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What better way to explore the Wild West than visiting two of the most popular national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, in Wyoming. With abundant wildlife, vast landscapes, and diverse geography and attractions, this is an ideal trip for outdoor lovers. Visiting both parks on one trip may seem like a huge undertaking, but with careful planning and these tips and suggestions in this guide, it is possible to hit up both of these stunningly-beautiful parks without feeling rushed from point A to point B.
Keep in mind that this itinerary is geared toward the Summer when the roads are open (mid-May to mid-October).
Tips:
Flight & Car Rental
Jackson, Wyoming is considered the "gateway" city for this national park adventure, and it is also the most popular option. You can also fly into Salt Lake City and drive about 5 hours to Jackson. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, I suggest flying roundtrip in and out of the Jackson Hole Airport, which is located entirely within Grand Teton National Park. From there, you can rent a car through onsite rental car companies or offsite rental car companies that offer free shuttle services. I recommend booking your rental car prior to arriving so you can research and compare prices to get the best deal.
The two parks are connected by a 31-mile scenic road, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, so having a car makes traveling easier and gives you flexibility if you have to change up your itinerary due to change in weather for example.
Entrance Fee
Both, Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP, charge an entrance fee of $35 per vehicle that is valid for 7 (consecutive) days. That is a total of $70 to visit both parks on this trip. For $10 more, you can get the America The Beautiful annual pass that is good for entry into over 2,000 sites of natural wonders in the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands system. They also offer the Annual Senior pass ($20) and Lifetime Senior pass ($80) for those age 62 or older. I always recommend the annual pass to nature lovers who love to explore multiple parks each year.
Lodging/Stay
Grand Teton
There is lodging within the park, which is great for convenience but can be quite costly. In terms of location and pricing, Jackson is a better option when visiting Grand Teton NP.
Yellowstone
If you didn't already know, Yellowstone is BIG! Like 2.2 million acres BIG. It could take weeks to fully see and explore the entire park. I suggest strategically splitting your stays in different parts of the park to reduce the amount of driving time, especially when you factor in slow traffic during peak season.
There are 9 lodges within the park (2 open through the Winter) and would really save on travel time driving in and out of the park each day. The downside to staying inside the park would be that they book up very quickly (some people start booking their stays a year in advance) and are more expensive. We chose to do more driving and stayed outside of the park.
West Yellowstone - Cozy Henrys Lake Escape
Island Park, Idaho - Cozy Cottage in the Woods
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Food
TIP: I recommend packing a lunch for each day of your trip to save time and money. If you're not keen on making your own lunches, there are plenty of local delis that you can order to-go breakfasts and sandwiches for a picnic lunch. I will list some local favorites below. This will give you the most flexibility once you're inside the park and give you more time to explore the park. Trust me, you won't want to waste precious adventure time searching for over-priced food. There is something special about stopping to have lunch on your hike, surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature and Earth's most magical natural wonders.
Grand Teton/Jackson Hole
Creekside Market & Deli - A grocery store with your basic necessities but also a liquor store and full service deli. This makes a great place to stop for grab & go breakfasts and sandwiches for hikes and picnics. They also sell bear spray here, which I definitely recommend! (I'll talk more about this later)
Persephone Bakery - A French-style bakery and coffee shop that serve handmade pastry and bread baked fresh daily. The menu is diverse and uses locally sourced ingredients. They make great sandwiches, breakfast and lunch. You can also place online orders ahead of time for convenience.
Pearl Street Market - Offering a variety of lunch takeout and grab & go options, this locally owned grocery store and deli has a diverse menu. From bahn-mi to caprese sandwiches, they have hot and cold sandwich options, suitable for eating right away or to pack for a hike.
Local Restaurant & Bar - A modern American steakhouse with specialty cuts of locally-ranched meats as well as fresh seafoods and seasonally-inspired foods. With the current COVID-19 situation, you will have to make a reservation ahead of time.
Pinky G's - A delicious pizzeria serving up the best pizza in town! It was also featured in Guy Fieri's Diner's, Drive-In's & Dives tour in 2014.
West Yellowstone
Firehole Bar-B-Que Co. - There is something about good bbq on a hiking trip to the mountains. Fresh and tasty house smoked meats served on a first come first serve basis until they sell out. Firehole Bar-B-Que Company prides themselves on the best quality meat delivered fresh daily and never frozen.
The Buffalo Bar - Rustic western-style tavern with your typical burgers, salads, beers, and bar-bites. The restaurant features a bar and slot machines, and children under 21 are allowed to dine in until 9 pm.
Wild West Pizzeria & Saloon - If you like live music performances and delicious food, this is the place to be. The fresh delicious pizzas and calzones and the laid-back atmosphere makes for a great family-friendly dinner. They also have pool tables. You can find their live music schedule on their website.
Yellowstone (in the park)
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With Yellowstone being so big, it is not uncommon to find yourself in a pickle where you run behind schedule. Whether if is from being overzealous when making the list of things to do and see or getting slowed down in traffic because of a herd of bison plodding slowly alongside the road, you can never guarantee that everything will go as planned according to schedule. If you find yourself hungry and still far from exiting the park to find food, there are always dining facilities within the park. Make sure to check the hours, seasonal closures, and reservation requirements.
