Active Pursuits in Grand Teton National Park

Biking: Cycling is allowed on all paved and unpaved roads that also permit cars (but not trails), but you’ll want to be choosy about your destinations—in some spots, the park roads are narrow, winding, and choked with traffic, which makes for less-than-satisfying cycling. Fortunately, an off-road, paved multiuse path extending from Jackson all the way to Jenny Lake makes bike trips much safer and more enjoyable. Road cyclists can also link the Teton Park Road with the one-way Jenny Lake Scenic Loop for a 7-mile ride that’s partially on a multiuse path. Another option: Ride the path to Antelope Flats Road and south along (unpaved) Mormon Row to see pioneer-era homesteads and big views of the Gros Ventre. Iron-lunged road riders might also try the steep climb up Signal Mountain Road to the 7,727-foot summit (best in the early morning, before traffic picks up). 

For mountain bikers, Two Ocean Lake Road is a 6-mile out-and-back over a rolling landscape, or cruise the 15-mile River Road along the Snake River. For a bike-packing trip, 52-mile Grassy Lake Road crosses the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway past backcountry campsites and serene lakes between Flagg Ranch and Ashton, Idaho.
 

Look for maps and brochures with bike routes at visitor centers. Adventure Sports at Dornan’s (tel. 307/733-2415; www.dornans.com), inside the park boundaries at Moose Junction, rents adult and child bikes (complete with helmets and repair kits) as well as bike trailers. 

Boating & Paddling: Watersports aficionados have plenty of opportunities for fun at Grand Teton, in large part thanks to Jackson Lake. There, you can cruise around in a motorboat, waterski, windsurf, sail, or paddle your own kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). Jenny Lake is also open to powerboats (maximum 10 horsepower) as well as human-powered watercraft. Paddlers alone have access to most other park lakes: Phelps, Emma Matilda, Two Ocean, Taggart, Bradley, String, Leigh, and Bearpaw Lakes all allow canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. 

You’ll need a permit to launch your own watercraft, which costs $40 for motorized boats and $10 for nonmotorized craft; pick one up at the Craig Thomas, Jenny Lake, or Colter Bay Visitor Centers. You can rent motorboats from the Grand Teton Lodge Company at Colter Bay Village Marina (tel. 307/543-3100; www.gtlc.com) for $44 per hour or $181 for the day; Signal Mountain Lodge (tel. 307/543-2831; www.signalmountainlodge.com) also rents deck cruisers, pontoons, runabout boats, and fishing boats for $42 to $129 per hour or $185 to $675 per day, depending on boat type. 

Both those outfitters rent kayaks and canoes ($20–$23 per hour at Colter Bay Village, $19–$25 per hour at Signal Mountain Lodge), as does Jenny Lake Boating (tel. 307/734-9227; www.jennylakeboating.com) for $20 per hour. And if you want someone else to handle all the logistics, outfitter O.A.R.S (tel. 800/346-6277; www.oars.com) offers highly recommended 2-night kayak-camping trips for $549 to $599 for adults ($449–$499 for kids).

Scenic cruises are another popular way to get out on the water. Grand Teton Lodge Company (tel. 307/543-2811; www.gtlc.com) runs several options, including an overview trip, a kid-focused ride, a geology-based cruise, and cruises that include cowboy-style fare served on Elk Island. Prices range from $32 ($14 for kids 3–11) to $67 ($38 for kids). Jenny Lake Boating (tel. 307/734-9227; www.jennylakeboating.com) offers hour-long cruises on Jenny Lake for $19 ($11 for kids 2–11). 

Climbing and Mountaineering: The Tetons loom large in the American climbing community—few other destinations offer the combination of so many classic climbing routes, superlative peaks, a long history of mountaineering, and easy access—here, you can bag an iconic summit in just a day or two. But don’t let those so-close-you-can-almost-touch-[‘]em peaks fool you: Mountaineering here is a serious endeavor demanding skill and experience. The park’s rock, ice, and mixed routes are very strenuous and can be dangerous, even for the pros, thanks to unpredictable mountain weather. If you decide to tackle them on your own, make sure you know how to use an ice axe and crampons, and travel with experienced partners. Skills not so sharp, but still want to make a go of it? Sign up for lessons or a guided trip with the well-regarded climbing outfitters below. 

