Land of Liberty Explorers

Overview

Grand Teton National Park lies 10 miles south of Yellowstone. The park was created in 1929, but at that time it only encompassed the major mountain peaks in the Teton range. In the 1930s, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and other conservationists began buying up lands near Jackson Hole and donating them to the park. Today, the park preserves the major peaks of the 40 mile long Teton range and the northern Jackson Hole valley. The park is known for its variety of wildlife.

Wildlife

Wildlife is plentiful in Grand Teton. We saw a bull moose in a pond in the northern section of the park. We encountered a bear jam along Teton Park Road, so we stopped to watch a large grizzly bear. We also saw pronghorn antelope and mule deer along the road. One of the highlights of our trip to Grand Teton was observing a mother coyote and her pups near an abandon house on Mormon Row! The ground squirrels playing along Mormon Row were also fun to watch. There was a huge herd of bison hanging out along Highway 191 south of Moran Junction, and a large group of elk closer to Moose Junction.

Signal Mountain

The Signal Mountain summit is 7,727 feet high above Jackson Hole. It offers panoramic views of the valley. There is a hiking trail, but we took the easy way and drove to the top.

Chapel of the Transfiguration

This rustic Episcopal church features beautiful views of the Teton Range.

Jackson Lake Lodge

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. asked architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood to design Jackson Lake Lodge. The lodge’s construction marked a turning point for national park architecture moving from a rustic style to modern design. Large windows in the lodge’s lobby frame a great view of Mount Moran. The back of the lodge is a great spot to view moose in the mornings and evenings. We saw a cow enjoying her dinner when we stopped in one evening. There was a great program about raptors behind the lodge one afternoon. We got to see a great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, and peregrine falcon up close.

Jenny Lake and the Hike to Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point is a 5.8 mile hike using the Jenny Lake Loop Trail; however, visitors can cut off 3.8 miles of the hike by taking the privately run shuttle boat across the lake. We took the boat, and it was great to get out on the water. Once at the dock on the other side of Jenny Lake, it is just a short uphill walk to Hidden Falls, a 100 foot tall waterfall fed by snowmelt. Continuing on the trail another half mile leads to Inspiration Point, with views both up toward the mountain peaks and out over Jenny Lake.

Mormon Row Historic District

This district preserves historic homesteads built by Mormon settlers who started arriving in the area around 1890. The T.A. Moulton Barn is a favorite of photographers.

Taggart Lake Trail

On our last day, we asked a ranger for hiking recommendations, and he sent us to Taggart Lake. The trail is 3.3 miles long with beautiful views of Grand Teton rising above the lake. It was a great way to wrap up our trip to Grand Teton!