I came out this way for Yellowstone, but I came back obsessed with the Grand Tetons.

I only gave myself 1 full day in the park, and if I was going to do it again, I would’ve added on a 2nd day to spend more time exploring the hikes and lakes of the park.

One of the best things I did on this trip was keep myself on East Coast Time. This meant that I was easily able to wake up and get to the park for the sunrise. It also gave me an opportunity to get a parking spot at Jenny Lake (even after I had already hiked the Taggart Lake loop).

Taggart Lake Trailhead is the first parking lot you encounter as you drive into the park. When I arrived just after sunrise, there were only a few other cars in the lot. Traveling alone, I actually was hoping for more people so that I could have some bear protection, but I decided that I would just have to sing as I hiked to keep them at bay – and it seemed to work. My apologies to the bears and any other hikers that had to listen to my lovely singing voice. The 3 mile loop takes you by some beautiful vistas of the Grand Tetons as well as, of course, Taggart Lake. I’ve heard that you can swim here, but I’ve heard the water is pretty cold, and since it was early morning when I did the hike, I was happy to just enjoy the morning light reflecting off the mountains and water.

When I planned my Grand Teton day, I wasn’t planning on visiting Jenny Lake because I didn’t think that I would be able to get a parking spot. I’m not one for crowds, so I figured that I could find other hikes and adventures away from the masses, but when I drove by and saw that the parking lot wasn’t full yet, I couldn’t resist checking it out. I decided to take the ferry across the lake & then hike up to Inspiration Point before taking a ferry back. If I didn’t already complete a 3 mile hike, I would’ve probably hiked around the lake to Inspiration Point, but as it was, I was happy to sit down and relax for a little. The line to get on the ferry was already long when I got there (before the first ferry at 10am), and was exceeding long when I got back. So if this spot is a must on your itinerary, you have to plan to get there early.

Inspiration Point is a short hike, but it was definitely more challenging than the Taggart Lake loop. The trail took me by a beautiful waterfall, up a craggily path to & the aptly named vista. I enjoyed seeing the ferry and the few kayaks in Jenny Lake from above. Popular spots are popular for a reason, so I would include Jenny Lake on your itinerary if you’re able to.

After 2 hikes, I was ready to do some sitting, so I decided to drive up to the Signal Mountain Summit. I didn’t have any real mountain hikes in my itinerary, so I enjoyed being able to get the bird’s eye vistas without the mountain climb. There is very little parking at the summit, but people don’t tend to spend much time up there, so the turn over is pretty quick. After the summit, I made a quick stop at the Jackson lake dam before finding a lunch spot.

By the afternoon, I was ready to cool off, so it was time to head to String/Leigh Lake. This was the most challenging place for me to find parking, and unlike at Jenny Lake, the park staff doesn’t let anyone park along the road outside of the parking lot. They also stop people from entering the lot when it’s full, so you have to wait for a car to exit before you’re let in. I was hoping this meant there would be a parking spot free when I got into the lot, but nope – it was probably about another 15 minutes of circling & waiting & fighting for spots before I finally got one.

People come to String Lake to not only swim, but to float. People bring their kayaks/canoes/blowup floats & spend the day picnicking underneath the grand scale of the mountains. It was a beautiful vista, and if I was to plan this trip again, I would join them in this endeavor. I might also make the effort to hike to the less popular Leigh Lake, but after an exhausting morning, I just wanted to find a shady spot to read and swim. Mission Accomplished.

The next morning had me driving through Grand Teton National Park to get to Yellowstone, so I made sure to give myself the opportunity to take in the sunrise at Mormon Row. I was one of many set up to watch the sun make its way over the plains to shine its light on the old barn structures of Mormon Row and the Tetons. You’ve all seen the picture, but it is still worth it to see it in person.

After the sunrise, my drive out of the Tetons gave me my first buffalo sightings for the trip – there would be many more to come in Yellowstone – and lovely views of the Snake River where I got to see people fishing, birds circling, and my final glimpse at the beautiful Teton range. Goodbye for now, hopefully.

If you have any suggestions for my next Teton adventure, send me a message.