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The Grand Tetons In The Fall- really what else can I say besides, they are absolutely spectacular! 

In my personal opinion the Grand Tetons is one of the most beautiful National Parks– the mountain range rises up out of the great plains of Wyoming and dominates the skyline for miles around.

You can spot bears, moose, bison and foxes roaming the park and nearby you can visit the world famous Yellowstone. 

It is home to some of the most extreme adventures in the world– rock climbing, alpine climbing, ski mountaineering and more, drawing some of the most elite athletes in America to train here. 

Yet, it is also the perfect escape for us mortals who just want to admire the natural beauty and immerse ourselves in the wild west for a few days.

Table of Contents:

1. When is the Best Time To See Fall In Grand Tetons National Park?

2. How to get to Grand Teton National Park

3. Grand Tetons Map

3. Where to stay near Grand Teton National Park

4. What To Pack For Grand Tetons In The Fall

5. Things to do in Grand Tetons In the Fall

Disclaimer: This blog post does have affiliate links in it- if you buy through any of the links I get a little kickback- at no extra cost to you!

Campsites

Come Fall only a few campsites will remain open in the park, you can find camping at Signal Mountain Campground which remains open until October 14th or Gros Ventre Campground which remains open until October 11th.

Each of these campgrounds requires an advanced reservation.

If you are coming in an RV you will find electric hookups at both of these campgrounds.

If you do plan on camping, just plan on bringing a thick sleeping bag and sleeping pad as the nights can get quite cold. Other than that, I think this would be a wonderful, immersive way to experience Fall in the Grand Tetons!

A note on showers: You can find nice facilities at Signal Mountain for showers ($6 ) & laundry.

If you can’t find reservations at these campgrounds, take a look at my car camping/ van life section. You can find wilderness camping right outside the park for free if you look for it!

National Park Lodges & Cabins

If you want to stay in the park they do have lodges and cabins that you can stay at. Many will be closed after late October but there are a few that stay open throughout the year. These will all require an advanced reservation.

Colter Bay Cabins: Described as “summer camp for adults” This lodge has “historic mountain cabins and camping on a picturesque lakeshore” They have log cabins, tent cabins and easy access to many different activities. This lodge is open until late September.

Climbers Ranch: The perfect spot for climbers and mountaineers, this paired down hostel style acccomodation is perfect for those who want something simple. Here you stay in log cabins for 4-6 people and bring your own bedding and food. Open through mid September. 

Dornans Ranch Cabins: Located on the Snake River this lodge has one bedroom and two bedroom cozy, log cabins for rent! In addition to a cozy space you get access to a full kitchen.

They also have dining on site- with a restaurant that serves pizza & pasta, another that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and finally a deli for lunch. This looks like the perfect place for families and is open year-round.

Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch: Situated between Yellowstone and the Tetons on the Snake River, this is the perfect place to stay if you are planning on seeing both parks. They have cabins and camper cabins available for rent. Open through mid September.

Jackson Lake Lodge: Located on Jackson Lake in the heart of the Tetons National Park, this lodge is open until October 8th. It is a full service hotel with the option for lodge rooms or cabins!

Jenny Lake Lodge: Open through Mid-October this lodge is considered the perfect blend of rustic and luxury. You can stay in cabins and then have access to the main dining lodge- they even have a package that includes bikes, breakfast, lunch and dinner along with horseback riding!

Signal Mountain Lodge: Open until October 15th this lodge is a great affordable option where you can choose to stay in a lodge room, bungalow, cabin, lake front retreat or a “home cabin”

Cabins

If you are okay with staying outside of the park there are many great cabin options!

Best cabins near Grand Tetons National Park:

Tammah Glamping Domes: Stay in a geodesic dome located at the base of the Teton mountains! Super stunning and stylish interior design with a gorgeous location!

Jackson Hole Hideout: A cute B&B located right outside of Jackson. Has a super cute lodge/ cabin feel with the amenities of a bed & breakfast.

Fireside Resort Cabins:  A hybrid between camping, luxury hotel suite and a private cabin! Each cabin comes with it’s own campfire and access to a shared hot tub.

Dude Ranches

If you want to experience the real wild west, look no further than a stay at a Dude Ranch! Here you can get a real western experience, complete with horse back riding, cookouts and lodge accommodation.

