Summer Activities at Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a great destination for summer activities! From hiking to camping and fishing, there’s something for everyone!
You can certainly enjoy the outdoors year-round, but you’ll find many more summer activities at Grand Teton than any other time of year.
This Grand Teton National Park guide to plan an amazing itinerary full of fun summer activities! We also share tips for things to pack, where to stay and more!
At Grand Teton National Park in the summer, the warmer weather offers up the opportunity to enjoy everything the park has to offer like hiking, fishing, kayaking, and photography.
Use our Grand Teton National Park packing list to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting in the summer! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!
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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!
Things to Know About Grand Teton in the Summer
Each season will have different activities and services available when visiting Grand Teton National Park.
In the summer, crowds begin to increase due to summer vacations. In early summer, some of the hiking trails will be muddy (or still covered with snow at the higher elevations), and some areas in the park will be closed due to bear activity.
Use our guide to find YOUR best time to visit Grand Teton National Park.
Here’s what you can expect during the summer months:
- Grand Teton National Park in June
- Grand Teton National Park in July
- Grand Teton National Park in August
Summer Activities at Grand Teton National Park
Here’s a fun list of things to do in Grand Teton National Park in summer. It’s the perfect time of year to explore this stunning park!
You’ll also find even more fun activities in nearby Teton Village in the summer!
Grand Teton Hikes in the Summer
With over 100 hiking trails, Grand Teton has something for all ages and every skill level. The Grand Teton trails offer incredible views whether you’re seeking a short, easy hike for the whole family or something more difficult to challenge yourself.
Here are a few Grand Teton National Park summer day hikes you should consider:
- Inspiration Point via Jenny Lake Boat Shuttle
- Hidden Falls Trail
- Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail
- Oxbow Bend and Overlook
- Cunningham Historic Cabin
It’s good to be prepared for the hiking you’ll do at Grand Teton:
- Day Hike Checklist
- What to Bring on a Hike
- Photography Gear for Hiking
- Hiking Gear for Kids & Tips for Hiking with Kids
Grand Teton Scenic Drives in the Summer
One of the best ways to get acquainted with the Teton Mountain Range is with a scenic drive through Grand Teton National Park.
The Grand Teton National Park scenic drive loop is 42-miles of stunning views. Here you can see an abundance of wildlife, exhibits, and majestic views of the Grand Teton Mountain Range.
There are three access points to the loop: Moose junction, Jackson Lake junction, and Moran junction. It will take 2 hours or most of the day to finish this 42-mile drive depending on how many stops you make along the way.
This scenic loop has plenty of pull-offs with opportunities to photograph Grand Teton National Park.
We highly recommend you download the Grand Teton Scenic Drive GuideAlong App to hear fun behind-the scenes stories and local tips that play automatically as you drive, based on your GPS location as you drive through the park!
Grand Teton Summer Photography
Landscape photography at Grand Teton is amazing. We also created a checklist of all the best photo spots at Grand Teton!
Be ready with your camera gear to capture images the landscape and wildlife as you drive along the road or hike the trails.
Here are a few of the Grand Teton photo spots you won’t want to miss:
- Chapel of the Transfiguration: A tiny, historical, and unique church with perfect views of the Tetons.
- Jenny Lake: Ride the Jenny Lake Boat across the lake and hike to Hidden Falls (steep) or access the Jenny Lake Loop Rd off the main road to take in scenic lake views.
- Oxbow Bend: A popular wildlife viewing hotspot, and a personal favorite of mine.
- Snake River Overlook: One of the best and beautiful views of Snake River.
- Mormon Row: A unique opportunity to see a historic homestead up close at Mormon Row.
Some of our favorite sunrise photography spots in Grand Teton National Park are: Schwabacher Landing, Oxbow Bend, and Mormon Row!
Enjoy Berry Season at Grand Teton in the Summer
Late summer is berry season in the Teton area. When visiting Grand Teton or Yellowstone, definitely sample the wide variety or products made with Huckleberries – ice cream, milk shakes, jams and jellies, even hand lotion!
