Grand Teton National Park Winter Tours
There are many activities and Grand Teton National Park winter tours available for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, and photography! Grand Teton National Park has something for every winter enthusiast.
Grand Teton National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming. When visiting Grand Teton in the winter you’ll enjoy outdoor activities surrounding by the park’s majestic peaks draped in a blanket of snow!
Use this Grand Teton National Park guide for a list of the winter tours available, what to pack, where to stay, services available, and weather conditions to expect this time of year.
We live only a few hours away from Grand Teton and have visited the park many times during all four seasons. The tips we provide here are based on our travels to the park, especially during the winter months.
The number one tip for visiting Grand Teton in the winter is to pack warm, insulated clothing so you can enjoy your time at the park! Use our Grand Teton National Park packing list to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting in the winter! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!
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Grand Teton National Park Winter Tours
You’ll find a variety of tours at Grand Teton in the winter. Many of the tours will determine stops based on the road conditions, weather conditions, and needs or interests of each group.
Most winter tours do NOT include the Grand Teton National Park entrance fee (be sure to have your National Park pass!)
Grand Teton Winter Wildlife Tour
Half–day Grand Teton Winter Wildlife Tour through Grand Teton National Park where the guide helps you spot animals that are easy to miss without a trained eye. For your comfort and convenience, the tour is capped at ten or fewer.
Grand Teton and National Elk Refuge Winter Tour
Grand Teton and National Elk Refuge Winter Tour is a day tour with a naturalist guide through the park to search for bison, bighorn sheep, moose, coyotes, eagles, or even wolves. Plus a visit the National Elk Refuge, where you ride past herds of powerful elk on a comfortable, horse-drawn sleigh.
Luxury Winter Grand Teton Tour and Sleigh Ride
This Luxury Winter Grand Teton Tour and Sleigh Ride is a half-day scenic tour through Grand Teton National Park begins at dawn or dusk. Explore the National Elk Refuge and the Gros Ventre Wilderness with you guide on a horse-drawn sleigh ride! Get a personalized Grand Teton experience because the tour is limited to just your group!
Jackson Hole Dog Sledding Tour
Experience an old-fashioned adventure with a Jackson Hole Dog Sledding Tour tour along the Buffalo Fork River. The private trail is flat and suitable for any age. It’s also closed to motorized vehicles for a safe and peaceful ride. The actual time in the dogsled is about 45 minutes.
Full Day Dog Sledding and Snowmobiling Combo Tour
You’ll get a two-in-one experience on this Grand Teton Full Day Dog Sledding and Snowmobiling Combo Tour. Begin by dog-sledding to enjoy the view of the Grand Tetons. Then enjoy snowmobiling for a high-speed excursion through the scenery! The tour is capped at 10 participants for a more personal experience. Guidance, training, and cozy winter gear are all provided.
Jackson Hole Snowmobiling Tour
Full-day Jackson Hole Snowmobiling Tour at historic Heart Six Ranch near Jackson Hole. On this winter tour, a guide will provide narration about the area’s ecosystem and wildlife. The guide will also provide navigation to ensure your safety. You’ll stop at a lodge for lunch then return to the Heart Six Ranch to unwind around the fire at the end of the excursion.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton Multi-Day Winter Tours
Check out the Yellowstone Winter Tours available if you want to visit both parks!
Enjoy winter activities including a heated snow coach adventure, horse-drawn sleigh ride, and snowshoe trek. You also have the option to customize the itinerary to suit your personal interests. For an additional cost, take a helicopter tour or dog sled excursion.
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton Winter 4-Day Tour
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton Winter 5-Day Tour
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton Winter 6-Day Tour
Grand Teton Winter Activities
There are quite a few Grand Teton winter activities to enjoy the outdoors at the park. You can enjoy these activities on your own, or you can book a Grand Teton winter tour.
Grand Teton Cross-country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Skiing and snowshoeing at Grand Teton are the most popular winter activities.
The trail is intermittently groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing along the Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge.
Moose-Wilson Road (park at Granite Canyon Trailhead or Death Canyon Road), Colter Bay, Antelope Flats Road, Taggart Lake, and Flagg Ranch are other areas in the park to explore skiing or snowshoeing.
