Best Places to Photograph Grand Teton National Park

There are so many amazing places to photograph Grand Teton National Park to capture the jagged peaks of the mountains complimented by the surrounding landscape and wildlife.

Use this Grand Teton National Park guide and the list of photo spots below to create your itinerary.

We share the best photo spots at Grand Teton for sunrise and sunset, where to photograph wildlife, and recommended camera gear for taking amazing photos at Grand Teton National Park!

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Camera Gear for Landscape Photography

• Tripod: take a look at these compact and lightweight travel tripods!
• Camera Bag: protect your camera from sand and water → We use Lowepro camera backpacks for outdoor photography.
• Neutral density filter: to compensate for variance of light you’ll need to use a neutral density filter. → Check out the Kase magnetic filters we use!
• Camera cleaning kit: remove dust or water that WILL get on your lens. NOTE: this is not for cleaning the sensor.  
• Memory cards: purchase name brand memory cards since you’re trusting your images to the card! → We use Lexar and Sandisk!
• External hard drive: copy photos to a portable external hard drive ‘just in case’. 
• Headlamp: use when taking sunrise and sunset photos!

Camera Gear at B&H Photo

A Photo Tour of Grand Teton National Park

Take a visual tour through Grand Teton National Park to see the stunning landscape and wildlife you’ll find in the park!

Grand Teton Photo Spots Map

Use the map of Grand Teton photo spots to navigate through the park.

Photographing the Seasons at Grand Teton

The different seasons at the park provide an added element to your photos of the Tetons.

• Late Spring & Early Summer: the foliage is a vibrant green, the wildflowers are in bloom, the mountains are snow-capped and the wildlife is abundant: Grand Teton National Park in the Spring and Grand Teton National Park in Summer

• Grand Teton in the Fall: there’s an explosion of bright colors on the trees, and the wildlife is active getting ready for winter.

• Grand Teton National Park in the Winter: the snow covered landscape and mountains are breathtaking.

No matter what time of year you visit, there are endless opportunities to photograph nature at its best.

Best Photo Spots at Grand Teton

Check out our list of best photo spots at Grand Teton and download the checklist to print and take with you!

We like to stop at all turnouts along the Grand Teton National Park Scenic Drive – you’ll see stunning views to photograph at every stop!

Oxbow Bend

At Oxbow Bend, you want to get the reflection of the Teton mountains in the bend of the Snake River.

The best time to get calm water at Oxbow Bend is usually sunrise/early morning or sunset/evening. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a colorful sky to reflect in the water as well!

We recommend you walk around the area to find different views and perspectives to photograph. We like to capture the view of Oxbow Bend just beyond the parking area. If the water isn’t too high, follow the trails to the water’s edge and take photos along the bank of the river.

At Oxbow Bend, everyone likes to face the Teton mountains hoping to get that perfect reflection in the water. BUT REMEMBER, always be aware of the scene in front of you AND behind you.

We wonder how many people missed this amazing show of color and reflection in the river behind them!?

PHOTO TIP: When photographing the sunrise or taking sunset photos, keep an eye on all views of the scene so you don’t miss something spectacular!

Schwabacher Landing

There are numerous places along the river at Schwabacher Landing to photograph the reflection of the Tetons in the water.

If this is your first time here, we suggest going to the main parking lot at the end of the road first. There are a few areas along the trail that provide excellent reflections of the distant mountains, as long as the water is still.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate and the water is choppy, take advantage of photographing a stunning landscape scene with water, trees and majestic mountains.

To reach the other photo spot at Schwabacher Landing, drive back along the road and turn into the smaller parking area to the right. Walk down to the river and look for various spots where the Tetons reflect into the water.

Many people stay in the area near the parking lot, but we prefer to walk along the river a bit farther along the river to the other beaver dam that has created a section of calm water.

The morning light right after sunrise is ideal for photography. The soft light makes the mountains and the reflection stand out since the river and surrounding landscape are still in shadow.

We have photographed Schwabacher Landing during the day and at sunset, but feel sunrise is the best since it creates a ‘pop’ of color in the scene.

Snake River Overlook

The Snake River Overlook is the spot where Ansel Adams photographed the bend of the Snake River over 70 years ago, and brought attention to Grand Teton National Park.

The trees have since grown and obstructed the view so you can’t recreate the famous image.

Sunrise and early morning at the Snake River Overlook is the perfect time to take pictures because the soft light on the Teton mountains makes a terrific background element.

The Snake River Overlook is accessible year round so you can take photos here to showcase the different seasons at Grand Teton.

The landscape in the spring and summer is lush and green; in the fall the grasses and foliage change color; and in the winter the landscape is a beautiful snow-covered scene.

Mormon Row – Moulton Barns

Mormon Row is a popular place for photographers. Some of the most iconic images of Grand Teton National Park are taken here. The historic homesteads here have one of the most scenic backdrops found anywhere in the world!

