Heading north towards the Snake River Overlook, I had several places I wanted to visit along the way, starting with the Chapel of the Transfiguration. This small church, sitting at the base of the Grand Tetons, draws visitors with its beautiful views. From the window behind the altar, a picturesque scene provides an unobstructed panorama of the Grand Tetons. I imagine I would have been distracted by this picturesque scene while attending church here, but then again, it would always be a reminder of God’s beautiful creation.
Located in the park’s Moose area, the Chapel of the Transfiguration is an Episcopal Church located just inside of the South Entrance. Erected in 1925, this congregation an active community providing services for both Episcopalians as well as Eucharists during the summer season.
Traveling north, I found a short detour that led me to Mormon Row. During the summer months, this area is one of the best places to see bison and small herds of pronghorn antelope. It is the perfect backdrop for photographing the farm structures that were once home to Mormon settlers in the early 1900s.
At the last minute, I decided to take the one-mile gravel road to Lower Schwabacher Landing, once used as a starting point for rafting trips. Here, artists once painted some of the most familiar sites of the Teton Range and remains a perfect picnic spot to enjoy the view of the peaks.
I finally reached my afternoon destination. Made famous by world-renowned, photographer, Ansel Adams, the view of Snake River is spectacular. I can clearly see why photographing the overlook has become an obsession for photographers. I spent a few moments imagining myself as an early explorer, witnessing this view for the first time, but needed to start making my way towards Rendevous Mountain at Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is more popular with skiers during the wintertime, but during the summer a gondola ride up to Rendezvous Mountain is irresistible. The Bridger Gondola provides breathtaking views of the resort below taking only 9 minutes to reach a climb of over 9,000 feet.
The gentle hum of the gondola is therapeutic as the climb continues upwards affording unobstructed sights of Teton Village below. Open only from 4:30PM to 9PM during off-season hours, there is a snack shop and restaurant for taking in the views. It is a perfect time to reflect on all that I experienced here in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. I am already looking forward to a future visit where I have promised myself to hike more, explore more and make it another trip to remember.
What are some of your most memorable visits to Grand Teton? What would you add to your itinerary on your next visit? I would love to hear about your adventure if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading about my adventure to Grand Tetons National Park! Wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Grand Teton National Park
PO Box 170
Moose, WY 83012
Telephone: 307 739 3399
- Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Grand Teton National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Grand Teton National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
- Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Grand Teton National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
- Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
- Scenic View: Scenic drives throughout the park include the Teton Park Road, Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and Signal Mountain Summit Road.
- Length of Visit: To maximize your visit to Grand Teton National Park one would need at least a couple of days to experience all that the park provides.
- Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Signal Mountain is perfect for sunsets.
Chapel of the Transfiguration
Grand Teton National Park
Chapel of the Transfiguration Road
Moose, Wyoming 83001
Telephone: 307 733 2603
- Admission Fee: Free
- Hours: Besides the church services, the hours of operation are not posted. I arrived at 9AM during the weekday and it was unlocked.
- Scenic View: Gorgeous view of the Grand Tetons from the large picture window
- Length of Time to Spend Here: Less than an hour.
- Tips for Your Visit: The Chapel of the Transfiguration is an active congregation and church services are offered on Sundays at 8AM and 10PM during the summer season. The church played a major role in the movie, Spencer’s Mountain, featuring Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara.
Mormon Row
Grand Teton National Park
Located outside of Moose Junction
Moose, Wyoming 83001
Lower Schwabacher Landing
Grand Teton National Park
Moose, Wyoming 83001
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Tram Address:
3265 West Village Drive
Teton Village, Wyoming 83025
Telephone: 307 733 2292
- Admission Fee: Free; Additional charge for tram tickets ($35 for round trip access; $84 to ride all summer)
- Hours: Open daily from 9 – 5; Refer to the website for winter/ski hours
- Amenities: Tram/Lift tickets, Grand Adventure Pass, Bike Rentals, Paragliding, Kids Summer Camps, Daycare, Lodging, Spa, Vacation Rentals, Restaurant (at the base of the mountain and at the top). Great for hiking, biking and skiing!
- Scenic View: Gorgeous view of the Grand Tetons and the surrounding area from the top of the lift
- Length of Time to Spend Here: Varies depending on activities
- Tips for Your Visit: Tram/Lift tickets are free after 5PM. Be prepared for the elevation as it may cause some shortness of breath. Some shops and restaurants at the top of the lift close at 5, but there are restaurants at the base of the resort as well. Piste was opened until 9PM during the summer.
Note: The information I have provided does not include the winter season as I visited during the summer. Visit the resort’s website for more information regarding ski packages, etc. https://www.jacksonhole.com/
Where to Stay:
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa
3385 Cody Lane
Teton Village, WY 83025
Telephone: 307 201 6066
Where to Eat:
The Deck @ Piste
Rendezvous Mountain
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83025
Telephone: 307 732 3177
I ordered the Southern Belle made from White Wine with Orange and Passion Fruit. In addition, I had a glass of Henry Estate Pinot Noir to accompany my House Meatballs and Fries.
For more information about Grand Teton National Park, visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm.
