Grand Teton National Park is absolutely breathtaking. The Tetons are definitely now one of my favorite mountain ranges. The land around is completely flat, and then BAM, jagged snow-capped mountain peaks tower out of the earth, claiming authority over all the land. Mom and I only had really one full day here, but we made the absolute most of it. There’s tons of hiking here. We got very lucky as we just picked a trail kind of randomly, and it was fantastic. It started at the String Lake Trailhead all the way to Hidden Falls and Inspiration point, which runs alongside Jenny Lake. It was about 6 miles out and back, and it was an easy hike til you get to the mountain and go up to Inspiration Point.
Major shout out to my 67-year old mom, who was a total and complete badass. She was nervous about bears (we didn’t have bear spray, highly recommend you rent or buy some for your own peace of mind), so she didn’t want to hike just us two. I tried to not be disappointed because I was itching to hike and assumed we wouldn’t easily find another group. However this group of late 20s folks walked by us right at the trailhead, and we asked if we could just stick with them so my mom felt better. They said sure but warned us that they’re fast. We went for it. They honestly were going really fast even for me (like too fast as in no time to take anything in, felt more like a race, jogging at points). In fact we passed this gigantic marmot standing eye level on a log at one point and they didn’t even notice ha. I was worried about mom at first but dang, she completely kept up even on the rocky, rooty trail with no complaints. I was honestly so impressed. THEN - we get to the mountain and it was a very steep climb and parts were really exposed with a surely-fatal drop off, and she has a little fear of heights. She CRUSHED it with a good attitude and made it to the top like a friggin' champ. I was so inspired and she felt really accomplished too. Yay!
We spent one day in Jackson shopping around and it was lovely. Next time I come to this area, I’d be totally fine staying in or around Jackson and getting into more localized outdoor activities like rafting, fishing, horseback riding, etc. There’s so much to do there, and the town is so adorable with tons of good food, shops and fun bars like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Our favorite restaurant was a Mexican spot called Hatch.
Overall, this is an absolutely gorgeous part of the country. I felt healthier and more balanced just having been there.
Highlights: Mormon Row, Jenny Lake, String Lake Trail, Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls by Jenny Lake, Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Hatch
Where we stayed (and would stay again): Rustic Inn
In honor of Grizzly 399's life, I'm adding the below in 2024. RIP mighty mother and Queen of the Tetons.
Please always be responsible when visiting national parks for the safety of wildlife and others. Always follow the Leave No Trace principles and drive slowly and vigilantly.
