Grand Teton National Park is located in Wyoming and is approximately 26 miles wide and 45 miles long, with 310,000 acres in the park. The three entry points are Moran, Granite Canyon and Moose. There are two main and three auxiliary visitor centers. The park offers 1,206 camping sites and 803 rooms. The Teton mountain range is 40 miles long, and the highest peak is 13,770 feet. Summer offers the most activities.
Enjoy water sports such as kayaking, swimming, waterskiing, sailing, canoeing, boating, floating, and fishing for whitefish, and rainbow, lake, brown and cutthroat trout. Businesses and lodgings offer float trips, fishing trips, breakfast and dinner scenic cruises, sailboat tours, and private rentals of kayaks, canoes, boats and floats. Registration for your own boat is required, along with permits for all water activities and Wyoming state licenses for fishing. Signal Mountain Lodge and Colter provide rental tackle. Regulations in the park are strict regarding where you can participate in various water sports, so make sure to read them.
Plan to bike, hike, or climb to your heart's content.
Biking
You cannot bike on hiking trails or in the backcountry; however, the park established a multi-use trail in 2009. Bike regulations include only single file biking, using front and rear lights and reflectors at night, and abiding by motor vehicle regulations. Rental bikes are available from various concessions.
Hiking
Grand Teton National Park has 238 miles of hiking trails. Only experienced hikers should undertake this activity, as the terrain is at a high elevation and has steep hiking trails. Weather can change quickly, adding another challenge to hiking. Be sure to watch for bears.
Climbing
The park does not require permits for normal mountaineering. Backcountry permits are necessary for overnight stays, and technical climbing does require permits.
View wildlife at various locations in the park. You can see elk and bison, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, mule deer and moose, and gray wolves. Look for swimming beavers and muskrats in ponds. Black and grizzly bears are beautiful and dangerous. Be sure to keep all food in locked containers if you camp or picnic, and never approach one of these huge creatures.
Take a good pair of binoculars so you can go bird watching to view more than 300 species of birds, including golden and bald eagles, hawks, osprey, trumpeter swans, calliope hummingbirds, blue-winged teal, and mallard and goldeneye ducks. Never fish in bald eagle nesting areas on the Snake River, as this will disturb the eagles. Early morning and evening before sunset are the best viewing times for eagles.
Ski on cross-country trails and go snowshoeing in the winter on trails at Colter Bay, Flagg Ranch, Moore Wilson Road and Teton Park Road. There are guided snowshoe hikes led by rangers at Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Avalanches can occur at higher elevations, so be extremely careful. Dress warmly to avoid hypothermia. Skiing on frozen ponds or lakes can be dangerous due to flooding and winds.
