Just south of Yellowstone in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park features spectacular mountains that rise precipitously from the level plain of Jackson Hole. Visitors are drawn to the the national park by the simply phenomenal scenery. For those who know where to look, there is also wildlife. Hint: Drive out into Antelope Flats where there is a good chance to see bison and pronghorns. Along the Snake and Gros Ventre Rivers there are moose.
Active outdoor sports include rafting on the Snake River (including stretches of whitewater if you like), fishing, hiking and backpacking, technical mountain climbing (there's a school for that) and bicycling. In recent years, bike paths have been constructed not as a separate lane in the road but parallel to the roads. Much safer for everyone, especially young children. You can rent bikes for your family or sign up for group bike rides.
Most people, though, are content to just stop at any of the numerous pullouts to stare and the mountains and say, "Oh, my gosh!" Shirley and I are always amused by the busloads of tourists who insist on having their pictures taken as they jump up and down. Quite literally. It has become a photo cliche. But who could blame them?
In late May, the snowline still extends well down the mountainsides.
Along the trails, too.
But very quickly the wildflowers emerge. Early ones include the arrowleaf balsamroot.
Then the lupines.
By midsummer there is not much left but the heat and drought tolerant sage.
Mormon Row out in Jackson Hole was home to early settlers. By the way, the town at the south edge of the park is Jackson, WY. The Hole is the valley.
The remains of a pioneer cabin. Doesn't look like much but any realtor will tell you the three most important things are location, location, and location.
Today there are many more bison than settlers.
Photographers from all over the world look forward to visiting the Oxbow Bend of the Snake River.
Moose are frequent visitors to Gros Ventre Campground.
Sometimes they wander right through your site.
They also like the willows along the Snake River.
Pronghorns tend to hang out, where else, in Antelope Flats.
The Episcopalian Chapel of the Transfiguration was built before the park was established to serve that staff and guests at dude ranches in the area.
The window behind the altar provides this inspirational view.
Our favorite trail in the Tetons crosses this stream and climbs over
a glacial moraine to Taggart Lake.
We leave early in order to beat the other tourists to our lunch rocks on the lake.
There are times when the sky is almost as dramatic as the mountains. Almost.
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