Photography Destinations: Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park

This is the first post of our new series GlobopTrotters where the Globop Photography Team will take you to the ultimate photo locations where you will have access to unlimited photo opportunities to take your photography to the next level!

Today we are going to visit one of the best (and not so known) National Parks in the United States, Grand Teton N.P.

Quick Facts:

• It became the 20th established National Park in the United States on February 26th, 1929.
• The total area of the park is 480 square miles.
• It draws more than 2.5 million visitors every year.
• Neighbor to popular Yellowstone National Park.
• Human presence in the area dates back at least 11,000 years.

When to go:

Year-round. Grand Teton National Park and the entire Jackson Hole Valley area easily fall under the photographer's paradise category. Every season brings unlimited photo ops and no two days are alike in this beautiful setting.

The park is open year-round although many facilities and roads close for the winter season. The Teton Park Road is closed to vehicles from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to the Signal Mountain Lodge November 1 through April 30 or longer depending on snow conditions. During this period, the road is open to non-motorized recreation (skiing, snowshoeing, cycling, walking, rollerblading) depending on road conditions.

How to get there:

You can fly directly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). There are direct flights from multiple US cities. Some typical stops are Salt Lake City and Denver.

If traveling by car, U.S. Highway 89, aka John D. Rockefeller Parkway crosses the valley north-south,  connecting Salt Lake City, UT to Jackson, WY and all the way to Yellowstone National Park; U.S. Highway 26 provides access from the west (Idaho Falls, ID) and east (Casper, WY). From the south (Rock Springs, WY), U.S. Highway 191 crosses some beautiful landscapes before arriving at Jackson, WY.

What to photograph:

Grand Teton National Park is world-renowned for its wildlife viewing opportunities. Some of the most sought-after animals found inside the park include: moose, black and grizzly bears, pronghorn, elk, bald eagles, gray wolves, coyotes and bison. Be patient, pick a spot and enjoy nature. And most important, always be safe! Keep a generous distance to all animals.

Here are some key locations for wildlife viewing across the park:

• Oxbow Bend
• Willow Flats
• Moose-Wilson Road
• Gros Ventre River and Road

If you are looking for landscapes and natural scenery, this is also the perfect place for you. The presence of the Teton Range can be felt from anywhere in the valley. It is highly recommended to explore the park up and down by car at different times of the day as light and weather conditions in Wyoming are constantly changing.

Some of the classic spots are:

• Snake River Overlook, immortalized by Ansel Adams. Good for sunrise/sunset.
• Schwabacher's Landing. Great for sunrise.
• Oxbow Bend. Views of Mt. Moran.
• Anywhere along the Teton Park Road, really.

Activities in the park include hiking, camping, climbing, fishing, boating... If you are into any of these, you can find rare photo ops that the general public may not have access to.

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