Looking for recs. We have two days there and all we have planned is horseback riding. Thinking of kayaking on Jenny Lake and maybe ferrying over for a hike. Any suggestions?

Not in any particular order:
- Drive Teton Pass both ways.
- Take the Moose-Wilson Highway.
- The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve is worth a stop.
- Stop at the Murie Ranch and hope a docent named Dan is giving the tour that day. One of the highlights of our trip. Seriously.
- Drive to the top of Signal Mountain. Park and walk around.
- Snake River overlook provides stunning views.
- Craig Thomas Center was very cool.
- Hike around Jenny and Leigh Lakes.
- Boat ride across Jenny Lake then hike at least to Inspiration Point. We got caught in a lightning storm and didn't go any further. Beautiful hike. I kept thinking if we got struck by lightning at least we were together and in a beautiful place.

Our kids were 8 and 10 at the time. We had the best time and GTNP is one of my favorite places on earth.

Can check out Mormon Row and Schwabachers(?) Landing,

Moose Wilson road has always been good wildlife viewing IMO but I'd drive it early in the morning.

Beautiful place.

First download the Guide along app previously the gypsy app. Your own personal guide in the park. For Jenny Lake I recommend hiking up and then taking the boat back down. The line for boat is by far shorter on the upper half.
We did a rafting trip with Jackson Hole whitewater and they were fantastic
Enjoy for sure, it's one of my personal favorite places

Hike around Jenny to the hidden falls and inspiration point, boat back.

But kayak string lake instead

Jenny Lake boat ride then hike to Hidden Falls
Go to Mormon Row
Go to Schwarbacher Landing
Go to Leigh Lake
Take a slow float raft trip inside the Park on the Snake River
Eat at Dornan's and have some beverages outside on the deck
There's a wildlife overlook spot near Dornans go just before dusk

I've been 6 times to GTNP. unfortunately, I've been limited by other family to do much hiking so can't opine too much on detailed hikes. hit the trailheads early or parking could be difficult at the more popular ones. Many of my comments will be redundant to those already posted.

1. hike to inspiration point/hidden falls - shuttle back
2. drive to top of signal mountain
3. Craig Thomas Visitor Center
4. if the lake is up, picnic at Colter bay Village on the lake, and check out the marina.
5. Drive every road - snake river overlook, oxbow bend turnout, jenny lake overlook are probably my 3 favorite in that order.
6. raft the river if time allows
7. take in the view from Jackson lake lodge lobby

every time I've been there have been bear sightings in between Colter bay village and Jackson lake lodge from the main road

Moose Wilson road is closed for repairs just north of Teton Village.

Go have lunch at Dornans.
Drink a sloshie or two.
Ride the Gondola at Teton Village
Whitewater rafting on the Snake river is pretty awesome too.

Go to Coulter Bay area for some good grizzly viewing. (Take bear spray)

Jealous. GTNP is one of the top 3 most beautiful NP's in the country IMO. Right time of year, it might be number 1.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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Jealous. GTNP is one of the top 3 most beautiful NP's in the country IMO. Right time of year, it might be number 1.

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Dude, it looks amazing. I am bummed that I only have two days. I'll definitely be going back but for my first time I was really hoping for 4-5 days. Some stuff came up at home so I had to shave time off (will have 4 days in Yellowstone and the front end of this trip).

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I appreciate y'all's help.

Can't add anything else that hasn't been said but I second Teton being one of the coolest places in North America. There's just nothing else like it. Absolutely stunning landscape.

piggy backing on this.. we had a yellowstone trip all booked and added on two nights to GTNP before hand cause our old neighbors are camping at signal lake, and invited us to join, so we leave next friday. We have all of saturday, and that's it, but hoping some suggestions here can help.

Edit - signal mountain campground.

Depends on the kind of folks y'all are if you want to do a big hike, kayak, drive around etc. If I had one day I would do Jenny Lake then hike to Hidden Falls that I pictured above. You can hike around the lake and boat back or I would recommend catching the first boat over at I think 9 am but confirm that. The hike up to the falls has so many bridges and beautiful sites with the water coming down the mountain. Here are a few pics. You can have lunch at Dornan's with the Tetons as your backdrop, it's spectacular.
We really enjoyed the scenic river float in the Park too.

I've stayed at Dornans several times. It's a great central place. Have a pizza and a beer on the deck.

The Rockefeller Preserve is a great place to see moose in the evening.

Definitely do the hike to Inspiration Point. Go early or late. The trail can get crowded and part of it is basically 1 person wide. Ride the boat over and walk back. It's about an hour back to the Jenny Lake Park HQ.

On the Jenny Lake loop the view from the pull off is almost opposite Inspiration point.

Kayak on String Lake. You can rent kayaks at Dornans.

Drive up Signal Mountain.

Dinner at Jenny Lake Lodge is a top 5 meal most anywhere.

View from Jenny Lake pulloff. At night it's amazing.

Years ago I stayed at a tent cabin at Colter Bay. It was pretty neat. Definitely unusual for me. Might look into that.

chris1515 said:

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Years ago I stayed at a tent cabin at Colter Bay. It was pretty neat. Definitely unusual for me. Might look into that.

