How to Experience Grand Teton in One Day?
Can I experience Grand Teton in One Day?
Experiencing Grand Teton, really getting immersed in this wonderful national park in one day is really challenging. Maybe even impossible. Yes, you can have a good time and dip your toe in the lake so to speak.
The national parks are kind of like Disney World when it comes to planning. The more you plan, the better your experience. We thought we planned, but we were way under-planned.
To really experience Grand Teton, I believe you need to get off the beaten path and explore some of the backcountry.
Can I see Grand Teton in One Day?
We have to set the record straight from the start on this one…can I see Grand Teton in one day? Technically, yes.
You knew I’d say that right? Heck, you’d stop reading if I said, no, it’s impossible to see Grand Teton in a day. But there is more to seeing and experiencing Grand Teton.
We’re going to share our experience of How We Spent One Day In Grand Teton National Park.
How to Spend One Day in Grand Teton
Our primary destination was Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton was very much an afterthought. I hate to write that because the park is absolutely stunning. Driving through Jackson Hole, which is the entire Jackson Valley, visitors are surrounded by a breathtaking landscape.
As visitors 94 years later we are fortunate John D. Rockefeller’s vision to purchase this land for preservation. The US Government accepted the “gift” of the land into the National Park System.
Suffice it to say our day was compressed and packed full of fun. From 5 AM when my alarm sounded to 11 PM when I went to bed, we were moving full speed!!!
Driving from West Yellowstone
We drove to Grand Teton from West Yellowstone via US 89. This route took us through Yellowstone NP from the West Yellowstone entrance (about 1 mile to our campsite at Grizzly RV Park) past the Midway Geyser Basin and down near Fishing Bridge. This drive through Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding mountains was wonderful.
Pro Tip: Start the drive from West Yellowstone early! We began driving at about 6:30 AM. Depending on traffic the journey can be as short as 2 hours and much longer based on traffic flow, construction, or bison jams!!
Colter Bay Visitor Center
Following our quick stop over at the NPS welcome sign we visited the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Coulter Bay Visitor Center is situated next to Jackson Lake.
We learned a portion of experiencing Grand Teton is the driving tour which covers over 40 miles through Jackson Hole, around Jackson Lake, to Morris, Lake Jenny, and more. Check out the NPS map.
Pro Tip: Always make a quick detour to check in with the Park Rangers. Park Rangers have the most current information about the park and are happy to share what to see and avoid. Sometimes, NPS Park Rangers give golden nuggets about their favorite places. For instance, in Badland NP, we had our slice of Yellow Mounds all to ourselves thanks to a ranger tip.
Willows Flats Overlook & Oxbow Bend
Willows Flat and Oxbow Bend were quick stops for us. Everywhere you go, the mountains surround you. Seeing these huge mountains rise from the earth to 14,000+ feet is breathtaking. As a bonus, no foothills obstruct the views of this magnificent mountain range.
Our visits to these scenic spots were cut short because of bear activity in Willows Flats Overlook and a lack of active wildlife in Oxbow Bend. Both are areas with very active wildlife. But, our visit came up empty. We recommend arriving much closer to sunrise versus mid-morning.
Snake River Overlook
Take a moment for this quick turnout off Highway 89. Set atop a large hill views look down on the Snake River Valley and across at the Teton Range. My words can’t do this justice. Take a look!
Visitors could probably spend hours here, but we found 5 to 10 minutes was enough to take in the view.
Pro tip: The parking lot is huge, which means on busy days it will get really crowded. The parking lot can accommodate tour buses. So, be aware this overlook may be very crowded!
Schwabacher Landing
Schwabacher Landing was our first “hike” of the day. We turned off Highway 89 onto a dirt road and followed it down into the valley. Schwabacher Landing trail is short (0.5 miles) and flat. The most difficult element is the trail is completely exposed to full sun. Temperatures were pleasant during our visit and we enjoyed the warmth of the sun.
This trail follows a small creek that drains into the Snake River. The still waters provide beautiful reflections of the Teton Range.
A photo hack like me kind of captured some of the reflection. Again, arriving for the “perfect light” of the golden hour will likely provide much better results. Sunrise shines onto the Teton Range, so morning is an excellent time to capture amazing photos of the range.
Elk Ranch Turnout
How many more turnout views do you need? Great question. We found the draw of Elk Ranch Turnout to be the cute little prairie dogs wandering around the property. These little creatures were fearless! Obviously, they see a lot of humans.
These little prairie dogs were smaller than the version we saw in Badlands or Custer State Park. I kept my distance because creatures that can spread nasty diseases like the black plague should be respected and given space.
According to the Morris Animal Foundation, the fleas that are associated with prairie dogs can carry the Sylvatic Plague. The USDA published an information memo about the impact of the plague on humans. Symptoms from being bitten by an infected flea can begin within 2 to 6 days and must be treated immediately. The plague is no joke and can kill you. So, enjoy these little creatures from a distance.
The view of Teton was spectacular.
Mormon Row
Mormon Row is a historical site that illustrates the hardships of life of the early Mormon settlers in the late 1800’s. This particular group settled in the Jackson Valley for the fertile soil and access to the Snake River, which was used to irrigate their crops.
Twenty-seven homesteads were established in the settlement. Witnessing the barns and homes these settlers built provides a glimpse into how difficult life must have been without power tools and a Home Depot 2 miles from home.
Visitors should absolutely stop and take in the view of these picturesque barns (TA Moulton Barn) with Grand Teton in the background.