Huckleberries (or Mountain Blueberries) are a smaller, sweeter version of a blueberry. You’ll also find these other berries in the Tetons: service berry, choke cherry, thimbleberries, wild strawberries, and wild raspberries!
Fruits, berries, and nuts may be gathered by hand for personal use and consumption at Grand Teton. There is a limit of one quart per species per person per day.
Remember the park is also home to a number of poisonous species. Be certain it’s an edible berry before eating. Reputable guidebooks can help with species identification.
It’s important to be considerate to other berry pickers, but also to wildlife, like bears, who rely on this food source to survive our harsh winters. Practice restraint, and always leave at least twice as much as you take.
Observe Grand Teton Wildlife in the Summer
Grand Teton National Park has a vast abundance of wildlife; moose, bear, elk, beaver, and waterfowl are just a few of the more popular residents.
Hiking trails, landmarks, lakes and rivers, and the overlooks all offer an opportunity to see wildlife in their natural home environment.
Viewing wildlife at Grand Teton brings you closer to nature and is both magical and artistic, if you’re lucky enough you can also capture amazing photos.
When viewing wildlife stay at a distance, animals will protect themselves and can be unpredictable at times. Remember, respect the animals, respect the land.
We’ve put together some good resources for Photographing Wildlife:
- Best cameras for wildlife photography
- Best tripods for wildlife photography
- Best tripod head for wildlife photography
- Best lenses for wildlife photography
Summer Boating and Floating at Grand Teton
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy water activities at Grand Teton.
Boating: You’ll need the permits for the following: All boats, windsurfing boards (only legal on Jackson Lake), stand-up paddle boards (SUPs), kayaks and canoes are required to purchase a boat permit.
Floating: Inner tubes, air mattresses, kick boats, float tubes and similar individual swimming/ fishing flotation devices are exempt from needing a park boat permit. These floatation devices are prohibited on rivers and streams in Grand Teton
Snake River Floating: Due to constantly shifting logjams, boaters must anticipate their routes well in advance. Use caution and check conditions before each trip. Flow rates are high in June. They are posted at river landings and permit offices weekly or when there is a significant change.
It’s your responsibility to know all the rules for boating at Grand Teton.
Become a Grand Teton Junior Ranger
Most national parks offer young visitors an opportunity to become part of the National Park Service family as a Junior Ranger.
This is an excellent activity for parents to do with their children. The Junior Ranger program is a wonderful way to get children interested in national parks and the outdoors.
At Grand Teton National Park those interested will have to complete The Grand Adventure, a kid-friendly activity booklet to become a Junior ranger. Completing the activities for your age group will earn you the Junior Ranger badge.
The Grand Adventure is available at the park visitor center and online. The visitor center and ranger led programs are a great way to get activities and ideas that will help you complete the booklet and become a Junior ranger.
Grand Teton Summer Tours
There are a variety of Grand Teton National Park summer tours to enjoy. From thrilling hikes to peaceful boat ride, guided summer tours are an unforgettable experience that will leave you with lasting memories.
- Grand Teton National Park Tour
- All-Day Tour of Grand Teton National Park
- Grand Teton Half Day Wildlife Tour
- Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in an Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle
- Half-Day Grand Teton Sunrise or Sunset Tour
- Private Sunset 4-Hour Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure
- Snake River Scenic Float
Grand Teton Summer Camping
We highly recommend an overnight stay camping at Grand Teton National Park. During the summer months the Grand Teton campgrounds are busy! The park has five campgrounds available – Grand Teton campground reservations are required!
And all campgrounds except Jenny Lake welcome your RV’s and trailers. Backcountry camping is allowed in designated areas with a permit only.
If you can’t find a camping spot in the park, check out the various RV Parks near Grand Teton National Park.
There are also fun ideas for glamping near Grand Teton National Park in rustic cabins, yurts, and safari-style tents.
AMAZON: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guides and Maps
Where to Stay Near Grand Teton in the Summer
- Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park
- Grand Teton National Park Lodging
- Cabins 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
