Grand Teton National Park in the Winter

We are back in the United States and the top thing on our list – National Parks! Knowing we would be driving to Colorado for the holidays, we decided to alter our route this time for variety and also to avoid some bad weather. Our route from Colorado to Minnesota took us north through Wyoming and we couldn’t pass up the chance to get to Grand Teton National Park in the winter.

While Jackson Hole is a famous ski/snowboard destination, we didn’t have it in the budget this visit. Instead, our goal was to just explore Grand Teton National Park with our car and our two feet. Fine, we did enjoy some apres ski when we arrived in Jackson even though we were total posers this time. I can’t resist the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

I have lots on my list of things I want to check out here in the summer like kayaking and hiking. But I was so surprised how beautiful it was in the winter. The pictures below are all from this recent visit. I hope they inspire you to take a trip in the winter to take in the beauty.

Things to do in Grand Teton National Park in the Winter

Catch a Sunrise

The sun rises much later in the winter so seeing a sunrise isn’t as hard as you may think. We stayed in downtown Jackson and left our hotel right around 7 AM. It’s less than 30 minutes to the park entrance and there are quite a few turn offs that are perfect for watching the sunrise.

The clouds were really low when we headed out, so we didn’t think we would see the peaks. We were surprised that we still got a hint of sun with all the clouds. It was pretty incredible.

Sit and Watch the Wildlife

Visiting Grand Teton National Park in the winter means that the animals are easier to see against the white backdrop of snow. One of my highlights was seeing a Moose in the wild. I shared all about it in this post. Of course, I was having a moment and definitely wasn’t thinking about getting the camera out. You’ll just have to believe me that it happened.

We did sit for a while and stare at the herd of Bison. There were only two other cars that we saw during the sunrise timeframe in the park, so it was nice to have the space all to ourselves. If you don’t see enough inside the park, the National Elk Refuge is located between Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. You will have the chance to marvel at those amazing creatures at a few turnouts or go on a horse drawn ride through the park.

Play in the Snow

Inside the park, there are plenty of options for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. We didn’t have the gear for that on this trip, plus it was VERY cold. But I spent a while reading through the options on the park’s website here and was surprised how many tour operators there are for the winter months.

Also, like I said earlier, there is some world class skiing in the Jackson Hole area. Jackson Hole isn’t the only place to catch a lift either. There is a smaller mountain in downtown Jackson if you are looking for something a little less intimidating.

Spot the Tetons

If you are only visiting for a day or two, just prepare yourself that you may not see the main attraction of the park. Those mountain peaks hide in the clouds a lot, but it makes it even more special when you do get a glimpse.

We got lucky on this visit as we were leaving the park. The clouds were breaking a little, so we pulled back into a park road to see if we could get around the cloud cover. It happened. We found a parking lot closer to Jenny Lake with a clear view of the full range. Seeing it with my eyeballs beats any photos I’ve seen.

Hang Out in the Magical Town of Jackson

Jackson, WY is not the cheapest place to hang out. You will rub shoulders with some very wealthy people with second homes and closets filled with designer western wear. But at the same time, you will meet lots of people who love the mountains and the wide open space of Wyoming. It’s gorgeous and quaint and just a perfect town. AND they have the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar which is worth stopping at.

Where to Stay

On a Budget: We stayed at this motel and it was wonderfully cheap. I was a little afraid of what we would get for budget prices in the US, but this place was newly remodeled, clean and very comfortable. Plus, it was close to everything in town.

Budget not as strict? Being close to the ski resort is pretty amazing and this place has a great location.

How to Get There

Driving is the only mode of transport I would recommend for visiting Jackson and Grand Teton National Park in the winter. The flights are never cheap to this airport and getting around town isn’t easy. There are options for guided tours of the park and shuttles to the ski hill, but they aren’t free.

Note about Idaho: You can get to the backside of the Teton Range and stay in Idaho. There are some awesome towns there, but you risk the mountain pass being closed due to weather. Just keep that in mind.