Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” When I traveled to Grand Tetons National Park in the summer of 2018, I gained a better understanding of what this quote meant.
Referred to as the ‘Mountains of the Imagination’ this beautiful park stretches over 485 square miles and combines extraordinary wildlife, mountain lakes, and alpine terrain.
The Teton mountain range stretches 40 miles long, and although it has eight mountains over 12,000 feet, it is most famous for its three highest peaks: Mount Owen, Teewinot, and its namesake, Grand Teton, the tallest in the park, at 13,775 feet. French explorers on early expeditions described this view as ‘troise tetons’ or ‘three breasts,’ giving this park its unique name.
How to Get to Grand Tetons National Park
Located only ten miles south of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, while significantly smaller, offered overwhelming views and a lack of crowds. The intimate and isolated experience slammed me directly into the present, and connected me with nature in a way that was incomparable to any park I’ve visited before. If you’re planning to travel to Yellowstone, I highly recommend adding a few days in Grand Tetons onto your trip. This will be a road trip you won’t forget.
If Grand Tetons is the only park on your list, the fastest way to arrive is through Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The airport is one hour from Yellowstone’s south entrance and is actually located inside Grand Teton National Park–the only airport in the United States to hold this unique status!
Best Hikes in Grand Tetons National Park
Unlike its neighbor, Yellowstone, which can mostly be explored by car, Grand Teton is meant for those ready to get deep into nature. With over two hundred miles of trails, hikes range from easy to strenuous, with elevations increasing up to 11,000 feet high.
If you’re feeling really adventurous, the park offers a handful of complex trails that take you deep into the wilderness. But keep in mind, you’ll need to stay in the park overnight for these hikes so make sure to get a backcountry permit.
While I definitely like to push my limits when it comes to hiking, I’m not quite at the overnight point. Not only does it require a significant amount of supplies that will certainly make your hike more difficult, you have to develop the right mindset. The park is incredibly isolated and you need…
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