23 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
You won’t miss a single thing with this incredible list of the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park!
The craggy mountain range and Snake River valley offer up plenty of fun and adventure, whether you’re looking to challenge yourself on a hike or learn about the local history.
You’ll also find plenty of dining options, river floats, horseback riding tours, and much more.
A sprawling park in Wyoming that covers 310,000 acres, Grand Teton National Park has so many things to see and do that it is hard to know exactly what to make a priority.
In the guide below, you’ll learn about all of the best tours, activities, hikes, and destinations that are key to fully exploring Grand Teton National Park on your next visit.
As with all of my guides, everything here is family friendly, and was greatly enjoyed by my kids and me, but would also be fantastic for any visitor to the park.
The boat tour cuts across Jenny Lake
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
Grand Teton National Park: An Overview
Why visit Grand Teton National Park?
The Camping Kiddos and me at one of the 2 scenic overlooks at Signal Mountain
Grand Teton National Park is often overshadowed by its neighbor to the north, Yellowstone National Park. However, Grand Teton is well worth the trip on its own, and, combined with Yellowstone, it makes for one of the most incredible trips you can take in the United States.
If you want to visit both parks, check out these itineraries:
The Rockefellers have deep ties to this park, which was preserved largely because of the efforts of John D. Rockefeller and his son, Laurence S. Rockefeller. In fact, much of what is now the national park was once privately held by the Rockefellers, who used it as a beloved personal retreat.
Before that, Mormon settlers came to the valley to seek farmland and religious freedom, and the famous Mormon Row is the remnants of that.
But don’t worry, if you’re more into hiking than history, there’s plenty more here.
With mountains, valley, and river, there are more hiking opportunities than you could ever fit into one vacation. And, there are hikes of all different difficulty levels, so you can pick which ones work for your time outlay and hiking needs.
Beyond that, you can spot a moose, go kayaking, relax by the campfire, or eat pizza in the shadow of the beautiful mountain range.
No matter what you end up doing here, you’ll have a great time!
For families visiting the area, don’t be intimidated by the rugged mountains and adventure sports opportunities: there’s plenty to see and do here even with little ones in tow.
>> Be sure to read my guide to visiting Grand Teton National Park with kids here! <<
Areas of the Park
Grand Teton National Park has several different sections, and it’s important to understand where each of the following activities is within the larger park map.
Overall, the park is long and relatively skinny with the mountain range bordering it on one side and the Gros Ventura Wilderness on the other.
To the south is Jackson, Wyoming, which can make for a great base if you don’t want to stay inside the park. To the north is Yellowstone National Park, which is worth at least a couple days of your time while you’re in the area.
Colter Bay
This area of the park is on the northern end, and it has plenty to see and do. There’s a campground here, as well as the Colter Bay cabins, which are great for families.
There’s a small grocery store, laundry room, sit-down dining, and booth to book tours.
You can also visit the visitors center here for souvenirs, ranger talks, and more.
Jackson Lake
While Grand Teton National Park has several picturesque lake, Jackson Lake is the largest. You can see it from John D. Rockefeller Parkway and Teton Park Road, making this an easy add-on to your itinerary no matter what area of the park you’re in.
You can kayak here, or have a picnic on the shores. There’s a lodge directly on the lake if you really want to soak up the views.
Mormon Row
This is one of the most photographed areas of the entire park (and probably in all of Wyoming!), and it’s easy to see why once you’re there.
You can access the famous T.A. Moulton barn, shown below, from Highway 89. If you just want a quick photo, this area of the park is only 15 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming.
Jenny Lake
One of the most popular areas of the park, Jenny Lake has several great hiking trails and a visitors center.
You can access it from Teton Park Road.
Moose
Moose is located at the intersection of Teton Park Road and Highway 26/89, not far from Mormon Row.
You’ll find a small general store here if you’ve forgotten something, as well as 2 dining options, a bike rental store, a visitors center, the Menor’s Ferry historic district, and the Murie Ranch historic district.
Signal Mountain
You’ll find Signal Mountain a short drive off of Teton Park Road near the southern end of Jackson Lake.
It’s known for having some of the best (and most easily accessible) long range views of the Tetons in the park.
Below, I’m covering all of the activities in each of these locations so you can pick the ones that fit the best within your Grand Teton National Park itinerary:
Perfect 5 Day Itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Ultimate 1 Week Itinerary for Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks
You’ll find details on exactly where each is located in the park, an approximate time outlay, and topics of interest.
