For the sake of your soul, you should find the time in your life to glare upon the majesty of the Teton Mountain Range. The Rockies are lovely, the Cascades are pretty, but there is something about the Tetons that just embodies the natural world of the Western States. Staring at the Grand Teton Peak makes me feel like a cowboy. Throw in a hat and horse, and you might be able to convince me I’ve traveled back in time to the late 1800s. If I were to fulfill this fantasy of becoming a time-traveling cattleman, I might never leave the Teton Valley. But because nobody has invented a time-machine (that I know of), a few days in the Grand Teton National Park will have to suffice. So if you are looking to spend some time exploring the wild west in this modern-day and age, here is our Grand Teton National Park 3 Day Itinerary.
Day One: Settle on in
Spend the first day getting to know the history of the area. Learn about the settlers, trappers, and tradespeople that made this future park their home.
Mormon Row
If you have already started researching your trip to Grand Teton National Park, you’ve undoubtedly seen beautiful photos of aged barns with the mighty Grand Teton in the background. It’s a spot photographers dream about. That old outbuilding is part of Mormon Row, the well-preserved remnants of some of Wyoming’s first settlers. Mormon Homesteaders made their way from Idaho into this area known as Antelope Flats as early as the 1890s. They built tight-knit communities with farms butting up next to there neighbor. These side by side properties were a different layout than most traditional settlers, who usually didn’t care to be within a whispering distance of their neighbor.
The paved road intersects the town’s old dirt road. Signs for entering onto the dirt road recommend four-wheel drive, but that mainly applies in winter. If it’s summertime, you’ll be fine getting to the buildings.
Take some time and do a short walk around the structures. Watch out for the fat little ground squirrels that slip in and out of there burrows. Nobody wants to twist an ankle on day one.
Dinner at Dornan’s
Dornan’s is the Popular spot for dinner in the central area of Grand Teton National Park. There is a chuckwagon that serves BBQ and a Pizza Place, which I would highly recommend. Due to its popularity, it can get crowded quickly, but there is an outdoor patio where you can sit and drink a cocktail (which are very reasonably priced by the way) with the mountains right in your face.
Meynor’s Ferry
After dinner, take a stroll across the river and walk around Menor’s Ferry. Crossing a river as a pioneer was hell, especially a big river like the Snake. A businessman named William Menor realized he could make a pretty penny if he built a ferry system that could safely transport people, livestock and wagons across the Snake River. Menor charged $0.50 for a wagon and team and $0.25 for a rider and horse.
The ferry wasn’t his only source of income. He also had a general store right as you safely exited off this lifesaving Disney ride. Possibly the first gift shop in history, but I have no way of proving that.
Waking around Menor’s Ferry only takes about 10 minutes. Nearby is also the park’s first church, The Chapel of the Transfiguration, built-in 1925 and is still in operation.
Day Two: Lots of Lakes
Spend day 2 of our Grand Teton National Park 3 day itinerary hiking, boating, or paddling at some of the park’s best lakes.
Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls
Like with most of the hikes in the Grand Teton Park, you’ll need to get up early to beat the crowds. Jenny Lake is the most popular hike in the area, so a quick morning start is essential. You have a few options for exploring Jenny Lake. You can hike a complete circle around the lake and burn off some of that pizza from last night, or there is a boat that will take you to the halfway point near Hidden Falls. Feel free to take the boat over and hike back or vice versa. You can learn more about the trail here.
Lunch at Lookout Lodge
Lookout Lodge has some of the best food in the park. But even better than the food is the A/C on a hot summer day. If you’ve been camping the past few days, the cold air feels like a tiny miracle. I’d recommend the Philly cheesesteak or a half order of the fish and chips.
Scenic Boat Ride on Jackson Lake
To get to some of the most remote parts of the park, you can either haul a backpack over steep mountain passes and through a thick forest of trees, or you can simply go on a nice relaxing boat ride. I won’t tell which one I prefer, but I will tell you that the boat ride is a hell of a lot more comfortable.
The boat leaves from Colter Bay (which is where you can get tickets) and lasts around 2 hours. During that time, you get terrific views of Mount Moran and learn the fascinating history of John Colter, who the bay is named after. The story involves Lewis and Clark, a naked man, and a beaver lodge. Trust me; you’ll want to hear this one.
Optional: Shoreline Hike
After the boat drops you off, take a stroll along the marina on the Shoreline Trail. The trail is only two miles but offers some beautiful secluded beaches to kick back on. Just don’t forget the bug spray. For more information on the path, click here.
Oxbow Bend
On a clear day, the Oxbow Bend Overlook is a great stop. On an overcast day, skip this pit stop and go straight to the Snake River Overlook.
Snake River Overlook
The famous outdoor black and white photographer, Ansel Adams, made this spot famous over 70 years ago. Gaze upon the twisting of the snake river under the rocky peak of the Grand Teton. While there are several fantastic places in Grand Teton National Park for sunsets, this one is my favorite.
I’ve heard some people complain about the tree growth obstructing the view. To those Debby-downers, Ansel would probably say, “‘A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” I would probably say, “Yeah, trees grow, get over it.” I think both are equally poetic.
Day Three: More Lake Lovin’
I have saved the best for last on our Grand Teton National Park 3 day itinerary.
Taggart Lake
While Jenny and Jackson Lakes are good looking, my pick for America’s Next Top Lake goes to Taggart Lake. But like most of the pretty lakes out there, you’re going to have to work for the view. At 5 miles roundtrip, it is the longest hike I would recommend for your average traveler. At times the trail can be steep, but you’ll get perfect views of the entire Teton Range throughout the majority of the hike. When I close my eyes and think of the Grand Teton National Park, the Taggart Lake trail is what I had hoped the park would be like. If you skip all the other hikes on our Grand Teton National Park 3 day itinerary, so be it, but don’t skip this one. Click here for the Taggart Lake Trail Guide.
Go Home
I hoped you enjoyed our Grand Teton National Park 3 day itinerary. If you had more time to spend on your adventure, I would recommend extending your trip to nearby Yellowstone. For the average explorer, three days in the park hiking and sightseeing will allow you to experience the best of what the Grand Teton Park has to offer.
My hope is you leave the park with a sense of admiration for the wild west and its natural magnificence. Or at the very least, you return home in one piece, having avoided becoming a bear’s mid-morning snack. Safe travels!
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
We are visiting the park at the end of the month with our 5 kids. We really would like to do the Taggart Lake Loop. What would you say the difficulty is for this hike?