Grand Teton National Park was the last leg of our Summer Trip. I was most excited to see Grand Teton. Mountain peaks and blue waters have always been a fascination of mine. When I was in grade school, in art class, all my acrylic art paintings would be of mountains and lakes.

We had planned a 2 day itinerary for Grand Teton National Park, including a long day hike to Delta Lake. However, if you read our Yellowstone (LINK) National Park Blog, you’ll know we had a major setback due to a storm. This caused us to pivot and adjust some plans. Our 2 day turned into 1 day.

Where We Stayed

Skip this section if you read the Yellowstone National Park 1 Day Itinerary blog post, although the information presented is not 100% the same. I still encourage you to read along.

Our trip was split into two, the north and west.  We had planned on staying near Emigrant, Montana since we flew into Bozeman, Montana, and exploring the northern part of Yellowstone National Park.  With the sudden closure, we did not get to explore the northern part of the park as planned, however did spend that day hiking in the Gallatin National Forest.

The second portion of the adventure, we chose to stay in Driggs, Idaho. Driggs is a small town right outside of both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.  You can see much of the Grand Teton peaks when driving on the highway! We found a condo (always our preference) that slept at least 7, was quiet, and had all the amenities we needed.  There are restaurants, bars, and a shopping center nearby as well as Grand Targhee Resort for additional outdoor adventures and sports. 

Driggs is a mere hour and a half from the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park,  and 50 minutes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Before booking our stay in Driggs, I had asked an online forum about the recommendations and most thought the mountain drive was too much. However, it was literally nothing! Perhaps, we are used to it? We don’t live in the mountains, but we do travel quite often to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and all the Sierras back home. 

So it was a perfect location for our vacation! 

The 1 Day Itinerary to Seeing the MOST of Grand Teton National Park

Now onto the best part on How to See The Most of Grand Teton National Park in just 1 Day! 

As with all of our trips whether it’s a day trip or multi day trip, we start early! This is crucial to accomplishing a lot in little time. Considering our lodging in Driggs was a mere 1 1/2 hours away, we definitely started more early than most would recommend. However, it was still doable and not an inconvenience at all. 

Entrance

There are 3 entrances to Grand Teton National Park.  With us staying in Driggs, Idaho, the Moose Entrance in the south right outside of Jackson and Jackson Hole Airport was the best option.  It also provided the quickest access to Jenny Lake, the hikes we were interested in (that we did not make it to), and other iconic sites.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake was first on our list. We wanted to spend most of our time at Jenny Lake hiking the trails and exploring. 

We ultimately chose to do the Jenny Lake Boat ride to hike to Inspiration Point since we knew crowds would increase relatively fast. Inspiration Point is extremely popular, so getting there early is key to not only safety but overall enjoyment. Solitude is hard to find these days unless you hike further or on unmarked difficult trails, therefore setting out early is important to avoid masses of people. We arrived at an opening hour and got on the second boat ride. The ride was quick and smooth. 

Hidden Falls

Once docked, we began to hike to Hidden Falls which is on the way to Inspiration Point. We almost considered skipping until we returned but I could not be more thankful we changed our minds. It was not crowded and allowed for more time to ourselves. On the way back, we did stop by and it was heavily crowded and even a bit chaotic! This is the ultimate reminder to set out early to see your favorites first to truly enjoy the scenery. 

Hidden Falls was a beautiful waterfall even on this foggy morning. The walkway takes you to immediately front and center of the fall for great photo ops. It gets quite crowded here in the afternoon and sometimes people can get quite pushy (experienced in the late afternoon).

Inspiration Point

Once we left Hidden Falls, we began the climb up to Inspiration Point. The climb consisted of climbing large steps that nearly all ages can do. The pathway is narrow but enough for 2.  Due to this narrowness and steepness, I recommend extreme caution with small children or those with unsteady feet.

Inspiration Point consisted of an amazing overlook of Jenny Lake at 7200 feet. Despite the fog that morning, it was still a thing of beauty to see. Even better we had the time to sit, relax, and enjoy the view for quite some time. 

Cascade Canyon

Once leaving Inspiration Point, we embarked on a hike through Cascade Canyon. This is a must-see, Do not miss the opportunity. Cascade Canyon was so alive with rushing water, lush greens, and granite boulders, and we even saw Moose in the distance! 

Cascade Canyon’s beauty is so tranquil, I could sit and enjoy the view all day if that was an option. We did not end up doing the whole trail which is about 9.4 miles depending on where you start and end, but went about halfway which was far enough to unearth the beauty of Grand Teton. 

During our descent back, the trail was extremely crowded as larger crowds made their climb to Inspiration Point.  A horrible accident that could only unleash more fears occurred. A gentleman in his 50s along with his family was making their way up when he stepped aside to let others pass but lost his footing, slipped, and tumbled backward head-first down the steep mountain.  Thankfully, the portion of the trail where he slipped was not an immediate drop-off.   Park medic arrived, assisted, and predicted he may have suffered a broken nose and concussion, but otherwise was able to walk back to the boat to seek care. This served as a great reminder to share the trail, but do so with the utmost safety not just for others, but also for yourself.  Always be patient on crowded trails, wait your turn, and let others pass when safe. 

Schwabacher Landing

Once we left the Jenny Lake area, we were on Highway 89 and the beautiful Teton Range was in the background.  Any stop along the road is equally beautiful. The Teton Range still had some snow on its peaks, and for me, snowy peaks always make the most scenic views!

Schwabacher Landing is a popular photo op location along the Snake River west of Hwy 89.  The dirt road will take you to a small parking lot.  The trailhead will take you as far as you want to go for that perfect Grand Teton view, but you do not need to go far for a piece of tranquility.  When the water is still, you can see the clear reflection of the Teton Range.  This is why it’s so popular for photos!

Mormon Row Historic District

What is considered the most photographic barn is here! We did not go to Sunrise or Sunset as we knew the line of photographers would be insane.  The Moulton Barn was well-kept and had the Teton Range in its background.  

Snake River Overlook

The Snake River Overlook is in the history books as the most iconic view of Grand Teton National Park.  One that was made famous by the legendary travel and landscape photographer Ansel Adam. 

If you have not heard of Ansel Adam’s, definitely look him up.  He was a pioneer in landscape photography and a great environmentalist.  He traveled and took breathtaking tonal photos (black and white) everywhere he went whether it was for work or pleasure. 

Snake River

We drove down to the river and had a snack while sitting by the river.  The water was cold and rushing.  We watched a group of whitewater rafters and their tour guide head down the river.  It was thrilling to see the preparation, the gear, and the smooth sailing. 

Jackson, Wyoming

We flew out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  We spent the time before our early evening flight home exploring the cute little shops and having lunch in Jackson.  We even had enough time to explore several of the locations earlier mentioned off of Highway 89 which was just a short way past the airport. This day was bright and sunny, almost too warm in comparison to the day before which was more cloudy throughout the day which made it for great visuals. 

We spent a little time at the Jackson National Fish Hatchery nearby before boarding our flight. 

Jackson Hole Airport was a very small airport. We got to board outside and got one last glimpse of the beautiful Teton Range. 

Grand Targhee Resort

Can’t forget to mention Grand Targhee Resort. Although the resort is not officially in Grand Teton, it offers sweeping views of the Teton Mountain Range. Grand Targhee Resort has activities for all seasons, and staying near Driggs, the resort was just a short drive away. We spent some time there hiking the rim and taking in the view.

This was one of our favorite trips in the books, and we cannot wait to return with our kids! 

You can view our trip and more here on YouTube!