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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (View Photos):
Immediately south of Yellowstone National Park lies the equally mesmerizing but much smaller Grand Teton National Park. The Teton mountain range rises dramatically from the broad valley of the Snake River to attain heights of well over 13,000 feet. Millions of years ago, glaciers shaped the mountains into sharp, craggy peaks and carved out steep canyons in between. The present landscape is a sight to behold for anyone fortunate enough to visit. Streams that descend from the mountains feed a series of sparkling lakes. Wildflowers grow in abundance in alpine meadows. Stretching beyond the Tetons is a sage-covered valley or plain (with the odd name of Jackson Hole) where the Snake River carves out a twisting path. The flatness of the valley is broken up by isolated, low-lying formations like Blacktail Butte and Signal Mountain.
Cottonwood trees line the edges of the river, while groves of aspen dot other parts of the valley. Evergreens cover large swaths of the mountain range. All these elements of nature support an exceptional range of wildlife that equals Yellowstone in its variety. Much of the signature wildlife found in Yellowstone is also present here - moose, elk, deer, black and grizzly bears, antelope, and bison, along with all sorts of birds and waterfowl. Any season is a wonderful time to visit this National Park. Winter is a time of solitude and silence as the Snake River valley and the rugged Tetons fall under the spell of frigid temperatures and thick snow cover. Spring and summer bring beautiful wildflowers that carpet lush green alpine meadows and the valley. Fall presents a dazzling display of autumn color courtesy of deciduous trees like cottonwood and aspen.
Depending on whether you're hiking on the level ground of the valley or along rugged mountain trails, the hikes here are either very easy or quite strenuous. Ansel Adams took a number of famous photographs within the park although just about anyone with a camera can take stunning pictures surrounded by scenery like this. The fact that there are no foothills to interfere with one's view of the mountains makes this one of the more scenic places in the American West if not the world. Indeed, Grand Teton National Park is a truly spectacular amalgamation of the vertical (represented by the Teton mountains) and the horizontal (represented by the Snake River Valley). But the park serves as more than just first-rate postcard subject matter; it's a wildlife sanctuary and a priceless ecological treasure.
Recommended Day Hikes:
Death Canyon
Round Trip Length: 8 miles
Trailhead location: Take the Moose Wilson Rd. and then take your first right after 2-3 miles. Drive up this road,
following signs to Death Canyon trailhead. The last half of this road is gravel
Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
Attractions: Great views of Phelps Lake and the granite crags of Death Canyon
String Lake
Round Trip Length: 3.3 miles
Trailhead location: Turn on to North Jenny Lake Junction off the Teton Park Rd. and drive to the parking area
near String Lake
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: Under the gaze of tall mountain peaks, this trail makes a loop around String Lake, offering nice
views of Mt. Moran
Amphitheater Lake
Round Trip Length: 11 miles
Trailhead location: Taggart Lake Trailhead just off the Teton Park road
Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
Attractions: Beautiful alpine lake surrounded by pine tress and granite. Panoramic views of Jackson Hole
Snake River (unofficial trail)
Round Trip Length: as long as you like
Trailhead location: Just north of Glacier View Turnout on the main park road (highway 191/26/89) is a gravel road
called Schwabacher Rd. Turn right onto Schwabacher Rd. and drive slightly less than a mile to a small parking lot. Just
find an unofficial footpath along the banks of the Snake River (these are usually paths used
by anglers) and take a stroll in either direction. Be careful not to disturb vegetation and stay on paths
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: Enjoy idyllic views of the cottonwood-lined snake river, with the Teton range acting as a backdrop
Recommended Points of Interest:
Signal Mountain (a road leads up this mountain to stunning views of Jackson Hole, the Gros Ventre Range,
and the Tetons), Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Wilow Flats (accessed from Jackson Lake Lodge), Blacktail Butte (accessed
via the Gros Ventre Road), various scenic turnouts along highway 191/26/89 most notably Oxbow Bend, Snake River overlook,
and Blacktail Ponds overlook. Take a guided float trip along the snake river with a local outfitter. A highly
recommended 2-day hike is the Cascade Canyon/Paintbrush Canyon loop (round-trip distance about 22 miles)
Helpful travel tips and observations
There are black and grizzly bears in the park, so carry bear spray and hike in a group if possible. Make sure you educate
yourself about wilderness etiquette and wildlife (preferably at a vistor center) before setting foot on one of the
hiking trails. Bison and elk are dangerous, do not approach them. Avoid summer crowds and traffic jams; visit
during the fall or spring. Winter is also a wonderful time of the year but requires a fair amount of
advance planning and logistics. More information: http://www.nps.gov/grte/
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Aspens, Death Canyon trail, (September 2006)
Alpine scenery, Death Canyon trail (September 2006)
Aspen grove at peak fall color near Jackson Lake Junction, (September 2006)
Quaking aspens, Phelps Lake, (September 2006)
Cottonwoods along the snake river with Tetons as a backdrop, (September 2006)
Climbers Ranch near Cottonwood Creek, (September 2006)
Fall foliage, Death Canyon trail, (September 2006)
String Lake trail (September 2006)
