|

5 Epic Spots to Photograph in the Grand Teton National Park – no hiking required!

Snap some incredible shots at one of my favorite National Parks in the United States – it’s also a plus that no hiking is required for any of these stunning spots. Check them out below!

Back in mid-September 2023, myself and my friend embarked on an epic road trip from Seattle, Washington to Grand Teton National Park (roughly 14.5 hours) where we planned a 7-day trip filled with hiking, exploring Jackson Hole, camping, paddle boarding, and of course, photography. My first time visiting the Grand Tetons was late June 2019, my husband and I had been to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone National Park (in 2016), but didn’t even realize that the Tetons was just next door. We encountered a lot of snow at the high elevations in June and I was determined to visit again in late summer/early Fall. But before I get too far ahead of myself, lets explore some of the basics about traveling to the Tetons.

How to Get to Grand Teton National Park

If you’d rather not drive to the Grand Teton National Park (30 hours round trip does sound like a lot) – there are airports relatively close to the Park. The closest airport is actually in the Park, you’ll see planes flying in while you visit, it is the Jackson Hole airport. There are nonstop flights from 12 major US cities, but it is a small airport with limited flights, and it will be costly. But don’t worry there are other airports you can fly into: Salt Lake City (roughly 5 hours south of the Park), Bozeman (about 3.5 hours north of the Park), and Idaho Falls (which is around 3.5 hours west of the Park). Getting around the Park, you will definitely need to rent a car or camper van – I highly recommend renting a camper van if you are camping in the Park. We parked in pull offs around the Park to make our meals then just hopped out to take photos and videos. It was super convenient especially because we had a jam packed itinerary that didn’t allow us much time to drive back to the campground.

The Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park

Personally, I think the best months to visit are summer and early fall – obviously the summer months will be the busiest, but you won’t run into as much snow if you’re planning to higher elevation hikes. When I visited in June, there was actually quite a bit of snow even at lower elevations and it was chilly. The crowds were not too bad, but I honestly would have preferred better weather. I visited the second time in mid-September, the crowds were not as bad and the weather was perfect (definitely chilly some days and nights), and we were able to see some beautiful fall colors. If you want to visit during the winter please check the NPS website for road closures, and keep in mind that many trails will be closed/inaccessible.

Where to stay in Grand Teton National Park

You can choose to camp or stay at the Lodge in the Park – if you’d rather stay outside the Park, I had stayed at an airbnb around 40 minutes from the Park (but personally I wouldn’t do that again).

Campgrounds in the Park

All campgrounds in the Park are reserved by advance reservation, where you can book 6 months in advance and I highly suggest you mark your calendars because these sites fill up fast. There are 8 campgrounds and most have the basic amenities (including portable water, bear box, picnic table, fire grates). You can pay to shower as well as wash and dry your clothes at Colter Bay, Signal Mountain, and Headwaters at Flagg Ranch – they also have small grocery/convenient stores (grab a gift at Signal Mountain Gift Shops) if you forgot any camping items or need to resupply on food.

The campgrounds:

  • Gros Ventre Campground
  • Jenny Lake Campground
  • Signal Mountain Campground
  • Colter Bay Campground
  • Colter Bay RV Park
  • Colter Bay Tent Village
  • Lizard Creek Campground
  • Headwaters Campground

Please note that the maximum length of stay (per person) at Jenny Lake is 7 days and all other campgrounds are 14 days. You cannot camp along roadsides, overlooks, or parking lots.

Map via NPS website

Lodging at the Park

The two most popular lodges at the Park are Jenny Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village. These book up early so make sure to book in advance if you’d rather not camp in the Park.

What to Pack for the Grand Teton National Park

When I visited the Park in June and September the weather was a bit all over the place. In September we had cold nights and during the day it was high of 70s, sunny, but other days there was snow on the mountains or it started raining. So with the sporadic weather, I encourage you to pack layers so you are prepared for whatever weather may hit when you visit.

What to Wear:

Gear to Bring:

  • Day Backpack – I have two day packs, I will use my Osprey 24L or my Gregory 28L depending on the hike and what I will need to bring. Both have a suspension system that allows more breathability that really makes a difference for me.
  • Bear Spray – Grand Teton is actually where I saw my first grizzly bear so make sure you carry some bear spray and keep it handy. I highly recommend researching into bear safety and identification.
  • Camera – any kind!
  • Binoculars – definitely a great place to use binoculars
  • Sunscreen – as always, lather up in sunscreen and remember to re-apply!

Things to Know Before You Go

  • Wildlife – When I first visited the Park I saw a handful of moose, grizzle bears, elk, antelope, so safe to say – you’re most likely going to encounter wildlife. I witnessed parents allow their child to crawl towards a moose until I had to tell their child to stop. So please keep your distance, do not leave food unattended, travel in groups, carry bear spray, and again, I HIGHLY recommend reading about bear safety and know how to distinguish between a grizzly bear vs. black bear/brown bear. Do NOT feed wildlife.
  • Follow Leave Not Trace (LNT) Principles – Let’s keep our Parks clean and follow the seven principles of LNT
  • Park Fee – There is a fee to enter US National Parks, it was $35 to enter (as of 2023); however, if you are planning on visiting multiple National Parks this year, I highly recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass. There is also a fee if you are bringing any paddle boards, kayaks, boats etc. Make sure to review the rules and regulations before heading out.
  • Service – WiFi is spotty throughout the Park, we ended up hanging out at Signal Mountain area since we had pretty good service (my provider is AT&T). I recommended downloading everything before you head into the Park.
  • Altitude Sickness – The Park ranges from 6,320 to 13,770 feet above sea level so know the signs of altitude sickness and be prepared.
  • Hike in Groups – Due to the population of wildlife (mainly grizzly bears) it is recommended that you hike together in groups.

5 Spots to Photograph in the Grand Teton National Park

Blacktail Ponds Overlook

I really loved this spot! Right next to the parking lot is this absolutely breathtaking view, we loved it so much we went twice, once in the morning and then at sunset. The sunset was especially magical that day and I actually preferred it at sunset.

Mormon Row

This one is a little tricky, Google Maps will taking you on the gravel road to the right which is another barn; however, I prefer the one pictured above. Instead of taking that right into the parking lot, this barn is left (if you are coming from 191). We joined many other photographers for sunrise and ended up coming back during the evening time and barely anyone was around!

Snake River Overlook

So I actually had beautiful photographs at this spot – it was cloudy, but then some clouds parted to allow the sun’s rays to pierce through the sky. It was spectacular. However, hours later I accidentally formatted my memory care – losing everything. I am still salty about this and I cannot believe I did it, clearly I had been tired from the day. Maybe I can figure out how to recover the shots (fingers crossed).

Oxbow Bend

Talk about a beautiful fall sunset, this was our first spot at the Park, we drove straight to our campground, my friend took a nap while I paddle boarded on Jenny Lake. We made a quick dinner and headed out to this spot. It is a popular spot, so make sure to get there early to secure the perfect spot to snap your photos. I was manifesting a moose to come by, but alas it never happened – maybe next time!

Schwabacher Landing

You’ve probably seen this iconic spot while researching the Grand Tetons – we arrived early for sunrise and oh boy was it busy! Whenever I visit again, I will probably opt to come here after sunrise. I could barely move to get this spot and everyone station themselves over the ropes that you were meant to stay behind. Out of all the spots, this definitely was my least favorite due to the popularity but still beautiful regardless!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply