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Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone route inspiration

Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone

Elk sleighs, Teton snow and winter Old Faithful

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7 days through Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Yellowstone.

Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone is a 7-day curated route with 3 destinations and 22 places to eat, see, and do. Plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Grand Teton National Park on the Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone route

    Destination 01

    Grand Teton National Park

    6 places

    The Teton Range above the snowy valley of Jackson Hole; 1–2 days for overlooks and ski trails.

    • Snake River Overlook

      Pullout on US-89 above a bend of the Snake River, where Ansel Adams photographed the Tetons in 1942.

      Tip Come at sunrise, when the peaks turn pink; the highway is plowed all winter.

      SeeFree30 minSunrise
    • Teton Park Road winter trail near Grand Teton National ParkPhoto: GrandTetonNPS · Public domain

      Teton Park Road winter trail

      The park road from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain closes to cars in winter and is groomed for skiing and snowshoeing.

      Tip Grooming usually runs mid-December to mid-March; there is a separate lane for walkers, snowshoers and dogs.

      DoMooseFree3 hrMidday
    • Mormon Row near Grand Teton National ParkPhoto: Eric Kilby · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Mormon Row

      Row of 1890s homesteads east of Blacktail Butte, including the much-photographed Moulton barns facing the Tetons.

      Tip The access road is not plowed to the barns in winter, so plan to ski, snowshoe or walk in.

      SeeAntelope FlatsFree1.5 hrMorning
    • Chapel of the Transfiguration near Grand Teton National ParkPhoto: GrandTetonNPS · Public domain

      Chapel of the Transfiguration

      Log chapel built in 1925 near Moose, with a window behind the altar that frames the Grand Teton.

      Tip Services are held in summer; in winter you can still walk the grounds.

      SeeMooseFree20 minMorning
    • Oxbow Bend near Grand Teton National ParkPhoto: Watts · CC BY 2.0

      Oxbow Bend

      Slow bend of the Snake River near Moran with Mount Moran rising behind it, one of the park's classic views.

      Tip The turnout is on the highway east of Jackson Lake Junction, which is plowed all winter.

      SeeMoranFree30 minMorning
    • Grand Teton near Grand Teton National ParkPhoto: GrandTetonNPS · Public domain

      Grand Teton

      At 13,775 feet, the highest peak of the Teton Range, rising about 7,000 feet straight from the valley floor.

      Tip Clear mornings after a storm give the sharpest views of the range.

      SeeFree30 minSunrise
  2. 2
    Jackson on the Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone route

    Destination 02

    Jackson

    9 places

    Western town at the south end of the valley; 2–3 nights for elk, skiing and the Town Square.

    • National Elk Refuge

      Refuge on the edge of Jackson where thousands of elk spend the winter on open, snowy meadows.

      Tip Drive the refuge road north of town for bighorn sheep on the cliffs as well.

      OutdoorsFree60 minMorning
    • Elk Refuge sleigh ride near JacksonPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie · Public domain

      Elk Refuge sleigh ride

      Horse-drawn sleigh rides out among the wintering elk, leaving from the visitor center on North Cache Street.

      Tip Buy tickets at the visitor center; rides usually run from mid-December into early April.

      Do$$60 minMorning

    • Town Square

      Jackson's central park, entered under four arches made of shed elk antlers that are strung with lights in winter.

      Tip Come after dark during the holidays, when the arches and trees are lit.

      SeeDowntownFree30 minAfter dark
    • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort near JacksonPhoto: Lawvol · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

      Steep ski area above Teton Village with more than 4,000 feet of vertical and an aerial tram to Rendezvous Mountain.

      Tip Ride the tram even if you don't ski Corbet's Couloir, and get a waffle at Corbet's Cabin at the top.

      DoTeton Village$$$$6 hrMorning

    • Snow King Mountain

      Jackson's town ski hill since 1939, rising straight from the edge of downtown, with night skiing.

      Tip A good choice for a half day or an evening session when the big resort is busy.

      DoDowntown$$$3 hrEvening
    • National Museum of Wildlife Art near JacksonPhoto: Daniel Mayer · CC BY-SA 3.0

      National Museum of Wildlife Art

      Museum of wildlife painting and sculpture built into a hillside directly across from the Elk Refuge.

      Tip The terrace looks out over the Elk Refuge; bring binoculars.

      See$$1.5 hrAfternoon
    • Million Dollar Cowboy Bar near JacksonPhoto: Leonard J. DeFrancisci · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

      Western bar on Town Square with saddles for bar stools, live country music and a dance floor.

      Tip Come on a live-music night, when the dance floor fills up.

      DrinkDowntown$$1.5 hrNight

    • Mangy Moose

      Teton Village saloon and restaurant at the base of the tram, a Jackson Hole après-ski fixture since the 1960s.

      Tip Live bands play in the saloon on many winter nights.

