Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming brings the Teton Range, glacial lakes, and the Snake River into one visit. You can spend a day near the lakes or plan a longer mountain trip, but those choices need different preparation. Choose your route around seasonal roads, boat services, and the time you have for the return hike.

Highlights in Grand Teton

• Jenny Lake: lakeshore views and trails toward Hidden Falls and Cascade Canyon make this a useful starting point.
• The Snake River landscape: river and wetland habitats provide a different setting from the mountain trails.
• Jackson Lake: views, shoreline visits, and permitted boating depend on lake levels and operating launch facilities.
• Cultural sites: the valley's history includes Indigenous use, homesteading, ranching, and conservation.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Bears, mountain weather, and cold water

Carry bear spray and know how to use it. NPS advises hiking in groups of three or more and making noise to reduce surprise encounters. Keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife. Watch for animals on roads, especially around dawn and dusk.

Bring water, extra clothing, and a map. Snow and frost are possible in any month, and summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Lakes and the Snake River remain cold even in warm weather. Carry the required properly sized life jacket for each person when boating or floating; children under 13 must wear one while underway unless inside an enclosed cabin. There are no lifeguards.

Share the landscape responsibly

Keep food and backpacks attended or securely stored. Stay on established trails and give horses the right of way. Use designated campsites rather than roadside pullouts or parking areas for overnight stays.

Pets cannot use hiking trails, the multi-use pathway, beaches, or park waters for swimming. In permitted roadside and developed areas, keep them within 30 feet of the roadway and on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The designated winter pet lane on closed Teton Park Road has separate rules; it does not open the wider trail network to dogs.

Camping, backcountry, and boating permits

Grand Teton does not require an entrance reservation or timed-entry slot. Campsites require advance reservations through Recreation.gov, generally available up to six months ahead. Reserve lodging separately with the operator.

Overnight backcountry trips require a permit. Advance requests use Recreation.gov; walk-in permits are issued no more than one day ahead. Boating requires a park boat permit, a Wyoming aquatic invasive species decal, and the required inspection. Use the permit guidance for your activity rather than treating an entrance pass as permission for everything.

Location and seasonal road choices

The park lies north of Jackson and south of Yellowstone. U.S. Highways 89/191 and 26/287 provide the principal valley routes. Teton Park Road serves additional lake and trail destinations, but its winter closure changes how you can travel through the park.

The official road-status page links to the park road map and Wyoming travel information. Check the specific entrance and connecting roads you need. A navigation app may propose a route that is unavailable in winter or affected by construction.

Nearby parks

• Yellowstone National Park: continue north through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway toward Yellowstone's South Entrance when the connecting roads are open.
• Harriman State Park: an Idaho-side option in Island Park, with its entrance address at 3489 Green Canyon Road; plan this as a separate regional drive.

Lakeshore walks and longer hikes

At Jenny Lake, the paved Discovery Trail runs about 0.35 mile and provides wheelchair access to the lakeshore. It is an option for seeing the lake without committing to a mountain hike.

Hidden Falls is a 5-mile round trip from the visitor center on foot. When the paid shuttle boat operates, the walk from the west dock is about 1 mile round trip. The 2026 boat season ended September 30, so an autumn plan must use the longer land route. The Jenny Lake guide explains the trail and dock locations.

For paddling, first check the permitted lake, launch status, and inspection requirements. Jackson Lake levels can affect access; several marinas and ramps are closed in the autumn conditions notice. A scenic shoreline visit may remain possible even when a launch or marina is unavailable.

Facilities and accessibility

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at Moose has accessible parking, level paved approaches, restrooms, and drinking-water facilities. Jenny Lake and Colter Bay also have visitor facilities, but their operating seasons differ. Confirm water and restroom availability for the time of year you will visit.

Campground options range from tent-only Jenny Lake to RV facilities at Colter Bay. Most developed campsites provide toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and food-storage boxes during their operating season. Lodges and cabins offer another option, with seasonal closing dates that can precede road closures.

Jenny Lake parking is limited and fills in summer. Use designated spaces and follow staff directions. The mobility-access guide describes surfaces, restrooms, and facility features. Confirm an accessible room or campsite directly rather than assuming every unit has the same features.

About Grand Teton

From seasonal use to ranching and conservation

Human use of the Jackson Hole valley extends back more than 11,000 years. Indigenous communities used its seasonal resources long before Euro-American settlement. Homesteaders arrived in the 1880s, and some later shifted from agriculture to hosting visitors on dude ranches. These changes help explain why cultural sites and historic buildings are part of the park experience.

Habitats from the valley to the mountains

Bison use the valley floor, moose browse willow-rich areas, and ospreys fish along the Snake River. Marmots live higher in the mountains. Grand Teton forms part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and animals move across park boundaries as seasons change. Respect wildlife closures even when an area looks empty.

Contact Grand Teton National Park

For visitor information, call the ranger line at 307-739-3399 during weekday business hours. The official NPS contact page provides an email form. Mailing address: Grand Teton National Park, PO Box 170, Moose, WY 83012-0170.