What to Do in Grand Teton National Park: Best Activities and Tours
Stop by one of the visitors centers.
There are 3 visitors centers within Grand Teton National Park:
at Jenny Lake
at Moose, and
at Colter Bay.
You’ll also find a smaller interpretive center in the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve that’s also worth a visit (but more on that below).
In each of the visitors centers, you’ll be able to talk with rangers about your itinerary, get up to date information on trail conditions, and see what in the park is closed.
Don’t forget to pick up your free Junior Ranger booklet if you’re interested in that program. When the booklet is completed, you’ll bring it back to any of the visitors centers to take your pledge and receive your badge.
There’s more at each visitors center, so plan to stay for at least 30 minutes or so.
Each has a gift shop with books, sweatshirts, stickers, and mugs.
The Colter Bay visitors center often has native artisans on-site, who make pottery and jewelry in real time.
The Jenny Lake visitors center has a wide array of hiking gear for sale, as well as snacks and drinks. Don’t miss out on the locally made cinnamon rolls!
The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitors Center at Moose has an excellent park film and hands-on exhibits about the relationship of people and nature in this park. This is also the biggest of the three visitors centers, and, architecturally, it is gorgeous.
Go hiking.
On the trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
No matter your fitness level, there is a trail for you in Grand Teton National Park!
This park has spectacular hiking options, from easy, level walks along the ocean to rock scrambling and climbing iron rung ladders high up on the mountains.
Of all of the ways that you can get out and explore the Grand Tetons, hiking is one of my family’s favorites.
Here is a selection of some of the best hikes in the park:
Jenny Lake Loop
This 7.5 mile loop is relatively flat and great for families looking for a longer hike in the park that’s not too challenging.
You’ll circle Jenny Lake as you complete the loop. The best place to start is at the Jenny Lake visitors center, but there is also another trailhead on the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and another near the Jenny Lake Lodge.
You can add on other trails, too, including Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls (below) and the String Lake Loop. You’ll pass intersections with all of these as you hike along the shores of Jenny Lake.
Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls
This was my kids’ favorite trail while we were in Grand Teton!
In a relatively short hike, you get 2 incredible stops: first, at Hidden Falls, and then, at Inspiration Point.
You can access both by the Jenny Lake Loop or via the quick boat ride near the visitors center (the latter requires a small fee).
Hidden Falls is beautiful and is a great place to catch your breath before you head up to Inspiration Point, where you’ll find long range views of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole.
For more on this trail, explore my complete guide to the Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls hike here.
Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail
While the Colter Bay Lakeside Trail is a popular one for this area of the park, it sees nowhere near the volume of people as Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point (above) do.
You can hike up to 2.3 miles here, depending on how much of the trail you complete. It’s set out like a figure 8, so you can just do the lower loop if you’re short on time, or the complete double loop for the best views of the mountain ranges behind the lake.
There’s also a short spur trail near the marina that’s a fun standalone trail or as part of a longer experience.
If you want more suggestions, check out my guide to the best easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park, which are perfect for any hiking level or age!
Take a photo at Mormon Row.
The dramatic backdrop to the T.A. Moulton Barn and Mormon Row
Take your own photo of the iconic T.A. Moulton barn, which was built in the valley with the dramatic Grand Teton mountains sitting behind it.
While the barn and its curved roof is, by far, the most recognizable building in this part of the park, you’ll also find several houses and other out buildings in this same area.
Walk down Mormon Row to peek in the windows of the remaining homes and inside the barns. This is all that remains of a 19th century Mormon homestead. At its peak, there were 27 families who lived here, eeking out a living in the harsh Wyoming winters.
The ditches in this part of the park were all hand dug by the settlers, and many of them still collect rainwater, which would’ve been the main water source for the farms that were once here.
To get to Mormon Row, take Highway 26/89 to Antelope Flats Road until you see the small dirt parking area. There is additional parking alongside the road at peak times.
Let’s plan.
Get all of my family friendly vacation planning resources for Grand Teton National Park here!
They’re free and will help you with everything from where to camp to how to organize your itineraries.
Be awe-struck at Signal Mountain.
Be sure to take a side trip off of Teton Park Road to Signal Mountain!
