One day in Grand Teton/Jackson
Written: Aug 03 '02
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Pros: A don't miss Park that is do-able in a day.
Cons: Main road and trails can be congested in summer
The Bottom Line: Spend a day and not feel rushed. Spend a week and know it like your own backyard. Either way, Grand Teton is designed to provide maximum Park pleasure.
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| echolaine's Full Review: Grand Teton National Park |
If you only have a day in the Jackson area, don't try to "do it all" by driving 80-90 minutes out of town to Yellowstone. You'll end up wishing you had more time, and missing great sights - and probably most of the wildlife - trying to rush from geyser to "must-see" scenery.
Instead, please everyone on your trip with a short ride (approximately fifteen minutes from downtown Jackson) to Grand Teton National Park.
The approach to Grand Teton has scenery of the beautiful mountains that is awe-inspiring. You'll want to stop on the side of the road to take photos before you ever enter the park. Go ahead - but if you're looking for a shot of the glacier, wait until after you've paid your fee and turn off at the Glacier Lookout. It's about the only place where your photos might not be overwhelmed with shadows.
Wildlife - there are a couple of spots outside the park that are almost guarantees for wildlife spotting. BOTH are in free areas! The first is just after the Grand Teton Visitor Center. There is a road to Teton Village that turns left as everyone else is turning right to pay at the booth. Go approximately 1.5 miles up the road (it will be twisty and look like it goes nowhere), and turn left into the lookout. Just below is a tributary of the Snake River, and a very favorite place for a cow moose and her calf of the year.
You can see bison year round on the Antelope Flats Road. You can reach this either as a direct turnoff from the main road into/out of town, or by turning down the road that goes to Kelly, and traveling about 7 miles past Kelly and turning left. I prefer to make a loop of it - the Kelly road has excellent viewing opportunities as it runs parallel to a stream - I've been there in July and late August and both times there has been a large bull moose browsing there. Antelope Flats ALWAYS has bison. If you're fortunate, they'll be on the move and will surround your vehicle as they cross the road - best time for this is twilight. Keep an eye out for pronghorn on this road. They normally travel in a herd, but you may see a female with a baby wandering separately.
Inside the Park, drive as slowly as the traffic will allow. Keep an eye out for elk foraging along the treeline. If you see them, stop and get out of your car. The males will sometimes "bugle" - a sound that I can't describe and that you won't want to miss.
If you only have a day, drive out to Jenny Lake and hike out to the waterfall. Once you get past the sagebrush, it's a fairly cool, if very well-traveled path. Not too strenuous - all healthy members of your group should be able to make this hike. Plan on 2 -3 hours round trip. There is a hike all the way around the lake that is pleasant if you are spending multiple days in the park or want a very long walk, but for those of us on a short time span, the out and back to the waterfall will be enough. It isn't a very high drop-off, but there is a satisfying amount of rushing water.
Bottom line - last week (first of August) we went through Grand Teton in about five hours and were delighted with the time we spent. It stays light very late in the summer (check out http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html for exact times during your stay), so if you take snacks you can arrive in Grand Teton in the afternoon, hike, drive to the wildlife, and get back to Jackson for a late dinner (Mountain High Pizza Pie is a great choice). Providing you've booked accommodations, you can get up the next morning, enjoy Jackson, perhaps go whitewater rafting, and leave the next afternoon. Not a bad one day trip - guaranteed wildlife, beautiful scenery, and no rushing. Have fun.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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Epinions.com ID:
echolaine
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Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Lifelong traveler, avid reader, Harvard grad, believer in word-of-mouth "finds". Trust is everything.
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