Hiking/Activities
Grand Teton
Scenic Loop Drive - Enjoy a 42 mile scenic drive with multiple points of interest and stops for you to take in the views and experience the grandeur of Grand Teton National Park by car. This drive can only be done between May 1st and October 31st, as Teton Park Road is closed to vehicles for the winter season. There are three points of entry to start this drive, Moose, Moran, and Jackson Lake Junctions, and you can start anywhere. Refer to the map below.
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Kelly area - one of the main highlights in Kelly area is the Mormon Row Historic District, picturesque historic barns and old homesteads from pioneers of the western frontier.
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Horseback Riding - What better way to experience the Old West than spending it horseback riding through wildflower meadows and pristine lakes with the towering Teton peaks as a backdrop. They offer one and two hour scenic rides for all skill levels, even those who have never ridden a horse before.
Hiking
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Hidden Falls/Inspiration Point - One of the easiest and most popular trail within the park is to Hidden Falls and many continue onto Inspiration Point. This hike is about 5.5 miles and requires some uphill climbing, but everything pays off when you see the spectacular views. (tip: If you're running on tight schedule and want to save some time, take a one-way shuttle boat back across Jenny Lake. This will cut your hiking time and distance in half. You can also make it a round-trip boat ride to save even more time.
Jenny Lake Loop - A trail that wraps around Jenny Lake with views of Cascade Canyon and the Teton Range. Make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife. We were lucky and spotted a family of moose on the trail. Start at the Jenny Lake Trailhead and follow the signs for the trail. The entire loop is 7.6 miles long and could take 3-5 hours to complete.
Taggart Lake Loop - A 3.8 mile heavily trafficked trail that gives way to beautiful views of the Teton Range and Taggart Lake. This trail is relatively flat and easy in terms of intensity. The Taggart Lake Trailhead is located off of Teton Park Road. It is best to arrive early because the parking lot fills up quickly.
Yellowstone
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Old Faithful - This world-renowned geyser is a must-see. It doesn't beat Steamboat Geyser in terms of largest active geyser in the world, but the frequent (30-110 minutes) awe-inspiring eruptions average around 130 feet in height and can last between 1-5 minutes. Arrive early to beat the crowd and check with the visitors center for more accurate predictions of eruption time. Hordes of tourists and photographers line the perimeter of the Old Faithful, so if you want to get a bird's-eye view of the Upper Geyser Basin, take a mile-long hike to Observation Point.
Grand Prismatic Spring - As one of the largest hot springs in the world, 370 feet in size and deeper than the height of a 10-story building, it is bound to gather tourists from all over the world. The beautiful and fascinating rainbow waters make it one of the most photographed natural wonders of Yellowstone. The deep red, green, bright yellow, and fiery orange bands that encircle the edge of the hot springs are caused by thermophilic bacteria that thrive on the rich minerals produced by the water.
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Hayden Valley - This centrally located valley is the best place to see wildlife (safely from the car). This drive along this beautiful vast open landscape will lead you to elk, herds of bison, occasionally grizzly bear and wolf. You may even spot Canada geese, otters, pelicans, harlequin ducks, and even cutthroat trout in the Yellowstone River. There are numerous turnouts along the road that offer views of the valley floor and Yellowstone River for photo ops.
Hiking Fairy Falls - Hike 4.5 miles through a lodgepole pine forest to a 200-feet waterfall. The trail is very flat and easy. This is a great spot to enjoy a snack or picnic with a spectacular view of the falls.
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Mystic Falls - This fairly short, 2.4 mile, out and back trail takes between two and four hours to complete. This trail takes you through mixed conifer forestry and a creek before reaching a 70-foot waterfall, Mystic Falls, cascading down a rocky landscape.
Canyon Rim South (Artist Point, Uncle Tom's, and Upper Falls) - What better way to experience the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone than hiking the rim of it. The canyon was formed by erosion as the Yellowstone River flowed and carved the rocks over many years. There are many overlooks along the rim for views of the falls up close and from afar.
Mount Washburn Trail - Up for a more challenging hike? Starting at the Dunraven Pass Trailhead, you can begin your ascend to Mount Washburn. With a total of 1,400 feet in elevation gain and a peak elevation of 10,243 feet, this 6-mile out and back trail gives way to spectacular panoramic views. In the springtime, the trail is lined with beautiful wildflowers. Keep in mind that this is a strenuous hike and there are often afternoon storms, so start early and bring plenty of water and salty snacks.
Bear Spray
Keep in mind that Wyoming is bear country, home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Bear spray is a very effective deterrent when it comes to aggressive and charging bears. You can rent bear spray at the Jackson Hole Airport or purchase it from local stores near the parks. Since you will be sharing space with these giant omnivores, it pays to learn basic bear safety and etiquette which I will link here.
Wyoming is home to two of the most beautiful and diverse national parks in America. I hope you find this blog post to be informative and helpful while you plan your getaway to the backcountry. I am so sorry that I took so long to finish this blog. As many of you may know through my Instagram feed and stories, I got a puppy! She is a German Shepherd and is a HANDFUL, so "me time" is hard to come by, let alone blogging time. She is worth it though. If you have any questions or need more suggestions, shoot me a message and I will respond as soon as I can! Stay safe and happy traveling!
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