from the sides of cars.
Yellowstone: The parks border each other, so it’s easy to group Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park into the same trip.
What to eat near Grand Teton National Park:
Nora’s Fish Creek Inn: My all-time favorite breakfast joint—it’s in Wilson, just outside of Jackson Hole, and has THE BEST atmosphere. The food is good but the no-frills vibe, mismatched mugs, and cabin-like interior are what really won me over. Go early to beat the crowds.
Persephone Bakery: Their chocolate-filled croissants are amazing! They have a couple locations, if the Jackson Hole spot is busy, order online or head over to their Wilson location.
Pinky G’s Pizzeria: Pizza by the slice. We usually get some slices to go and eat them on a park bench in Jackson Town Square.
Liberty Burger: Gourmet burgers (and sandwiches if that’s more your thing).
Hand Fire Pizza: Really good pizza and in a fun location! It’s located in a renovated theater building.
Camping in Grand Teton National Park:
Signal Mountain Campground: My favorite camping spot in the park! It’s on the north side of the park and sits on Jackson Lake, which makes for beautiful sunrise views. It’s also a short drive away from Oxbow Bend, which is another great spot to watch/photograph sunrises in the park. Showers and laundry services are available on site for a small fee, as well as a small grocery store and burger joint.
Colter Bay Campground: This is another pretty spot on the far north end of the park, which makes it a good spot if you want to spend time in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. It’s also close to Jackson Lake Lodge, Oxbow Bend, and Colter Bay Marina. This is one of the larger campsites we’ve camped at in the Tetons, so you might have more luck finding a spot here than at Signal Mountain. Showers and laundry are also available at Colter Bay, and there’s a restaurant, cafeteria, and small grocery store on site.
Gros Venture Campground: This site is great because it’s close to the park entrance and really close to Jackson Hole, which is perfect if you want to spend time in town or do meals in Jackson. It’s also the largest campsite in the park, so we’ve had luck finding spots here when other sites are booked up. It’s not as pretty as other camping spots, but it also has plumbing and wins out location-wise if you’re interested in spending more time in Jackson.
Camping tips for Grand Teton National Park:
Because it’s high elevation, camping is cold year-round in the Tetons. We’ve learned to buy a bag of hot hands before we go and put a couple in our sleeping bags at night. We also bring extra blankets to pile on top of our sleeping bags, and jackets or coats to wear nights and mornings when the temperature drops.
Most campgrounds used to be first come, first serve, but were updated to a reservation system in 2021. Book a site early on in the year if possible (you can even reserve for multiple weekends if you’re unsure of your schedule—their cancellation policy is pretty forgiving if you change your mind later).
Updated 2023