If you have not been to The Grand Tetons, you need to add this destination to your bucket list asap. I absolutely fell in love with this national park and cannot wait to go back. In fact, I have to say that I actually *gasp* like it a little bit more than Yellowstone. The mountains are just so awe-inspiring and it is a lot less crowded.

If you are planning a trip here and don’t know what to see or do, here are my top 6 favorites:

1. Enjoy Kayaking on The Lake

The Grand Tetons are by far one of the most incredible places to go kayaking. You simply cannot beat the spectacular backdrop of those mountains; they are breathtaking!

I love Oregon’s mountains (my home state), but there is just something so special about Wyoming’s mountain range. I mean, you can enjoy Mount Hood’s peak from afar, but you can never get that close to it unless you are actually on it. But with the Tetons, you can almost get to the base of the mountains! You’re right there, so close it feels as though you could reach up and grab a peak. Hence, if you enjoy being on the water, kayaking here is an absolute must!

There are 10 Lakes you can kayak on in the Grand Teton National Park: Jackson, Jenny, Phelps, Emma Matilda, Two Ocean, Taggart, Bradley, Bearpaw, Leigh and String lakes. For the majority of these you do have to bring your own kayaks. So if you don’t own a kayak or didn’t bring it with you, then Jackson or Jenny are the lakes for you.

I rented a kayaking at Jackson lake, from the Colter Bay resort; it was a really nice kayak and I had an easy time with it. Jenny Lake looked like it had great equipment too, though, and they were less crowded, so I would check them out as well.

2. Go Horseback Riding

Is there a better place to go horseback riding than in the Grand Tetons? I can’t think of any. Nothing beats riding through wildflower filled valleys and enjoying the expanse of the mountains. Wyoming is absolutely picturesque and the perfect place to get some use out of your cowgirl boots.

Definitely keep your camera handy when horseback riding as well (as if you’d put it away 😉 ). We were told by our guides that they have never seen bears while riding, but in the couple hours we rode we saw a grizzly bear a couple hundred yards away and had a black bear walk in front of us! So you never know, you just might get to take some amazing shots of some bears!

(I didn’t get any good footage because my guide freaked out, screamed, and scared the bears; but hey, you might be luckier 🙂 )

3. Take a Hike

Hiking in The Grand Tetons is also a must. Wyoming has some of the most breathtaking trails in the US and you simply do not want to miss out on trying at least one of them. During my stay, I enjoyed hiking around Jenny Lake. It was supposed to be a quick hike, but if you are addicted to taking pictures like me, you should be prepared to take half a day. No really. There is beauty everywhere and its impossible to stop taking pictures. At every corner there is a new view or animal to capture and time just flies. For instance, pictured above is a Yellow Bellied Marmot that I spent at least 20 minutes watching and photographing… You get the idea.

One thing to remember when hiking in Wyoming is to bring bear spray with you. Most likely you won’t get anywhere near a bear if on a busy trail (so don’t let the thought of bears scare you away from hiking!), but it is always essential to stay prepared. So keep an eye out, make noise, and carry bear spray. But above all else, have fun!

Moreover, don’t let your level of fitness keep you from hitting up trails. The Grand Tetons has hundreds of different hiking trails, ranging from easy – extremely difficult. There really is something for everyone, no matter how big of a hiker you are!

A few hikes I would recommend checking out are: String Lake Loop, Cascade Canyon, and Garnet Canyon.

4. Ride The Jackson Hole Tram

Another fun way to enjoy the Tetons is taking the Aerial Tram in Jackson Hole. For just $42 (adult price), you get to enjoy a 12 minute ride up 4,139 vertical feet to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. The 360 view during the ride is fun and there are always possible animal sightings. Up top, you can get out and walk around (it is super cold though!) and really take in the breathtaking view of the Tetons. Now you really are on top of the mountains!

There is also a cafe up top and, since the tram runs every 15 minutes, you can easily catch a ride down later. I didn’t check it out, but I heard they have good pancakes. So that would be a really fun place to spend a meal!

5. See The Moulton Barn

The Moulton barn is one of the most iconic barns in America. I have admired countless photographs and paintings of it over the years, so I knew I had to see this when visiting The Grand Tetons. Not only is it beautiful, but it is one of the best preserved barns in the Northwest. Built over a span of 30 years in the early 1900s by T. A. Moulton, it is happily situated in a valley called Antelope Flats with a breathtaking view of the Tetons serving as its backdrop. It is extremely secluded and a visit here makes you feel like you have taken a step back in time. So if you enjoy history and old barns, this is a place you should definitely visit while on your trip.

6. Watch a Sunset at The Lake

The sunsets at Jackson Lake are by far some of the prettiest I have ever seen. There’s something so magical about watching the sky decorated with multiple colors, illuminating the mountain and glistening upon the water. The Tetons look absolutely majestic in the evening and each night I spent there was one of my favorites from the entire trip. I cannot recommend the experience enough. My favorite spot to photograph (pictured above) and the place I strongly suggest watching the sunset at was the Jackson hole lake swim area.

Have you ever been to The Grand Tetons? If so, what was your favorite part of your trip? Let me know in the comments!

xo, mikéla