Be sure to follow these etiquette guidelines when skiing or snowshoeing at Grand Teton:
- Do not walk or snowshoe on ski trails
- Leave your skis on and side-step down or detour around steep sections
- Snowshoe parallel to the ski track
- Yield to faster skiers
- Step out of the track for a break
Snowmobiling at Grand Teton
The only location in Grand Teton where you can snowmobile is the frozen surface of Jackson Lake for ice fshing access only.
Along the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway snowmobiling is limited to Grassy Lake Road when it’s open. Off-road travel anywhere beyond this along the Rockefeller Parkway is prohibited.
We recommend checking out the Yellowstone National Park website for information regarding non-commercial snowmobile access in the Teton/Yellowstone area.
You can also book a Yellowstone snowmobile and snowcoach tour.
Grand Teton Backcountry Access in the Winter
Expect harsh environment conditions when accessing the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park in the winter.
It’s so important to know the backcountry safety guidelines at Grand Teton. It’s your responsibility to be prepared for exploring the backcountry:
- how to read a map and use a GPS
- how to use a compass
- download the BackcountrySOS App
- plan for the day and let someone else know
- acknowledge your and your party’s limits
- what to do in an avalanche and how to rescue others
- winter gear and clothing essentials
Grand Teton Winter Photography
Many of the best photo spots at Grand Teton aren’t easily accessed during the winter due to road and trail closures.
Here’s our list of favorite places for winter photography at Grand Teton National Park. Each of these location you should be able to access in the winter by car, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing:
- Overlooks along Highway 191/89
- Moulton Barn / Mormon Row
- Snake River Overlook
- Oxbow Bend
- Coulter Bay
Be ready with your WINTER camera gear to capture images of the landscape and wildlife as you drive along the road, or ski along the trails. We especially love photography gloves and rechargeable hand warmers!
Grand Teton Winter Wildlife Tours
In the winter the wildlife at Grand Teton National Park contrast against the white snow so the animals are much easier to see!
A guaranteed location to see elk is at the Elk Refuge between the park and the town of Jackson. You can take a sleigh ride tour to see the elk up close! Tours usually start mid-December.
If you’re lucky you may see eagles, coyotes, foxes, bison, deer, wolves, trumpeter swans and more on the tour… as well as on the roads or trails that are open in the park.
This tour includes visiting the Elk Refuge: Grand Teton and National Elk Refuge Winter Tour
Visiting Grand Teton National Park in the Winter
The winter months of December, January, February, and March are pretty quiet at Grand Teton.
All services in the park are closed during the winter: Grand Teton National Park website. Highway 191 is the only road open to vehicles from Jackson to Moran. Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake to Signal Mountain Lodge is only open for non-motorized use.
Grand Teton Winter Weather
Check the Grand Teton weather and be prepared with the right winter clothing to enjoy the outdoor activities. In the winter expect cold days and frigid nights, with rain or snow any time:
- December temperatures: highs 25 / lows 3 degrees Fahrenheit
- January temperatures: highs 25 / lows 0 degrees Fahrenheit
- February temperatures: highs 30 / lows 2 degrees Fahrenheit
Be sure to pack WINTER CLOTHING for your Grand Teton trip during the winter months:
- Wicking clothing
- Fleece jacket
- Winter hat
- Winter gloves
- Insulated jacket
- Darn Tough hiking socks
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Insulated boots
Grand Teton Roads in the Winter
When visiting Grand Teton in the winter, pay attention to the dates when the roads close for the season: road status at Grand Teton.
The Teton Park Road: closed November 1 to April 30 from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge. During this time the road is used for skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking from mid-December to mid-March.
Moose-Wilson Road: usually closed to vehicles until mid-May. When it’s snow-packed it’s open to skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
Highway 191: open from Jackson to Moran.
Vehicles with four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or all-weather tires are recommended for winter travel. Roads may be closed during blizzards.
Drive at or below posted speed limits as conditions warrant; moose and other wildlife are often seen crossing roads during the winter.
Pets in the Winter at Grand Teton
In the winter, pets are only allowed on plowed roadways and parking areas. You can also take your pet on the unplowed sections of the Teton Park and Moose-Wilson roads.
Pets must be on a leash of six feet or less, and within 30 feet of a roadway. Please dispose of your pet’s waste properly. There are waste disposal cans at the trailheads.
