It’s a memorial day weekend of 2017 and I am in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). The beautiful Tetons range Covered with snow by the Pristine Jackson and Jenny Lake is what I wanted to experience and thus end of May or early June is perfect time to visit GTNP. This is also a good time to spot mother bears and cubs 🙂
Grand Teton National Park is located north of the Jackson hole and south of the Yellowstone National park. The Park has very interesting history of how it became a National Park. It was initially proposed to extend Yellowstone National Park’s border to include Grand Tetons Range. However residents from Jackson opposed the proposal and were in favor to establish it as separate National Park and thus Grand Teton National Park was established on 1929.
To begin with my trip report, I booked my flight from San Jose to Salt lake city well in advance so it costed me less than $180 round trip in Southwest Airlines. Upon arrival at Salt Lake city, I picked up the car and started my journey towards GTNP via Big Cottonwood scenic drive + I 80 E. The drive was scenic but that day (Saturday the 27th May) the road was closed after Brighton so I had to detour to get onto route I 15 N to GTNP. I prefer to drive during day time thus I decided to stay back at Thayne, WY when it was getting little dark at around 9 PM Mountain Time.
I continued my journey to GTNP the next day and the first stop was Jackson Town Square. I walked around the town a bit and then grabbed a quick coffee to resume my drive. This is a small yet very lively town and so its people.
I planned for a day and few early hours from the next morning to spend in the park so my plan includes more of driving to the overlooks and less of hiking. Here is the route that I followed from Jackson Town Square to cover GTNP loop
Grand Teton National Park Loop
I entered from south gate of the national park and Colter Bay Village is where I decided to camp. I had to drive Schwabachers landing to Colter bay twice. I do not regret the double time drive because the beautiful view of Tetons Range is worth it and especially when you spot mother Bear with two cubs playing in a creek.
Mother Bear with her two cubs
The complete GTNP loop drive is all about viewing spectacular Tetons Range from every single scenic angle.
Gros Ventre Road
Mormon Barn
Colter Bay
Jackson Lake Dam
Left of the Jackson Lake Dam
Jenny Lake
Snake River Overlook
I spent most of my evening near Colter Bay, It is gorgeous small marina that provides variety of water activities like Canoes, Kayaks, boat cruise etc. The sun went down quite late at around 9 pm. Colter Bay camp ground has 300+ campsites. I arrived at noon and there were plenty of sites available. Sites were little close to each other but manageable. I was aiming for Signal Mountain campground initially but then since Colter Bay village has showers so I sticked to Colater Bay Campground.
Colter Bay Village has fully stocked general store, park restaurant and showers/laundry facilities. Showers opens at 8 AM and closes at 5:30 PM and it costs $4.25/person. We need to carry our own towels and soap or need to pay extra. The Campsite costs $25/Night, includes picnic table, fire ring and bear box with nearby Restrooms and Water tap.
The beauty of the park can’t be expressed in words, it can only be felt and absorbed.
I would like to visit GTNP again to do more of hiking 🙂
Make the memories 🙂
Cheers!