Some of the top Dude Ranches in the area are:

Triangle X: The only Dude Ranch located in the Grand Teton National Park! Get the true western experience while staying here.

Turpin Meadow Ranch: Stay at a luxury ranch in the wild beauty of Wyoming. Here you can find an unforgettable ranch vacation.

Heart Six Ranch: Stay in a cozy cabin, go horseback riding, a float trip or head out fly fishing!

Car Camping/ Van Life

For most of my trip, my boyfriend and I slept in his van- we love traveling this way and find van life to be one of the cheapest ways to explore a new area. 

A great area for car camping we found was actually near Moulton Barn as well as on some forest roads of of US highway 191.

Check Forest Road 30290, Spread Creek Road, Wolff Ranch Rd, Elk Ranch Rd, and Forest Road 30310. Many times you just need to start driving up a road and see where it takes ya!

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Hiking Gear

If you are planning on hiking in the park you will want to be prepared with gear that will keep you safe and comfortable.

Top Things To Bring:

Hiking Boots: I believe hiking boots are one of the most important items in your gear closet- having a comfortable fit, good grip and ankle support can help you exponentially while you are hiking.

My personal favorites include the Renegade GTX Mid Boots, Bridger Mid Waterproof Boots and X Ultra Mid Gore boots. Be sure to try them on for yourself though as they fit different people differently.

Hiking Backpack: Having a good day pack is essential to hiking. My personal favorites are the Osprey Daylite Pack and Mira 23 Hydration Pack.

Trekking Poles: If you are planning on doing hikes with a lot of elevation, trekking poles can help your balance on the way up and knees on the way down. I personally use trekking poles on almost every hike. My favs are the Distance Carbon FLZ poles for a super lightweight option and the Trail Trekking poles.

Water Bladder & Bottle: My two favorite ways to bring water with me are with a water bladder and a nalgene. If you are going on a longer hike you can also bring a light weight water filter with you.

Safety Devices: A Satellite Phone, Bear Spray, Medical Kit and Emergency Bivy are all very important to keep you safe if you are heading into the back country.

Headlamp: Being able to see at night is essential. I have a headlamp in my hiking bag at all times, even if I am heading out on a morning hike- you never know what can happen.

Helpful Extras: Hand warmers, blister bandages, and microspikes can all make your hike more comfortable and safe.

National Parks Pass

If you want to get into the park- this one is a must!

For a week’s entrance in a private vehicle, it is $35. If you travel to many of the national parks a better deal would be to buy the annual National Parks pass for $80! You can easily buy this at any of the park entrances. 

Your Camera & Camera Gear! 

24-70 Lens: This is the perfect all-around travel lens, if you could only bring one lens I would recommend this one! This will let you get up-close shots of the mountains and foliage as well as wider shots of the winding roads! 

100-400 lens (or longer!) : If you are most excited about the prospect of seeing wildlife this is the best lens for you! This long of a lens allows you to get up close and personal shots of the moose or bears you see on your drives.

70-200 lens: My personal favorite lens! This lens is perfect for getting some crazy scale shots of your friends or barns with the mountains compressed behind them or amazing mountain layers. It can also be used for wildlife when they are close enough! I’ve got some wonderful shots just from this lens.

Tripod: For super stable shots- especially when shooting wildlife, astro or long exposures a tripod or mono pod can help to stabilize your camera so you get crisp shots.

Cleaning Gear: I always make sure to have a lens cloth and senor swabs ready when I am out on location. In dusty areas your camera can get dirty and you want to be able to quickly handle it!

Camera Clip: While hiking I like to use the capture clip to hang my camera on the strap of my backpack. 

Camera Bag: If you are carrying a lot of gear a nice, padded and comfortable camera bag is essential. I love the Wandrd Backpack! 

Road Trip Essentials

There are a few things that will make a road trip extra comfortable.

My Road trip Favs:

Insulated Mug: I love having a warm coffee or tea each morning, this one is perfect!

Camp Stove or Backpacking Stove: Having the ability to make tea, lunch or dinner while on the road is one of my favorite things! Pick a backpacking stove for a small version or level up with a cute camp stove!

Hammock: Give yourself the ability to just hangout and relax in this double nest hammock!