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We are staying in Colter Bay, but in a regular cabin. We did the tent cabins at Curry Village in Yosemite before, though. I love those. I'd do it again but my wife requires indoor plumbing. She is rather prissy.

I visited Jackson over the Labor Day weekend in 2020 and explored the park and hiked to Delta Lake. Then a couple days later a snowstorm blew thru and it was like a whole different place. Spent an entire day driving around taking pics of the snow covered park. One my favorite trips.

We did not spend enough time in GTNP when we went there.

I second everything Rocky Top said.

Yellowstone is really great and can't miss, but it's about seeing wildlife and geothermal features not dramatic scenery / mountains…outside of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (waterfall). TNP is MUCH more beautiful dramatic scenery.

Yeah, I already know I don't have enough time in GT on this trip so I'll definitely be going back. We originally had it planned for about 5 days in each park but something came up and I have to be back home earlier than planned. The Yellowstone guided trips we have planned weren't really moveable so we had to shave it off the back end at GT. That said, next time could be a straight GT trip…maybe even with some backpacks (something my wife has never done).

All good stuff y'all. Thanks so much. It's going to be balls to the wall for two days.

To avoid some of the crowds, park at String Lake Trailhead and hike south along NW quadrant of Jenny Lake to Inspiration Point...can also take horse trail back down to change it up and avoid crowds. Full 1/2 day. Pickup breakfast and lunch at Creekside Market in Jackson, we thought sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch better than Dormans.

I'll add this tidbit. Dornans has a spectacular wine selection at the liquor store. They have a sommelier on site. Get a great bottle and watch the sun set over the range.

We just got back! I second String Lake unless you intend to be at Jenny Lake very early. It was packed.

We mostly drove around a ton but did hike at String Lake Trailhead.

We randomly stopped at Jackson Lake Lodge for a snack and drink. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen.

Breakfast at The Bunnery was pretty good. Gun Barrel was one of the most overrated places I've been in a while.

Pro Sandy said:

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Hike around Jenny to the hidden falls and inspiration point, boat back.

But kayak string lake instead

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We did this a couple of years ago, and started our hike before sunrise. Sunrise from the south side of the lake was very cool. The valley beyond inspiration point is worth hiking also.

Thanks for recs; We had two nights and a wonderful single day at GTNP.

Upon arrival we ate at Leek's marina/pizza. Really damn good pizza. They had local snake river beers in cans.. 1 for $6 or a 6 pack for $15.. so we left with four 6 packs lol. We actually didn't travel with much beer, so we needed it.

On our full day, we got a late start due to a late night and hiked about a mile to the ferry at Jenny lake, took it across to the falls, then ~3 mile hike back to truck. Then back to the boat launch area at the campground for some afternoon water fun. No less than 10 minutes after we walk back to trailer from lake fun, a crazy storm came through. Camp site was protected by trees, but we walked back out to lake spot, easily 50 mph winds, boats in lake struggling to get to safety, whitecaps everywhere. Then 30 minutes later, cleared up and a beautiful evening. We're used to this living in Denver, but cool to experience on a lake with that view.

Stayed at signal mountain campground, right on the lake.

100 steps from the camper we stayed in;



and again at sunrise.. could look at it all day.


so could my dog!


Jenny lake hike



and back at campground, my oldest on a paddleboard

My other son with our neighbor's daughter paddling.. I think they had a moment lol. (we stayed in her family's bunkhouse trailer)


Crazy storm for 30 minutes;


Followed by a calm sunset


My other dog enjoying the view as well


the wifey likes flowers


and of course.. the barn



Would like to go back to spend more time, but this trip was always booked as a Yellowstone trip, which we got 4 days in. We added these two days/one night on just recently to stay with our ex-neighbors.

Wanted to add; We were told the Jenny Lake lot could be a zoo, so as we were approaching it, we just found a pull off parking spot about 1 mile before it, and enjoyed the lakeside walk to the ferry area. It looked like a ton of people standing around waiting, but we walked right up to the paybooth and paid and got on; only about 5-8 people in front of us in the line and 3-5 min. wait for current boat to exit and our boat to come in and deboard. I inquired, and the waiting people were booked for a cruise of some sort.

So in our experience, getting on the ferry at 2pm on a Saturday, there was no line. We regret paying the round trip family fair though ($60) because we ended up walking back. When we got off ferry, the line to get back on was ~50-70 deep.

Any recs for place to stay with kids near Tetons and west Yellowstone? Going end of this month for a week

texagpilot said:

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Any recs for place to stay with kids near Tetons and west Yellowstone? Going end of this month for a week

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we stayed at koa west yellowstone. They have a pool and other kid amenities, food on site, etc.

not sure of availability this close though, we booked 9 months out, granted it was July 4th week.

StEdsCOOG said:

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I visited Jackson over the Labor Day weekend in 2020 and explored the park and hiked to Delta Lake. Then a couple days later a snowstorm blew thru and it was like a whole different place. Spent an entire day driving around taking pics of the snow covered park. One my favorite trips.

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I was there at that time as well. Went from hot and very hazy due to the wild fires out west, to cold and crystal clear.


2 days later (but the day in between looked like this as well)