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In Grand Teton National Park, knife-sharp peaks rake the sky and mirror-bright lakes shimmer in the sun, while shaggy grizzlies lumber among soaring conifers and bugling elks shatter the early morning silence. This sprawling wilderness is just south of Yellowstone, and as well as finding the same wealth of wildlife and (arguably) even more impressive mountain scenery, you’ll notice there are fewer crowds than at its better-known counterpart.

The mountains that form the park’s namesake range are among the youngest in the world. Less than 10 million years old, their jagged spires still look raw as they rise suddenly from the flat green floor of the Snake River Valley, without any intervening foothills to soften the transition. The deep forests and lakes are laced with trails and carved through with a scenic drive, which means you can explore in a variety of ways, depending on your personal tastes.

Things to see and do in Grand Teton National Park

Grizzlies, bison and elk, oh my

Ecologists consider Grand Teton to be part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and the two parks share the same cast of wildlife. There are the charismatic bigger animals, like grizzlies, wolves, and bison, as well as smaller animals that are no less compelling — yellow-bellied marmots, fleet-footed pronghorns, sleek otters, and industrious beavers. The birdlife is similarly diverse, from the massive trumpeter swan to the tiny calliope hummingbird, the smallest bird species in North America.

Of course, wildlife is often elusive. To improve your chances of spotting animals, we can arrange a safari-style tour with experienced guides. You can opt for a shorter tour at sunrise, when the animals are most active, or a longer, more in-depth tour that also includes the surrounding Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Mountain overlooks and lakeside scenery

The Shoshone people who once summered here called this teewinot, or Land of Many Pinnacles, and in the lowlands, nearly everywhere you look, you’ll enjoy a postcard-worthy view of the mountains. Overlooks and viewpoints from mountains themselves offer sweeping panoramas over the park’s many forests, rivers, lakes, and meadows.

In addition to driving tours, we can help you explore the park in a wide variety of ways. Guided hikes offer an expert's interpretation of the complicated stories unfolding around you and give you the best chance to spot wildlife. For a less energetic option, we can arrange for you and a guide to float gently along the placid river, offering a serene view of the rivers and mountains. Or, you could embrace the Old-West culture of Wyoming and go for a horse ride through both Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

Teton Village

This small, scenic ski town is just a short drive from bustling Jackson Hole, perched right on the southwest edge of Grand Teton National Park. It gets busy with skiers in the winter, but makes an excellent base for exploring the park in other seasons. You’ll find a wide assortment of shops and restaurants, as well as outdoor adventure activities like horse riding and swimming.

Best time to visit Grand Teton National Park

Arguably, the best month to visit Grand Teton is September, when the foliage shades into gold and red, animals are busy fattening up for the impending winter, and summer crowds thin down a little bit, too. Late May to June is also a good time — visitor numbers are only just ramping up, the rivers are at full flow, and the park is blooming with spring foliage.