Grand Teton National Park

ONE DAY itinerary for adventuring in Grand Teton National Park including Bridger – Teton National Forest and some stops you must see along the way.

Fall is a great time to visit two of the most famous national parks – Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. With changing aspen tree leaves and elk in their bugle season.

If you are driving to the park I suggest taking Highway 191 and stop in Pinedale, Wyoming first! Driving across the country from Pennsylvania took us about 3 days to get to the lovely and quaint town of Pinedale which is south of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, WY.

Pinedale is a small fly fishing town, located by the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We stopped here for a night and toured the town. Quilt shops, fly shops, beautifully painted wall morals, and great food!

\\ PINEDALE, WYOMING //

Upon arriving in Pinedale it was a much needed relief and relaxation from our long journey west in the pickup truck.

\\ Sundance Motel //

Choosing to stay at the Sundance Motel was a nice change from the other hotels and motels along the way in our travels. Large two bedroom rooms with kitchen amenities and within walking distance of the many of the shops and restaurants in town.

Lots of room for all of our bags and here we reorganized the whole truck bed + gear.

\\ BRIDGER – TETON NATIONAL FOREST //

One of the must sees and dos around Pinedale is take a ride up to Sandy Beach Swim & Picnic Area located within the Bridger – Teton National Forest.

\\ FREDMONT LAKE //

Swim. BBQ. Relax on the beautiful rock sandy beaches of Fredmont Lake and take in the beautiful scenery!

Fredmont Lake is the second largest natural lake in Wyoming.

12 miles long and 1/2 mile wide and the 7th deepest lake in the country (610 feet)!

The aspens were changing color this time of year and were stunning against the lake water.

Recreational activities on the lake include:

• Fishing
• Sailing
• Water Sports

\\ WIND RIVER BREWERY //

Delicious food and even better beverages!

\\ TWO RIVERS FISHING CO //

Multiple fly shops and guides to accompany you on some excellent trout waters around Pinedale.

The sides of some of the buildings in town were painted with stunning murals. This one of the trout caught my eye, we had to take pictures with it!

HIGHLY suggest spending some time around Pinedale! We loved it and can’t wait to go back!

From Pinedale we continued north to JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING.

Staying one night in Jackson Hole at the SUPER 8 JACKSON HOLE by Wyndham. FREE POPCORN and clean rooms!

We spend half a day exploring the town of Jackson Hole (the touristy stuff- shopping and spending money on souvenirs) and dining when we first arrived.

The following day we spent the ENTIRE day in Grand Teton National Park driving through + hiking some areas.

ONE DAY ITINERARY exploring Grand Teton National Park:

\\ JACKSON NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY //

Before actually getting into the park we stopped along the way at the Jackson National Fish Hatchery in the National Elk Refuge.

This was interesting and neat for us to see the differences in our local hatchery to a national hatchery as well as our love for fly fishing and trout! I am of a fisheries background and trout restoration as well as growing up next to a fish hatchery for most of my life, SOOO this was extra cool to me personally!

This hatchery is the breeding ground and home to Snake River Cutthroat Trout.

Jackson National Fish Hatchery produces close to 200,000 Snake River cutthroat trout averaging 7 inches for Federal, State, and Tribal waters in Wyoming and Idaho. 

\\ SLEEPING INDIAN POND //

Sleeping Indian Pond on hatchery grounds is very popular for public fishing enjoyment.

The snake river cutthroat trout swimming around in the crystal clear water and feeding on the surface bugs.

The 1/2 acre pond has a disability accessible observation/fishing deck that is available to anglers daily from 8 am to 4pm. Wyoming fishing regulations apply with a one fish limit per license.

After spending about an hour touring the raceways and watching the trout swim around we then continued the venture north on Highway 191 through the Grand Teton National Park.

\\ SIGNAL MOUNTAIN – Grand Teton National Park //

From Jackson Hole traveling north we took highway 191 to Moose Junction turning left to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.

From there we gained our park pass at the entrance to the park. Getting our senior discount thanks to dear old dad!

Our destination first was Signal Mountain. Visiting the park with “older” (sorry mom + dad) family members that can’t hike as long as they used to (due to medical issues) makes for seeing the park through more drive-able locations.

Signal mountain was perfect for us because you can drive right to the top and hike out the short trail to the overlook and still get the scenery and experience !

You can either park at the Signal Mountain Parking Lot, and HIKE the Signal Mountain Trail which is 6.8 miles and winds up a forested mountainside to the summit of Signal Mountain.

OR

DRIVE the whole way up to the top via the Summit Road turning off of the Teton Park Road.

\\ BREATHTAKING VIEW OF JACKSON LAKE //

Signal Mountain offers panoramic views of Jackson Lake & the Tetons.

\\ SIGNAL MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE //

While on the summit of Signal Mountain we were graced with two high flying Bald Eagles!

On the way back down the mountain we saw grouse and mule deer. While having the window down taking in the pine smell and fresh air, a bull elk BUGLING could be heard!

Mule deer in the fall foliage while coming down the mountain.

\\ JENNY LAKE – Grand Teton National Park //

On my list for visiting the Grand Teton National Park was taking a boat ride across Jenny Lake to Inspiration Point.

There are several different hikes to do around Jenny Lake:

• Inspiration Point
• Hidden Falls
• Cascade Canyon

On this trip we did not get to do this! Which was a real bummer. The parking lot was overflowing and the lines were just too long.

We chose to keep adventuring through the park and take in the mountain range and spend some time relaxing on the shores of Jackson Lake.

\\ JACKSON LAKE – Grand Teton National Park //

Across the road from the Signal Mountain Trial head along the Teton Park Road is a non crowded place to park to access Jackson Lake beach.

For a fee you can even kayak/boat on the beautiful lake! Be sure to know the guidelines and always clean off your boat to stop invasive aquatic species!

Spending time relaxing and listening to the calming waves roll in and view of the massive Tetons was a great and memorable time.

Colorful rock beaches of Jackson Lake.

\\ GRAND TETONS //

Over 100 million years ago tectonic plates collided bowing up a huge and vast block of sedimnetary rock. But 10 million years ago the Teton fault generated massive earthquakes which caused these giant and jagged mountains to rise while the valley floor dropped.

Most of the jagged peaks are name:

• Rendezvous Mountain ( 10450′)
• Mount Hunt
• Prospectors Mountain
• Static Peak
• Buck Mountain (11938′)
• South Teton (12514′)
• Middle Teton (12804′)
• GRAND TETON (13770′)
• Mount St. John
• Rockchuck Peak
• Mount Moran (12605′)
• Bivouac Peak

\\ South Teton and Middle Teton //

Driving down the Teton Park Road and gazing at the giant peaks. Pictures just can not do this mountain range justice. Big and beautiful and full of history.

\\ GRAND TETON //

\\ JACKSON LAKE DAM //

The snake river meets Jackson Lake at the dam overlooked by the high peaks of the Teton Mountain Range.

\\ GAZING AT THE SNAKE RIVER //

The Snake River is beautiful and full of trout which flows along the highway.

We followed the Snake River back down 191 back to Jackson Hole.

Very glad we spent that particular day in the Tetons because the very NEXT DAY on our way to Yellowstone National Park through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Highway – a huge snow storm came in with heavy clouds totally blocking out the mountains! So glad we didn’t wait!

Comment and subscribe if you loved our adventure through Pinedale, Jackson Hole, Bridger – Teton National Forest, and the Grant Teton National Park itself! We love to hear about your trip there or help you plan one!

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