      EatTeton Village$$1.5 hrAprès-ski
    • The Wort Hotel near JacksonPhoto: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0

      The Wort Hotel

      Downtown hotel from 1941, home of the Silver Dollar Bar with its bar top inlaid with silver dollars.

      StayDowntown$$$$
  3. 3
    Yellowstone on the Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone route

    Destination 03

    Yellowstone

    7 places

    Geysers, steam and wildlife reached by snowcoach; 2–3 nights at Old Faithful and Mammoth.

    • Old Faithful near YellowstonePhoto: YellowstoneNPS · Public domain

      Old Faithful

      Yellowstone's best-known geyser, erupting about every 60 to 110 minutes; in winter the plume of steam towers over the snow.

      Tip Rangers post the next predicted eruption at the visitor center and the Snow Lodge.

      SeeUpper Geyser BasinFree60 minMorning
    • Old Faithful Snow Lodge near YellowstonePhoto: Yellowstone National Park · Public domain

      Old Faithful Snow Lodge

      The main winter lodging in Yellowstone's interior, a short walk from Old Faithful and reached only by snowcoach or snowmobile.

      Tip Rent skis or snowshoes at the lodge for the trails around the geyser basin.

      StayUpper Geyser Basin$$$$

    • Grand Prismatic Spring

      The largest hot spring in the United States, in Midway Geyser Basin; in winter its steam drifts over the Firehole River.

      Tip Most snowcoach routes between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone stop here.

      SeeMidway Geyser BasinFree45 minMidday
    • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone near YellowstonePhoto: Yellowstone National Park · Public domain

      Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

      Yellow-walled canyon where the 308-foot Lower Falls builds a huge cone of ice in winter.

      Tip Snowcoach day tours from Old Faithful and West Yellowstone stop at the canyon rim overlooks.

      OutdoorsCanyonFree1.5 hrMidday
    • Mammoth Hot Springs near YellowstonePhoto: Yellowstone National Park · Public domain

      Mammoth Hot Springs

      Travertine terraces near the North Entrance, steaming and frosted in winter, with boardwalks you can walk on your own.

      Tip Elk often bed down on the lawns around the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

      OutdoorsMammothFree1.5 hrMorning
    • Lamar Valley near YellowstonePhoto: YellowstoneNPS · Public domain

      Lamar Valley

      Wide valley in northeast Yellowstone with bison, elk and the park's best chances of seeing wolves in winter.

      Tip Drive out at first light and stop wherever you see people with spotting scopes.

      OutdoorsNortheastFree4 hrDawn

    • West Yellowstone

      Montana gateway town at the West Entrance, where most snowcoach and guided snowmobile tours to Old Faithful begin.

      Tip Book a guided snowmobile or snowcoach tour ahead; private snowmobiles need a permit.

      Do$$$8 hrFull day

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone.

Land at Jackson Hole Airport, inside Grand Teton National Park, and spend the first day on the park's open winter roads: the Snake River Overlook, the Moulton barns on Mormon Row and the closed Teton Park Road, groomed for skiing and snowshoeing. Base yourself in Jackson for a horse-drawn sleigh ride among thousands of wintering elk on the National Elk Refuge, a day on the aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a night at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Then travel by snowcoach into Yellowstone, sleep at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, watch Old Faithful erupt over snow and see the frozen Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Finish at Mammoth Hot Springs and in the Lamar Valley, where winter is the best time to look for wolves.

Good for Wildlife lovers, photographers and skiers who want the Tetons and Yellowstone with snow and far fewer people than in summer.

When to go

Yellowstone's interior roads open to snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles around December 15 and close in mid-March; the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel open for winter in mid-December. Elk Refuge sleigh rides usually run from mid-December into early April, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King open in late November or early December. Jackson's Town Square arches are lit for the holidays from late November. Expect temperatures well below 0°F on clear nights in January.

Getting around

Fly into Jackson Hole (JAC) and out of Bozeman (BZN), about 1.5 hours from Gardiner and Mammoth. The airport is 15 minutes from Jackson; Teton Village is 25 minutes. US-89 through Grand Teton stays plowed in winter, but the Teton Park Road is closed to cars from November to April. In winter Yellowstone's interior roads are open only to commercial snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles: tours reach Old Faithful from West Yellowstone (about 2.5 hours from Jackson over Teton Pass and through Idaho) or from Flagg Ranch north of Grand Teton, and scheduled snowcoaches link Old Faithful with Mammoth. The road from Gardiner through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley to Cooke City is the only one in the park open to cars all winter. Rent an all-wheel-drive car with winter tires.

Tips for your crew

  • Book the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and snowcoach seats as soon as reservations open; winter capacity in Yellowstone is small.
  • Pack real cold-weather gear: insulated boots, a down parka, a balaclava and hand warmers; snowcoach stops are outdoors.
  • Bring binoculars or hire a guide for the Lamar Valley; wolves are usually spotted at a distance in the early morning.

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