Mormon Row was established by Mormon settlers in the 1890’s who moved into the Jackson Hole Area from Idaho. There were 27 homesteads established here, and now only 6 homesteads remain standing.

In the 1990’s the cultural value became more apparent and have since been maintained so visitors can appreciate the fascinating past of Jackson Hole.

The two iconic barns at Mormon Row are the T.A. Moulton barn and the John Moulton barn. The T.A. Moulton barn (pointed roof) is south of Antelope Flats road, while the John Moulton barn (rounded roof) is to the north.

Where to Photograph Wildlife at Grand Teton

PLEASE FOLLOW the guidelines for viewing wildlife at the Grand Teton and listen to the rangers. Bears are emotional, with varied personalities and tolerance levels around their cubs and prey. Give them space.

• When stopping to view wildlife, pull over in a designated turnout – do not stop on the roadway.
• Maintain a distance of at least 100 yards.
• Help keep bears wild and humans safe – Never feed or approach bears!

It’s up to all of us to know how to enjoy nature and be a responsible visitor.

Check out these resources for photographing wildlife:

• Best Cameras for Wildlife Photography
• Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography
• Best Tripods for Wildlife Photography
• best Tripod Head for Wildlife Photography

Photographing Moose at Grand Teton

Many visitors to Grand Teton National Park hope to see and photograph a moose.

There are a few places we recommend to find and photograph moose at Grand Teton National Park:

• Gros Ventre Road
• Gros Ventre Campground
• Moose Wilson Road
• Willow Springs

Bears at Grand Teton

The most important thing to keep in mind…. you CANNOT get a photo on your cell phone or tablet of a bear that fills the frame image at the designated 100 yard rule set by the National Park Service.

Images you see like the one above are taken with telephoto lenses, typically 400-600mm. When you encounter wildlife and don’t have a telephoto lens, simply enjoy the experience. We really like this affordable 500mm lens for photographing wildlife!

Bears can usually be found at these locations in Grand Teton:

• Pilgrim Creek
• Coulter Bay
• Willow Springs
• Signal Mountain

More Ideas for Taking Pictures at Grand Teton

Photograph the Many Grand Teton Lakes

Grand Teton has many lakes that make great landscape subjects. If you can get a relfection of the Teton mountains in the water, that’s an added bonus!

Grand Teton Photos With Old West Elements

Capturing old-time scenes of western cowboy life adds to the story of Grand Teton National Park.

There are many locations with wooden fences, log cabins and old structures to photograph with the Tetons in the background.

Photographing the Red Hills Near Grand Teton

Take a picturesque drive along Gros Ventre Road for about 10 miles to reach Red Hills.

Enjoy the scenery as you travel along the road in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (no fees).

At the base of the hills is the Red Hill ranch that produces top quality horses. We would recommend you turn and go back once you reach the Red Hills. There was really nothing of interest past that point.  

Grand Teton Photography Tips

It takes research, time, and effort to capture those “just right” images at Grand Teton National Park. Here are the tips we’ve learned over the years.

Do Your Research to Find the Best Photo Spots at Grand Teton

It’s important to know the best photo spots and best time to photograph each spot at Grand Teton before you arrive. We also like to ‘see’ the general layout of each location so we’ll search the internet, social media and Google Earth to help us plan our photography time before we arrive.

Look Up Sunrise, Sunset and Weather for Grand Teton

The best light is morning and evening so it’s important to know the current sunrise and sunset times for the days you’ll be visiting Grand Teton. Check out our favorite sunrise Photography Spots in Grand Teton National Park!

It’s also important to know the Grand Teton National Park weather forecast. There is an awesome local weather site we use: Mountain Weather.

Take Pictures While You Hike at Grand Teton

You’ll find over 100 miles of hiking trails to explore at Grand Teton where you can photograph mountain views, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife!

Add some easy Grand Teton hiking trails to your itinerary.

Be sure you’re prepared with all the essentials you’ll need while exploring the Grand Teton day hikes:

• What to Bring on a Day Hike
• Hiking Gear and Tips for Kids
• Photography Gear for Hiking

AMAZON Landscape Photography Books:

Plan a Grand Teton Vacation

• Visiting Grand Teton National Park 
• Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park
• Photograph Grand Teton National Park
• Grand Teton National Park Activities

Where to Stay in Jackson Near Grand Teton

• Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park
• Grand Teton National Park Lodging
• Grand Teton National Park Camping
• RV Parks near Grand Teton National Park
• Glamping Near Grand Teton National Park

Here’s a list of our favorite places to stay:

• Elk Refuge Inn – this is right across from the refuge and the closes hotel to the park entrance – our favorite place to stay!
• Elk Country Inn – awesome property if you want to be in town.
• Vacation Rentals near Grand Teton – we LOVE having a kitchen to prepare our meals!
• Hotels in Jackson Hole