This quick stop includes a beautiful drive that climbs up to 2 scenic overlooks.
From the first, you’ll be able to see Jackson Lake and the Grand Tetons laid out before you.
From the second, you’ll be able to see the Snake River and much of Jackson Hole.
Fly into the only commercial airport in any of the national parks.
Inside the beautiful Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
National parks and commercial airports aren’t things you probably ever thought you’d hear in the same sentence, but Grand Teton National Park has just that.
In fact, it is the only commercial airport within the borders of any of the 63 national parks in the country!
While it is small, it’s beautifully designed, and you’ll get those western mountain vibes as soon as you step on the tarmac. There’s a huge elk antler arch that matches the one in downtown Jackson, Wyoming, and huge windows for viewing the mountains.
Inside, you’ll find a place to rent bear spray, a small rental car counter, and a grab and go food and snack area.
Relax on the Snake River.
On the Snake River
For a truly unique way to see the park, plan to spend a half day floating down the Snake River.
You can choose your own adventure, depending on how much of a thill you want.
There are gentle river float options that are perfect for kids and visitors wanting a laidback couple of hours:
Or, if you want something with more of a challenge, you can try the more difficult passages of the Snake River with a whitewater rafting trip:
For more details on planning your own Snake River float and tips, check out my complete guide!
Visit the J.P. Cunningham cabin.
There are only four historic areas within the Grand Teton National Park, which is surprising given the number of settlers who once lived here.
There’s Mormon Row (above), Menor’s Ferry and Murie Ranch Historic Districts, and the J.P. Cunningham cabin.
The unassuming cabin here was once the home of John and Margaret Cunningham, who ran a large ranch here until they sold out to a company that was collecting land for the purpose of establishing a national park.
Today, you can park in the large lot off of Highway 191 and walk to see the remaining parts of the ranch. You can’t go into the cabin, but there are interpretive signs there to help you understand what you’re seeing.
Explore more of Grand Teton National Park with these helpful posts:
Take a sunrise hot balloon tour of Grand Teton National Park.
Get a new perspective of the park from up above!
These sunrise tours lift visitors up in colorful hot air balloons to float above the national park and Snake River.
Take off and landing is at the Teton Village just south of the national park borders, but you’ll be able to spot wildlife in the mountains and park as you explore the air.
Explore Murie Ranch.
Come for the history, stay for the hiking.
This hidden away corner of Grand Teton National Park provides a glimpse at the history of conservation within the park and beyond.
The ranch was notably occupied by Mandy and Olaus Murie, who were lifelong conservationists and a major push behind the establishment of the federal Wilderness Law of 1964.
In the spring and summer, you can learn more about this hardworking and visionary couple on a docent led tour (it’s free!). The tours are held twice a day and include a walk inside the Muries’ home within the ranch.
Elsewhere on the property, there are rental cabins and hiking trails, so wander a bit before you head back to the main areas of the park.
You’ll find Murie Ranch at the end of Murie Ranch Road, which is the first left on Moose-Wilson Road.
See the park on horseback.
Did you know that there are tours led on horseback through the national park?
The Grand Teton Lodge Company offers 1 and 2 hour horse rides from Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay, and Flagg Ranch.
If you’re also heading into Yellowstone National Park while you’re in the this part of Wyoming, I also recommend doing the Old West Cookout and Trail Ride.
There isn’t anything just like that in Grand Teton National Park, those this horseback trail ride and dinner just outside of the park is very similar.
Eat at Dornan’s.
Enjoy lunch with a view at the 2 restaurants at Dornan’s in Moose, Wyoming.
Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta has both indoor and outdoor seating, with views of the mountains from nearly every corner.
There are so many delicious options here from classics like margherita pizza to more inventive items like the Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta.
You’ll also find huge salads, meatball subs, daily soups, stuffed shell pastas, and a variety of soft drinks.
In the same shopping and dining complex, you’ll find Dornan’s Chuckwagon. This also offers indoor and outdoor seating with more of a rustic feel than the pizza restaurant.
Choose from burgers, fries, barbecue sandwiches, and other hearty American classics.
Learn more about the best places to eat in Grand Teton National Park here!
Visit the Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve.
It’s (almost) like having your own private mountain retreat.
This beautiful preserve is like a park within the park, and it should absolutely have a placae within your itinerary.