Experience Jenny Lake
As we left Mormon Row, we decided to make our way to Jenny Lake and the Visitor Center. As we arrived, cars were parked on both sides of the roads for about ½ a mile leading to the visitor center. We hoped and crossed our fingers that the Visitor Center would have parking…no parking was available!!
We parked about ½ mile away.
Again, we checked in with the Park Rangers who were super nice and helpful. These fine folks have the patience of saints. Why? Because they get asked the same question guest after guest and they cheerfully reply. Most of the rangers we have met truly love their jobs! And they love sharing the parks with visitors.
Moments before we arrived a bear was walking around the visitor center sidewalks. Too bad we missed the excitement! But, we had hope we might see a bear. No luck!
What do we need to know about the Jenny Lake Boat Ride?
Our Ranger recommended viewing Inspiration Point. So did our Guide Along app. Nearly everyone in the park had the same idea!
Getting to the Inspiration Point Trailhead involves hiking 2 miles around Jenny Lake, which is less than halfway around the lake. OR paying a few dollars for the boat ride across the lake, which drops visitors off at the trailhead!
Madeline and I were good to walk. Sara and Jack were smart and insisted on the boat ride. Smart move since we hike about 2mph.
The boat ride over was uneventful. We waited in line for about 5 to 10 minutes. The ride definitely saved about 45 minutes.
HOWEVER, the return trip involves a long wait on crowded days. We waited nearly 75 to 90 to board the boat back to the Visitor Center.
The View from Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point was inspiring.
The “hike” up was similar to a walk through the mall at Christmas time…crowded. At times the narrow trail was single file up the side of the mountain. One family was practically carrying their elderly mother up the hill. What the heck?
Despite the crowd, this lookout was worth the hike. Inspiration Point trail is about 1.8 miles and has 420 feet of elevation gain. Pretty much uphill!
Detour to Hidden Falls
Along the trail are the raging waters of glacial runoff down the mountain to Jenny Lake. Hidden Falls is a spectacular cascading waterfall that drops over 200 feet. The water was flowing with tremendous force and rage. Again, this scenic waterfall was absolutely crawling with visitors. Late spring or early fall is likely the best time to visit.
Beyond the view, one thing we loved was the rush of cool air around the falls. On a hot summer day, this cool air felt like nature’s air conditioning!
Hidden Falls is located at about the halfway point of the Inspiration Point Trail. Take a short detour and enjoy this waterfall.
How Hidden are Hidden Falls?
Hidden Falls are not very hidden! At least judging from the number of people nearby. The falls were named because they are hidden from view until you are within 100 yards of the falls.
A Drive-by of Jackson
As an outdoor-loving family, we wanted to stop in the town of Jackson before leaving the area. Our goal was to understand the vibe of the town. It took a few minutes of walking around to appreciate how high-end this mountain town is. The feel was exclusive rather than inviting.
We wandered around the town square and looked for tee-shirt shops. Getting shirts is our thing. We stumbled into an ice cream shop for a cool treat.
The Best Ice Cream Ever?
Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream was probably the best ice cream of the trip. And definitely, the ice cream that Moo himself was mighty proud of. Ice cream for our family of 4 was $40. Eeek.
The Dairy Queen would have worked as well! But it was good and the service was fine. We enjoyed eating our treats at the benches outside their shop.
On no! A Parking Ticket!?!
As we walked back to the truck we spotted something flapping in the wind. We parked in a legit parking lot. The trouble was our spot was for oversized vehicles. Oops. Luckily the ticket writer had some mercy and let us off with a warning!
Pay attention to where you park!!
Helpful Resources
Is One Day Enough in Grand Teton?
Yes and no.
We saw the park and Grand Teton. Check that box. Experiencing the park in all its splendor in one day is just not possible. Plan for at least 2 days. Maybe more if you are into hiking longer trails in the backcountry.
What is the Best Way to Visit Multiple National Parks on One Adventure?
Planning your adventure is critical to making sure you have enough time to enjoy and explore each National Park. With over 400 National Park Units, National Parks are closer to home than we may think. Curate your trip with a mix of National Parks, National Forests, and National Historic Parks. For more helpful ideas on head on over to our article on Planning a Trip to National Parks!
What is the 42-mile scenic drive Grand Teton?
Grand Teton scenic drive takes visitors throughout the Jackson Hole Valley. Views of the Teton Range are always in view. For visitors looking to cover the most ground quickly and experience the size of this park (over 300,000 acres), the scenic tour is fabulous.
What month is best for Grand Teton?
We visited in early July. Daytime temperatures reached the mid 80’s and we were hot late in the afternoon. May, June, September or early October would be excellent times to visit. If you and your crew are into skiing and winter sports, visit from January through March for optimal snow conditions!
Where to stay in Jackson?
Jackson is a tourist destination throughout the year. So, don’t expect great deals on lodging. With that in mind, Jackson offers plenty of lodging options ranging from camping to luxury home rentals.
Camping is available in Grand Teton NP. Check the NPS site to make sure you comply with the rules and regulations.
RV Camping is available at Alpine Valley RV Resort offers big rig friendly camping in the heart of the Jackson Valley. Over 80 reviews in RV Life rank this resort 4 stars.
A number of hotels and VRBO options exist. Plan early to maximize your options!
What would we Do Differently to Experience Grand Teton in One Day?
In a perfect world, we would have moved campsites to better experience Grand Teton in One Day. Moving would have allowed us to stay in Jackson for two nights. This would have provided an opportunity for us to hike some longer trails and see more of the “off the beaten path” beauty of Grand Teton!
