Grand Teton NP Help

[AzScorpion]

We're leaving Friday and headed to Grand Teton N P and could use some help from anyone who knows of any "off the beaten path" stuff to do in the area. I've been watching videos and reading that there's still a ton of snow on most of the trails. Even the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake isn't open yet because of the snow and ice still on and around the lake. We don't mind hiking through a little snow but I hear it was an unusually high snowfall this year and of course there's still a lot on the ground. I guess even over at Mormon Row there's still a lot of snow but it might be fun to get MP2 out in it over there.

I had reservation in Jackson Hole,WY but I just canceled it and now we're going to stay at an AirBnB in Victor,ID. It's a little longer drive but we have a whole cottage and I hate hotels! I heard it's really nice there and there's a lot of hiking and stuff to do in that area but wasn't sure if anyone has ever been out that way with suggestions?

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[Grumpaw]

Dave, we were there several years ago...
Aside from the park itself and the drive thru roads, Jackson Hole is about the only town in the area to visit. Very scenic, lots of shops, resteraunts. Little town of Wilson west of Jackson Hole is just a wide spot in the road.
In Jackson you can see the Antler Arch, scene in the movie Any Which Way You Can with Clint Eastwood.
If you have the chance to take the boat tour of Jackson Lake....take it. Beautiful scenery and guides really know their stuff.
Other than the hiking trails, the drive thru roads in the park are also a must do....again, beautiful scenery.

 

[AzScorpion]

Dave, we were there several years ago...
Aside from the park itself and the drive thru roads, Jackson Hole is about the only town in the area to visit. Very scenic, lots of shops, resteraunts. Little town of Wilson west of Jackson Hole is just a wide spot in the road.
In Jackson you can see the Antler Arch, scene in the movie Any Which Way You Can with Clint Eastwood.
If you have the chance to take the boat tour of Jackson Lake....take it. Beautiful scenery and guides really know their stuff.
Other than the hiking trails, the drive thru roads in the park are also a must do....again, beautiful scenery.

I think there's a lot less (if any) snow in the lower areas so I was hoping there was something I was missing with all the online itineraries out there. We were going to do a rafting tour (and still hope to) but I need to call them tomorrow to see how it is. The rivers should be fine but Jenny Lake is still pretty frozen over.

We're going to go to Jackson on Saturday. I've seen all the pics (it's kind of Jacksons main attraction lol) of Antler Arch. It's about a 400 mile drive from our stop in UT so by the time we get there it'll be around 12-1 pm and we'll hand around there for the day, shopping of course. I was reading some of the comments on the AirBnB and it sounds like there's several good hiking/biking trails out in Victor,ID too.

 

[jsphlynch]

One of my favorite trips ever was to Grand Tetons, though I'm afraid I can't be of much help in your situation since I was there in early March. I was in college at the time, and for spring break we snowshoed in to the base of Grand Teton. We built a snow cave and slept in that for several nights and used it as our base of operations for day adventures (such as the day we hiked to well above the tree line on Grand Teton). Lots of stories from that trip involving temperatures, excess snowfall, a thieving pine marten, a thankfully shy wolf, and epic sunburns. We never saw another human between when we left the parking lot until we were nearly back to the car.

Sorry I can't be of help for your trip, but I hop you enjoy the absolutely incredible scenery! I hope it feeds your soul the way it did mine!

 

[Grumpaw]

I think there's a lot less (if any) snow in the lower areas so I was hoping there was something I was missing with all the online itineraries out there. We were going to do a rafting tour (and still hope to) but I need to call them tomorrow to see how it is. The rivers should be fine but Jenny Lake is still pretty frozen over.

We're going to go to Jackson on Saturday. I've seen all the pics (it's kind of Jacksons main attraction lol) of Antler Arch. It's about a 400 mile drive from our stop in UT so by the time we get there it'll be around 12-1 pm and we'll hand around there for the day, shopping of course. I was reading some of the comments on the AirBnB and it sounds like there's several good hiking/biking trails out in Victor,ID too.

Out of all the National Parks we have visited in our travels, if we had to pick one to re-visit, it would be Teton. The views and scenery are second to none. Yellowstone, just north, is great also, but always crowded...the shops in the park are bigger than some mall's, roads are always backed up due to someone stopping cause they saw a bison 1/2 mile away, parking is non-existant unless you get there very early.
Teton is much slower paced, without the crowds and kids, never had a problem with traffic or parking....the park just seemed "cleaner".
Enjoy your trip...

 

[LoneRNGR]

I had reservation in Jackson Hole,WY but I just canceled it and now we're going to stay at an AirBnB in Victor,ID.

I took the family there last August and we had a great time. I wanted to avoid Jackson Hole. We stayed in Victor, ID at the Cobblestone Hotel. It is a newish hotel, clean, with friendly people. It was cheap compared to Jackson Hole. You will still have to pass-through Jackson Hole, and all the traffic, on the way to Grand Teton, but you will want to visit there anyway. I don't know any "off the beaten path" places to visit. There is a loop around the park. Just relax, drive to the overlooks, and take pictures.

Picture is my daughter at the Mormon Row.

 

[AzScorpion]

Out of all the National Parks we have visited in our travels, if we had to pick one to re-visit, it would be Teton. The views and scenery are second to none. Yellowstone, just north, is great also, but always crowded...the shops in the park are bigger than some mall's, roads are always backed up due to someone stopping cause they saw a bison 1/2 mile away, parking is non-existant unless you get there very early.
Teton is much slower paced, without the crowds and kids, never had a problem with traffic or parking....the park just seemed "cleaner".
Enjoy your trip...