The name gives this away, but the Rockefeller family was deeply tied to this area, so much so that they used it as a getaway from their otherwise very busy, business-oriented life.
Laurence S. Rockefeller loved the land so much that he and his wife donated it to the park when they died, so that others could find as much joy from it as they had.
You can walk through the beautiful visitors center, which is centered around the 5 senses with the national park. There’s also a reading room with a fireplace that’s perfect for curling up in front of on a rainy day.
You’ll find several hiking trails here (but no restaurants or amenities, so bring in your food and snacks for your time here) that are great for all hiking levels.
Your kids can check out one of the free kids’ packs, which will help them better explore this part of the Grand Teton National Park.
Keep in mind that parking is intentionally kept to a small group (about 50 vehicles) so that the preserve feels private and personal, just as it did when the Rockefellers had their retreat here.
Plan to come before 9 AM if you want to get a parking spot easily, or wait until late afternoon when the main group of hikers has moved through this area.
Revisit the park’s history at Menor’s Ferry.
After you’ve exploring the farms of the Mormon settlers on Mormon Row, the conservation efforts at Murie Ranch, and cattle ranching at Cunningham cabin, head over to Menor’s Ferry historic district to learn about the small but imporant ferry that once existed here.
Getting across a flowing river isn’t easy even on foot, but adding a wagon and horses makes it nearly impossible (as anyone who’s ever played Oregon Trail can attest!).
So, when settlers started moving into this area looking for a homestead, the need for safe passage across the Snake River rose up immediately.
Bill Menor established a ferry on this relatively quiet stretch of river, then slowly added a general store and other offerings for the settlers.
You can peek into his old buildings and then walk to Maud Noble’s house to learn about how the Grand Teton National Park went from old farmland to the federally protected area we have today.
Learn more about the Menor’s Ferry Historic District here.
The Camping Kiddos at Snake River Overlook
Channel Ansel Adams at Snake Point.
The famed American photographer, Ansel Adams, took a series of photographs here in Grand Teton while on assignment for the Department of the Interior.
One of those photographs, Tetons and the Snake River, became an ode to the grandeur of the NPS.
Visitors today can take a photo from the same vantage point, thanks to the Snake River overlook along Highway 26/89.
There’s plenty of parking here, but even if the lot is full, people tend to move in and out quickly, so you should find a spot in no time.
Road trip through the park.
One of the best ways to introduce your family to the national park is by doing the scenic loop tour.
To do this, you’ll drive the roughly 40-mile loop from Moose up Teton Park Road, then return to Moose via the John D. Rockerfeller Highway.
Doing so allows your family to see the highlights of the park and to better determine which areas you’d like to explore more.
I cannot recommend the GuideAlong app enough for this tour.
We used it while driving this loop, and it was as good as having a live guide in the car.
It was actually better since we could stop and get out whenever something appealed to us, and we could repeat a particular section of the tour if the kids were asking questions.
The app uses GPS to determine where you are, and then provides in-real-time recommendations on what to see and do.
The guide, Dave, also shares fun tidbits about the geology, history, and animals you’ll see in the park.
For less than the price of a burger and fries back in Jackson, you’ll be able to learn so much about the park via this easy to use app.
>> Download the GuideAlong tour for Grand Teton National Park here. <<
NOTE: If you’re doing to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park together, there is a dual tour for those. You’ll save about 30% by buying the bundle over each park separately.
Explore the park after dark.
Did you know that national parks never close?
If you don’t mind staying up late, you can explore Grand Teton National Park in a whole new way, free of crowds and parking worries and filled with night sky views.
Bring a picnic blanket to stargaze near Mormon Row or join a guided tour for an in-depth explanation of constellations you can view.
If you choose to go with a guided tour, you’ll be able to see the Milky Way like you’ve never seen it before, thanks to the provided high powered telescopes!
Bike Teton Park Road.
While taking a scenic tour is a great way to get the lay of the land, nothing bets hitting the trail or biking in a national park to really experience it.
Teton Park Road is 20 miles long and has a dedicated multi-use trail running alongside it. (This is part of a larger, 56-mile trail system throughout Jackson Hole if you really want to bike throughout your vacation.)
There are multiple scenic overlooks along here, and you can easily sightsee from Dornan’s at Moose up to Jenny Lake and back.
You can rent a bike and explore on your own. This company does an e-bike rental with free drop off and pick up.
