Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is located directly south of Yellowstone National Park near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

There are several campgrounds within Grand Teton National Park. We stayed at Colter Bay RV Park.

Site Review:

Colter Bay RV Park is the only full-service campground within the park. Most of the sites are pull-thru. You do not pick your site when booking. You provide information about your equipment and a site is assigned to you. We were assigned site #N103Most sites are uneven and require some degree of levelling.

We had requested a site as close to the beach area as possible. This request was accommodated, but it wasn’t until we arrived that we became aware that there are no sites directly accessible to the beach.  What you get are sites that are close to the path, which takes you to the road, which you cross to then access the parking area, which ultimately takes you to the beach.

It’s an easy walk- even if laden with all the beach paraphernalia a family might tote. We could easily carry our kayaks from our site and put them in at Jackson Lake. It should be noted that the beach is a “glacial beach” and instead of sand, it is all gravel and rock. In my opinion, the sites at Colter Bay RV Park are fairly expensive. They average about $69USD a night. You have full hook-ups but you can not have campfires. The bathrooms are dated and offer only toilet facilities. If you want a shower you needed to go over to Colter Bay Village. 

You can walk to this area from the campground by using a connecting path, but I expect that most people would probably drive. Laundry facilities are located in the same area.

Colter Bay Campground:

Colter Bay RV Park (marked as ‘trailer village’ on the above map) is directly beside another campground area called the Colter Bay campground (marked as ‘campground’ on the above map). It looks farther apart on this map, but a short walking path joins the 2 campgrounds.

There are some non-serviced, as well as electric sites at the Colter Bay Campground, and it is equally close to the beach area. The sites in the Colter Bay Campground are large and offer better privacy than the sites in Colter Bay RV Park.

The nightly rate for an electric site in the Colter Bay Campground is about $50 USD. You are permitted to have campfires. You still have to travel to Colter Bay Village to access the paid shower facilities. 

Activities:

Grand Teton National Park tends to be overshadowed by Yellowstone National Park, which is located right next door. Grand Teton though is jam-packed with attractions and activities as well. 

Teton Mountain Range

The main feature is the Teton mountain range.  It dominates all areas of the park. The main peaks are Grand Teton,  Middle Teton,  South Teton and Mt. Moran. Grand Teton is the highest at 13770 ft.

Snake River tours:

An activity that we chose to enjoy was the Snake River Zodiak tour. We chose to go on the 6 am tour with the hope of catching sight of some wildlife. Grand Teton National Park is home to bison, deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose as well as an assortment of birds of prey like the Bald eagle and the Osprey.

There are bears as well- both Grizzly and Black. Bears are so prevalent in the park that it is inadvisable to venture anywhere without carrying bear spray. You can purchase bear spray at multiple areas within the park including the Visitor Centres.

The Snake River Zodiak tour met at Jackson Lake Lodge. We were shuttled to the river and divided into groups of 8. The guide was informative as well as entertaining. Early morning is a good time to travel the river since it is so quiet. The views are stunning.

Biking:

Another activity that we chose to do while we were at Grand Teton National Park, was cycling along the path from the Windy Point Turnout to Jenny Lake.

To access this area we drove our car and parked in the adjacent lot. This area was too far from the Colter Bay Village area to comfortably bike for us.  As it was, the round trip on this section of the path was about 20 km. The path is relatively flat. It is safe for families and runs parallel to the mountains. This was my idea of mountain biking!

Scenic Drive:

We also did a driving tour around the park. We visited the Craig Thomas Discovery Visitor Centre, as well as the picturesque Mormon Row area. The T.A Moulton Barn (pictured below) found at this historic homesteading site in Grand Teton National Park just might be one of the most photographed barns in the world.

Horseback Riding Tours:

Another activity that you could participate in during a visit to Grand Teton National Park is a horseback riding tour (these can incorporate breakfast or lunch). Information on specific tours and times can be arranged at the visitor centres.

Water Activities:

Boating and fishing are popular activities. You can rent motorboats, canoes, and kayaks at the Colter Bay Village Marina. You can also take a cruise on Jenny Lake. We went to the information booth in Colter Bay Village to get the details of various tours and to make reservations. You would be wise to pre-book tours especially if you want a specific day and time, or if you have a large group to accommodate.  

The Colter Bay Village area was the main area for us. We enjoyed a short film at the Visitor Centre, a nice dinner at the Colter Bay Village Restaurant, and an informative presentation at the amphitheatre.

Had we ventured out later in the evening, we could have stargazed through large telescopes that were brought in and available to try free of charge.

Things to Know:

1. Grand Teton National Park does not offer all the bells and whistles of Yellowstone National Park and I think because of this it tends to be overlooked by the masses, thus making it a much more relaxing, easier-paced alternative.
2. The shower situation is inconvenient.
3. The views are stunning
4. The roads are paved and easy to navigate for all rigs.
5. There are several Visitor Centres located within Grand Teton, including the ones at Jenny Lake and Colter Bay. Also, there is the Craig Thomas Visitor Centre located 1/2 a mile from Moose Junction, which would be considered the main centre with a nice variety of displays.
6. Park entrance fees are $30 USD for a 7-day pass for Grand Teton National Park alone. You can also get a combination Grand Teton/Yellowstone 7-day pass for $50 USD per vehicle.
7. If fishing is an activity you wish to enjoy,  you would need a Wyoming fishing licence. These can be purchased at multiple places within the park. It should be noted that a separate fishing permit is required if you also plan to visit and fish at Yellowstone National Park.

IMO:

I thoroughly enjoyed Grand Teton National Park. It was a relief from the incredibly busy Yellowstone. The views were stunning and the amenities that were offered throughout the park were well-maintained and enjoyable.

The tours were first-rate and easy to access. We only spent a couple of days here but could have easily spent more. It was a nice place to relax and soak up some nature.

If visiting Grand Teton National Park again, I would be more inclined to stay at the Colter Bay Campground though, rather than at the Colter Bay  RV Park.

I think that the Colter Bay Campground is a better value while still being close to the amenities of the Colter Bay Village area. The campground, while nowhere near as busy as the ones in nearby Yellowstone National Park, does still fill up-, especially during peak times.