Thanks Steve. I've heard the same about Yellowstone from many others. As much as we want to go there (and will one day) we're going to skip it on this trip and head to Glacier NP right afterwards. We're so looking forward to seeing Grand Teton and have seen all the videos and pictures of the beautiful scenery there and the surrounding area. While the snow might limit us to some areas it won't stop us from getting out there and enjoying the area. I'm hoping the rafting trips are running because we (well mostly me lol) really want to do one of those.

 

[LoneRNGR]

anyone who knows of any "off the beaten path" stuff to do in the area

Wait... You are driving from Arizona to Grand Tetons? You will pass through Pocatello, ID. Visit the "Museum of Clean."

 

[AzScorpion]

I took the family there last August and we had a great time. I wanted to avoid Jackson Hole. We stayed in Victor, ID at the Cobblestone Hotel. It is a newish hotel, clean, with friendly people. It was cheap compared to Jackson Hole. You will still have to pass-through Jackson Hole, and all the traffic, on the way to Grand Teton, but you will want to visit there anyway. I don't know any "off the beaten path" places to visit. There is a loop around the park. Just relax, drive to the overlooks, and take pictures.

Picture is my daughter at the Mormon Row.

Thanks John! Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and that Victor,ID is nice because I was just going off what I read online. I know it's close to an hour drive to GT but they say the ride and views are worth it going through the pass. Mormon Row is on our list and I hear one of the most photographed areas there. They say the sunrises over the Tetons are spectacular with the barn in the background.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Out of all the National Parks we have visited in our travels, if we had to pick one to re-visit, it would be Teton. The views and scenery are second to none. Yellowstone, just north, is great also, but always crowded...the shops in the park are bigger than some mall's, roads are always backed up due to someone stopping cause they saw a bison 1/2 mile away, parking is non-existant unless you get there very early.
Teton is much slower paced, without the crowds and kids, never had a problem with traffic or parking....the park just seemed "cleaner".
Enjoy your trip...

I would agree - the Tetons are incredible and not nearly as crowded as Yellowstone.

Our daughter worked there one summer and I went there and we did a few hikes and some some of the "touristy" stuff. I don't know what your level of hiking is, but Delta lake is pretty neat, and is just below "the" Grand Teton. There is an unofficial side trail that takes off of one switchback that is steep in places but the lake is pretty incredible. You can also go up and see the lake from above which was kind of cool.

Here is a map of that hike:

Sorry, I wasn't able to link these photos - it kept giving me an error - but here are the links:

Delta Lake:
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-bsMM3LX/A

Delta Lake from above (you can see why it is called Delta Lake):
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-tRRShbS/A

Deer we saw on the way up:
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-tRRShbS/A

 

[AzScorpion]

Wait... You are driving from Arizona to Grand Tetons? You will pass through Pocatello, ID. Visit the "Museum of Clean."

Who'd have thought something like this would be out there. lol Kind of cool and if we have time I'll definitely stop.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/museum-of-clean-pocatello

 

[Grumpaw]

Thanks Steve. I've heard the same about Yellowstone from many others. As much as we want to go there (and will one day) we're going to skip it on this trip and head to Glacier NP right afterwards. We're so looking forward to seeing Grand Teton and have seen all the videos and pictures of the beautiful scenery there and the surrounding area. While the snow might limit us to some areas it won't stop us from getting out there and enjoying the area. I'm hoping the rafting trips are running because we (well mostly me lol) really want to do one of those.

We've also been to Glacier, in early June. Came in from the west via West Glacier on the main east/west road thru the park. Could only go about 1/3 of the way in before the road shut down due to snow still blocking the road. Went back, then around the southern area of the park, and entered the east side of the park at St. Mary's, but again only went about 1/3 way in before road closed.
Moral of story....check with the park rangers to see if the road thru is open before you start.
Again, scenery is beautiful, lots of hiking trails, but lots of snow may still be on the ground.

 

[LoneRNGR]

WHo'd have thought something like this would be out there. lol Kind of cool and if we have time I'll definitely stop.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/museum-of-clean-pocatello

And you can park the Tremor in front of this photo-op if it's not too far off the beaten path.

 

[AzScorpion]

We've also been to Glacier, in early June. Came in from the west via West Glacier on the main east/west road thru the park. Could only go about 1/3 of the way in before the road shut down due to snow still blocking the road. Went back, then around the southern area of the park, and entered the east side of the park at St. Mary's, but again only went about 1/3 way in before road closed.
Moral of story....check with the park rangers to see if the road thru is open before you start.
Again, scenery is beautiful, lots of hiking trails, but lots of snow may still be on the ground.

The Going To The Sun Rd usually doesn't fully open until late June - early July. We already had planned on going in from both entrances to see as much of it as we can.

 

[AzScorpion]

I would agree - the Tetons are incredible and not nearly as crowded as Yellowstone.

Our daughter worked there one summer and I went there and we did a few hikes and some some of the "touristy" stuff. I don't know what your level of hiking is, but Delta lake is pretty neat, and is just below "the" Grand Teton. There is an unofficial side trail that takes off of one switchback that is steep in places but the lake is pretty incredible. You can also go up and see the lake from above which was kind of cool.

Here is a map of that hike:

Sorry, I wasn't able to link these photos - it kept giving me an error - but here are the links:

Delta Lake:
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-bsMM3LX/A

Delta Lake from above (you can see why it is called Delta Lake):
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-tRRShbS/A

Deer we saw on the way up:
https://rwphotos.smugmug.com/Hikes/2017/GrandTetons-DeltaSurpriseAmpitheaterLakes/i-tRRShbS/A

I don't mind (I actually like something challenging) steep hikes but they can be to much for Annies knees. I'll look at these more later and print them out so I can see what's open or not to snow packed when we're there. Thx!

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