Or, you can join a guided Half Day Grand Teton E-bike Tour to cover plenty of ground while learning about the park at the same time.
Go wildlife viewing on Moose Wilson Road.
This (barely) 2 lane road takes you through some of the most places for wildlife to appear in Grand Teton National Park.
You might see any combination of black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, coyotes, ravens, and more.
Go slowly for a better chance to spotting animals feeding in the woods.
Access the start of this road off of Teton Park Road near Moose.
You’ll see the turn off from Teton Park Road marked with a wooden sign saying “Moose-Wilson Road, LSR Preserve.”
From here, you can meander about 5 miles through the woods to Teton Village, where you can get lunch or walk around the ski village.
Moose-Wilson Road ultimately takes you to Wilson, where you can find the southern entrance to the park and Rendezvous Park (noted below.)
My son helping with a ranger talk at Colter Bay
Attend a ranger talk.
We love a good ranger talk, and we haven’t been to a bad one yet!
There are ranger programs daily at one or more of the visitors centers, as well as the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve.
While at Grand Teton National Park, we attended several ranger tours, including one at Colter Bay about water conservation.
These tend to be short, 20-45 minute programs on a variety of topics, so if you aren’t interested in one, there’s sure to be another later in your visit that’s a good fit for you.
These ranger programs are usually free or very low cost (I think the most we’ve ever paid was about $15 a person to go on the excellent ranger-led boat tour of Lake Yellowstone, something that should be on your list of things to do if you visit Yellowstone National Park with kids).
Complete the Junior Ranger Program.
We don’t ever visit a national park (or any of the NPS sites) without doing a Junior Ranger program!
These are free, typically or very, very low cost. We once had to pay a $2 deposit for the booklet at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but that’s the only time we’ve encountered that.
The program is aimed at kids, but anyone can participate. You’ll get a booklet at the ranger station or visitors center, fill out a set number of pages based on your age, and then return the completed booklet to a ranger.
From there, the ranger will review your answers, have you recite a pledge, and give you your free badge for that NPS location.
We’ve collected badges from all over the U.S. and they make the most fun souvenirs!
Go camping.
Grand Teton National Park has 7 campgrounds within its borders with a mixture of tent camping and RV sites. There are even some glamping tent cabins at Colter Bay, which have 2 permanent log walls and 2 canvas tent walls!
Lodging in Grand Teton National Park (and the entire Jackson Hole area) is limited, which means that it is expensive and it fills up very quickly.
If you’re camping in the summer, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve got your spot reserved 6 months ahead of time as soon as the reservations open up.
Get out onto one of the park’s lakes.
Boats on Jackson Lake near the Colter Bay Marina
On a beautiful, sunny summer day, there’s nothing better to do in Grand Teton National Park than get out on the water.
Lucky for you, there are many ways to explore the lakes here!
At Colter Bay Marina, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and motorboats, all of which are first come, first served.
There are 2 hour minimums on the kayaks and canoes, while the motorboats can be rented by the hour or by the day.
From Colter Bay, you’ll be able to paddle or motor around all of Jackson Lake.
View bison from the Elk Ranch Flats Turnout.
While you’re more likely to see moose elsewhere in the park, Elk Ranch Flats Turnout is the place to catch a glimpse of the park’s bison.
The herd likes to hang out here, grazing and relaxing in the sun.
Always remember that bison don’t want to be petted, and you really don’t want them to get too close to you. (I know that sounds silly, but there are people every year within the NPS that get tossed around by a bison!)
See the park from a gondola.
Okay, this is cheating slightly since the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is just south of the park’s borders.
But, you’ll be able to see the park from an incredible vantage point on this aerial tram ride.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Grand Teton National Park
The Camping Kiddos and me in front of the entrance sign to the park
Grand Teton National Park is one of those places that is somehow more incredible than any photo I should show you.
You simply have to go and experience it yourself!
Once you soak in plenty of those mountain views, you’re going to have an incredible number of things to do from kayaking to hiking and horseback riding to wildlife viewing.
While nearby Yellowstone National Park is also awe-inspiring, don’t zoom past Grand Teton in your rush to get to Yellowstone.
Grand Teton National Park, in my opinion, is well worth a vacation in its own right, and I think that you’ll agree after spending a few days there.
So, pack those hiking shoes and prepare to have the mountain adventure of your dreams.