Lantern: Having access to light is essential! I personally love this inflatable lantern or this pro lantern!

Compressible Pillow: Car ride naps anyone?! Bring along a pillow to stay comfy.

Camp Chair: Collapse these cute little chairs and hangout under the stars or watch the sunset!

Down Booties: Stay warm with camp slippers.

Drive The Grand Teton Scenic Loop

This 42- mile scenic loop of the Grand Tetons National Park is one of the best ways to get acquainted with the park. The drive begins as you leave Jackson and drive along US Highway 191.

You can drive the loop in either direction, but I would recommend starting near Moose, WY and then heading on Highway 191 (the outside road) towards Moulton Barn. Here you stay on the highway- stopping at some beautiful spots until you get to Moran Junction where you turn onto the second half of the loop.

Taking this direction gives you the best views- as you turn into “inner road” at the Moran Junction entrance you will be driving towards the Tetons, rather than away from them.

There are many stops on this drive, and if you stopped at all of them it could take you well over an entire day. If you wanted to just drive by and see the views it would take around an hour! You can really personalize this drive for yourself- which is wonderful!

My top favorite spots to stop are:

– Moulton Barn – An iconic barn that is perfect for sunrise photography. (Pictured first in the carousel above)

– Blacktail Ponds Overlook– another great photography spot that overlooks the river and the Tetons.

– Schwabachers Landing– A gorgeous spot for sunrise photography, here you get close to the river and can get a perfect shot of a reflection in the Tetons (pictured 3rd in the carousel above)

– Snake River Overlook– A great spot to see a beautiful bend in the Snake River in front of the Tetons. Famously photographed by Ansel Adams!

– Elk Ranch Flats Turnout– The best spot to pull off and watch the horses in front of the Tetons.

– Oxbow Bend– Beautiful mountain views by the Snake River. One of the most photographed spots in the park! (Pictured 2nd in the carousel above)

– Jackson Lake– Glacier Lake where you can go boating, fishing and swimming!

– Jenny Lake– Another glacier lake where motorized boats are allowed! Also has access to a Visitor Center, lodge and is the start of a few great hikes!

If you want more information on this road, this blog post gives all the information you could need!

Go Hiking

Hiking in the Grand Tetons National Park is a must! There is so much to explore here that getting out and seeing it on your own two feet is one of the best ways to experience this gorgeous location.

Just make sure to have bear spray on you, extra layers and a downloaded map (+all of the 10 essentials!

Some of the top hikes in Grand Tetons in the Fall are:

Delta Lake– a beautiful alpine lake. You can find more information here.

Cascade Canyon– a gorgeous canyon hike that takes you through the peaks! Find trail info here.

Static Peak Divide- a gorgeous hike that leaves from Death canyon. Best done early September before first snow. Find more info here.

Paintbrush Canyon- another gorgeous canyon hike. Can connect to cascade canyon and done as a loop! Find more info here.

Hidden Falls- moderate hike to a popular 100 ft falls with great views of Jenny Lake! Find more info here.

Watch For Wildlife

In the Fall animals are all busy preparing for Winter! This is one of the best times to see wildlife in the Grand Tetons National Park and you will run into many other animal lovers! One of the best areas to see animals is near and on Moose-Wilson road.

We drove this road multiple times a day and got a sight of some cute bears and some moose!

Get Out On The Water

There are a few gorgeous lakes in Grand Teton National Park. One of the best things you can do while exploring them is get on in! You can rent a canoe, kayak, paddle board or motorized boat or you can even take a scenic cruise on Jackson Lake (runs till mid-September).

You can rent boats at Colter Bay or at Dornans.

Explore The Town Of Jackson Hole

Just a few mile drive from Grand Teton National Park is the beautiful town of Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole has the cutest western vibes of any town I have ever been to. Here you can find great restaurants, coffee shops, and hat shops to find your own cowboy hat!

My personal favorite spots in Jackson Hole:

Snake River Roasting Company– If you are looking for somewhere to work or just grab a coffee this is a great spot right near the center of town.

Cowboy Coffee Co–A cute, cozy coffee shop with all the fun western vibes.

Teton Gravity Research– At first this looks like just your normal outdoor store but farther into the store you can find a small theater! Here you can watch some great, short outdoor films– all running on repeat and free. It’s a cool way to see the more extreme side of the Tetons.

