Grand Tetons: Experience a premier scenic loop

The premier route for experiencing the Tetons is the 42-mile Scenic Loop Drive, which combines the inner Teton Park Road and US Highway 191 to form a spectacular panoramic tour. While the loop can easily be driven in a single day, spending two to three days exploring the trails, side roads, and overlooks, will allow you to experience the Tetons from different perspectives.

We downloaded the GuideAlong Grand Teton audio tour, and followed the narrator’s recommended stops along the loop. The GuideAlong app, at $25 for Tetons and Yellowstone, was easily the best investment we made along the journey, as the well-informed guide mentioned which places we “really should stop at” and those we could skip if we wanted.

Hikes in the Tetons

The Tetons have more than 200 miles of trails (320+ km), ranging from easy lakeshore walks to strenuous alpine routes. Three of the parks most rewarding hikes are Jenny Lake, Phelps Lake, and the Swan Lake & Heron Pond Trail, each showcasing the dramatic scenery and natural beauty that make the Tetons a hiking destination.

We hiked all three of these easy to moderate trails and would say my favorite was Swan Lake & Heron Pond, followed by Phelps Lake and then Jenny Lake. (Don’t get me wrong, Jenny Lake is amazing and you should definitely put on your list—it’s that the other two were beautiful, and we only passed a couple of hikers on each.)

Jenny Lake

One of the park’s most iconic destinations, Jenny Lake sits at the base of the dramatic Teton Range. Trails showcase the crystal-clear water, towering peaks, expansive views, and scenic waterfalls. If you only have time for one hike in the park, this would be the one. Routes include walking the lakeshore trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, or taking the boat shuttle across the lake (seasonal) and hiking to those destinations before returning by shuttle or on foot.

Jenny Lake — 2-6 miles depending on the route chosen.

Phelps Lake

Phelps lakes is a beautiful alpine lake near the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve that offers a quieter atmosphere than Jenny Lake and excellent opportunities to spot moose, (we had to wait for a moose to finish lunch and move off the trail.)

The hike is 6–7-mile loop and that goes through forest to the lake and then follows the lake before looping back.

Phelps Lake, Lake Creek, and Woodland Loop— 6–7-mile loop.

Swan Lake & Heron Pond

This is a gentle nature walk in Colter Bay that starts out along Jackson Lake with stunning views of the Tetons and then heads out to Heron Lake—more stunning views—and then to Swan Lake where you can see all sorts of bird life, like Trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and American coots.

Swan Lake and Heron Pond Trail — 3–4-mile loop.

Side trips off the loop

If you have the GuideAlong audio tour you’ll notice that the narrator recommends a few side trips along the loop. We took most of his recommendations. Three of our favorites were the Jenny Lake Loop, Cunningham Cabin historic site and Signal Mountain Summit Road.

Jenny Lake Loop Road

As we exited from the Jenny Lake area, our audio guide instructed us to take the one-way Jenny Lake Loop Road back to Jenny Lake, and we were glad we did, as we never would have thought to do so. The easy, 10-mile loop drive took us out to String Lake for another fantastic view of the Cathedral Group.

We continued north to cross Jackson Lake Dam and then turned south back toward Jackson, stopping at a few attractions along the way, including Cunningham Cabin, where we got a glimpse of what life might have been like for the early homesteaders in the 1890s.

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site

In the 1880s, John and Margaret Cunningham staked a claim for the Bar Flying U Ranch and in 1888 built an Appalachian style cabin, commonly called “double-pen” or “dog-trot.” They lived in the cabin until 1895 when the Cunninghams finished their main residence. The original cabin later became a smithy and barn. You can read more of John Cunningham’s story. My favorite picture of the trip was taken here.

The cabin is located right off highway 191 near the eastern boundary of the park. It’s a short walk to the cabin, but there are other trails if you want to extend your visit.

Cunningham Cabin—about 0.2 miles.

Signal Mountain Summit Road

A narrow winding drive off Teton Park Road takes you to the summit, where there are two overlooks with panoramic views of the entire Jackson Hole valley and the Teton Range. It’s worth the making the trip up on a clear day. Turn off of the Teton Park Road at the Signal Mountain Summit Road. The road is a winding but easy climb, about 20 minutes one-way.

Sunset in the park

From Jackson, you can take an hour-long drive that is perfect for sunset. There are three stops along this route that provide chances to see wildlife and take great sunset pictures.

From Jackson, head to the Gros Ventre river and pull out to look for wildlife at the river. Next, you’ll mosey on to Mormon Row (via the settlement of Kelly) where you can explore rustic homesteads and barns built by Mormon settlers in the 1890s. The spot is well-known for its unobstructed views of the Tetons.

Head on to the Blacktail Ponds overlook where you may see more wildlife and hopefully a beautiful sunset. From here you can head back to Jackson on the main road.