Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park covers about 310,000 acres in north-western Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park and north of the town of Jackson. It protects the Teton Range, a chain of mountains about 40 miles long, and most of the northern part of Jackson Hole, the valley that lies to the east of the peaks.

Congress created the original park on 26 February 1929 to protect the mountains and lakes at their base. In the 1930s John D. Rockefeller Jr. quietly bought up much of the valley floor to save it from development, and after long political argument this land was combined with the park in 1950. The parkway that links Grand Teton with Yellowstone, about 10 miles to the north, is named after him.

The Grand Teton rises to 13,775 feet, or 4,199 metres, and the range climbs sharply from the valley with no foothills, which gives the park its dramatic skyline. A string of lakes lies along the base of the mountains. Jackson Lake is the largest, about 15 miles long, and at Jenny Lake a boat shuttle and trails lead to Hidden Falls, about 100 feet high, and Inspiration Point. The Snake River winds through the valley from its source in Yellowstone. On Mormon Row, the weathered John Moulton Barn set against the Tetons is one of the most photographed scenes in the West.

The park records 61 mammal species and more than 300 bird species. Thousands of elk live here, along with moose, bison, pronghorn about 100 to 125 bighorn sheep, and both black and grizzly bears. The park received about 3.8 million visits in 2025.

The entrance fee is 35 US dollars for a private vehicle, 30 dollars for a motorcycle or 20 dollars per person on foot or by bicycle, each valid for seven days, and a pass for Yellowstone is sold separately. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra 100 dollar nonresident fee each unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The park entrance stations do not accept cash. Summer, from June to September, is the main season, and early morning and evening are best for wildlife. Carry bear spray on trails and keep a safe distance from all animals.