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar– I actually haven’t gone in here but I have definitely taken photos outside with their cute sign! Go at blue hour for the best vibes.

Jackson Drug– A cute diner/ burger spot with really yummy food, also in the center of town.

Snake River Brewing– A cute and popular brewery that serves great food and even better beer.

Beaver Creek Hats & Leather– A great hat store! Makes for a fun afternoon of browsing.

Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream– Yummy, homemade ice cream. Try the huckleberry for something local!

Art Galleries– Not a specific spot but if you roam around you will find some gorgeous galleries full of paintings, photography and more! We spent a whole afternoon roaming around looking at local art.

Go Horseback Riding Near Grand Tetons National Park

If you are looking for a classic, western experience then look no further than a horseback ride through the wild west. You can find horseback riding for all levels here and there are many Dude Ranches you can even stay at! (See my list of where to stay)

Since horseback riding is extremely popular here you can find rides for most situations! From an easy 1 hour ride to an overnight packing trip- there is something for everyone.

Some of the top places to book horseback riding are:

Spring Creek Ranch– most of the rides are in the plains right in front of the Tetons so you get a wonderful view the whole time! You can book group or private rides up to 2 hours as well as pony rides here. Available through late October.

Mill Iron Ranch– Offers a wide variety of trails- including up into the mountains, to fishing streams and in the plains. Here you can find two-hour, half-day and full-day trips. Available through the end of September.

North Fork Trail Rides– Around 19 miles south from Tetons National Park, this ranch offers remote, back country rides with great possibility of seeing wildlife. With options for beginners up to more experienced riders.

Willow Creek Horseback Rides- Located in the Bridger Teton National Forest you can choose from a variety of rides. From 1 hour rides through to full day fishing rides!

Darwin Ranch– If you are looking for longer experiences you can find that here. You have the option to stay at the gorgeous lodge and immerse yourself in the “dudeing” experience. From easy rides to entire days, you can be as challenged as you want here.

Flat Creek Ranch– Another full ranch experience. This all-inclusive wilderness retreat has options for 1/2 day riding experiences. According to their website you are going through streams, up and down mountains and through some insane scenery!

Triangle X Guest Ranch- This ranch is the only operating guest ranch in the United States entire National Park system! If you want to do an overnight pack trip through the Tetons this is your spot.

Go Bike Riding

If you are looking to experience the Grand Tetons National Park at a bit of a slower pace, look no further than bike riding! You can rent a bike in town and then head off on a day long adventure.

There are specific bike paths for bikers as well as the ability to bike on the paved roads. You can check out this blog post for more specific information on the best places to bike in the Grand Tetons!

Best places to rent a bike:

– Wheel Wranglers

– Hoback Sports

– Dornans Resort

Photograph Sunrise

If you are a photographer (or even if your not!) photographing sunrise in the Grand Tetons has to be on your bucket list.

Because of the way the mountains are oriented you will find that sunrise is by far the best time to photograph is as the sun is shining on their faces rather than setting behind them.

My top favorite spots to photograph are:

Moulton Barn, Oxbow Bend, Schwabachers Landing and Elk Flats Pull off.

Take A Drive Outside The Park

While the Grand Tetons National Park is by far enough to do while you are visiting, why not take a little drive outside of the park as well? If you keep heading down highway 287 past Moran you will eventually find this gorgeous view (pictured above) behind you!

Another area we loved driving through was up Buffalo Valley road and then taking the Turpin Meadow Loop. You can start on either Forest road 30050 and head past Turpin Meadow Ranch to Buffalo Valley road or the other way!

Road Trip To See Yellowstone In The Fall

If you have enough time, it would be a shame to miss exploring Yellowstone in the Fall! Only a 45 minute drive, Yellowstone is one of the most famous national parks in all of America, and it is gorgeous in the Fall!

Go explore the geysers, see Old Faithful and watch for wildlife!

Grand Tetons In The Fall: Conclusion

I hope that you have now been convinced that vising the Grand Tetons in the Fall is a GREAT decision.

There are so many amazing experiences to check off your bucket list- from horseback riding in the back country, driving the 42 mile scenic road, hiking amongst giants and spotting beautiful wildlife.

If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear them below!

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