The next on my list for top travel destinations is somewhere I'd have never thought to visit. I only went because it was part of the Trek America 'Mountain Trail' trip that I was part of back in 2018. This is a National Park that, if you are planning to visit America, I implore you to tick off - the Grand Teton National Park.
It is located in Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park. If you are already planning on visiting Yellowstone, you might as well do this Park as well. The two parks are connected by the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. The parkway, like the National Parks, is also controlled by the national park service This provides wildlife a safe pathway and refuge between the two parks.
This Grand Teton National Park is focused around the Grand Teton Mountain range. Spanning 40 miles, the highest of the peaks is Grand Teton, reaching 4,199 m in height. Estimated to be between 6 and 9 million years old, the range is the youngest branch of the Rocky Mountains. Grand Teton is joined by another 9 peaks that rise above 3,700 m. It is also part of whats known as the 'Cathedral Group', which is made up of Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Teewinot, Middle Teton, and South Teton.
As well as dramatic peaks, the landscape offers a range of lakes, grassland and wildlife. The largest lake in the park is Jackson Lake, which stretches across 15 miles alongside the mountain range. The Grassland provides the perfect habitat for Bison and Elk. Every winter the Elk venture south from Yellowstone National Park to get a slight respite from the colder temperatures further north in Yellowstone.
National Elk Refuge
In 1912 the National Elk refuge was established just outside of the town of Jackson in order to protect the herd of Elk that migrated there every year. It is estimated that the original size of the herd was around 25,000, but due to climate change and lack of food supply, this had dropped to around 7,500. Each winter, the male Elk naturally shed their antlers. These are then collected by the local Boy Scouts and auctioned off to the highest bidders. 75% of the proceeds of these sales go back to the Refuge, which is then spent on sustainable strategies to help maintain the maximum natural food supply for the Elk.
The park is also abundant in a variety of birds, reptiles, small mammals, and even Bears and Moose. This makes it the perfect place for wildlife lovers to visit. Whilst on my trip there, I did technically see a Black Bear, however it was so hidden in dense foliage that I couldn't get any photographs of it. I did however see a few different types of birds of prey, including Ospreys on their nest, Deer, and lots of Pika.
Hiking
One of the main reasons people visit the Tetons is to go hiking. The different landscapes coupled with beautiful scenery, make it the perfect spot to explore and take photos. Whilst I was there we hiked up from Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon. The trail takes you uphill through forest and alongside the river that leads from the Canyon to Jenny Lake. It is host to beautiful views and the end destination is well worth the effort. See below some photos I took whilst on the hike. For more information on the trail click here.
There are of course many more hikes available to do, however I didn't get chance to do any more on this trip. Why not check here for more information and more possible hikes and adventures. For your safety please also follow the rules and suggestions of the National Park service when hiking in the park (a reminder the park is home to wild bears).
I have only just covered the surface so far on one this Park has to offer. I'll post another blog soon about what other things there are to see and do in and around the park. Thanks for reading!
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