You don’t need a special climbing permit to take to the slopes, but you will need a backcountry camping permit if you’ll be out overnight. Jenny Lake Ranger Station (tel. 307/739-3343) is the base for the park’s climbing rangers and the best place to get info on current conditions. Climbers often launch their trips from the American Alpine Club’s iconic Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch (tel. 307/733-7271; www.americanalpineclub.org). You don’t have to be a climber to reserve one of the $16 bunks ($25 for non–club members), but the rustic accommodations cater to those with summit hopes.

If you’re looking for guidance, two renowned outfitters offer both guided climbs and lessons: Exum Mountain Guides (tel. 307/733-2297; www.exumguides.com) and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides (tel. 307/733-4979; www.jhmg.com). Climbing classes will run you about $170 to $190, while an attempt on the Grand Teton costs $600 to $750 for a group trip. Both can also take you up plenty of other Teton summits, such as Mount Moran, Mount Owen, Middle Teton, South Teton, Teewinot, and Buck Mountain. 

Fishing: Plentiful fish and beautiful scenery make Grand Teton beloved among anglers. You can cast or troll the lakes and crystal-clear streams for brook, brown, lake, and cutthroat trout, plus whitefish; Jackson Lake, Jenny Lake, and the Snake River are all popular destinations, but most waterways in the park are open for fishing. Many anglers prefer fishing from a boat in Jackson and Jenny Lakes, but you can also stake out spots along the shorelines of both. The Snake River is a biggie for fly-fishing, particularly the first few miles below the Jackson Lake Dam. Blacktail Ponds and Schwabacher’s Landing also draw in hopeful anglers. 

You’ll need a Wyoming fishing license to ply the waters here, which costs $14 per day and $92 per year for nonresidents, plus a $12.50 Conservation Stamp for all but 1-day passes (residents get discounted rates). Nonresidents under age 14 can fish for free with a licensed adult. Pick up a license at Snake River Angler at Dornan’s, Signal Mountain Lodge, Colter Bay Marina, or Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch. Also make sure to pick up a copy of the park’s fishing brochure to learn rules and regulations, such as seasonal closures. Jackson Lake, for example, closes to fishing in the month of October, and in the Snake River, you must release all cutthroat trout between November 1 and March 31. 

Several outfitters based inside the park and in Jackson run guided fishing trips. In the park, Grand Teton Lodge Company (tel. 307/543-3100; www.gtlc.com) will take you out on a private boat in Jackson Lake or along the Snake River; lake trip rates are $98 per hour, and fly-fishing the Snake is $465 for a half-day and $555 for a full day. Signal Mountain Lodge’s (tel. 307/543-2831; www.signalmountainlodge.com) Jackson Lake boat trips will run you $109 per hour or $295 for a half-day. For a list of other fishing concessionaires, go to www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/fish.htm.

Floating & Rafting: Getting the duck’s-eye view of the park from the Snake River is alternately thrilling and idyllic, depending where you are in the 27 miles that wind through the Tetons. Some sections are tranquil, with lots of time to scope for moose, bald eagles, and other animals that frequently visit the river’s edge; others are turbulent and challenging, for experienced rafters only. Obstacles such as swift current, confusing braided channels, shifting logjams, and strong upstream winds make paddling difficult. Proceed with caution if you’d like to float on your own, and check with rangers for up-to-date information on flow and conditions. The easiest stretch of the Snake is the 5-mile segment from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek. North of Jackson Lake and south of Pacific Creek, swifter water and route-finding challenges make rafting a skilled boater’s game. 

If you’re not an advanced boater, never fear: Quite a few outfitters will guide you. Grand Teton Lodge Company (tel. 307/543-2811; www.gtlc.com) runs 10-mile floats on two sections of the Snake River ($75 adults, $48 kids 6–11) and offers meal trips with burgers and hot dogs at lunch or steak and trout at dinner ($78–$88 adults, $55–$60 kids). Signal Mountain Lodge’s (tel. 307/543-2831; www.signalmountainlodge.com) 10-mile floats cost $76 for adults and $47 for kids 6 to 12. Check www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/boat.htm for a list of the other rafting concessionaires who operate trips in the park. Many of these outfitters also offer whitewater trips south of the park.

Horseback Riding: Horses are allowed on some park trails; some backcountry camping zones also allow stock. The most popular trailheads for BYO horse rides are String and Leigh Lakes, Poker Flats, and Taggart Lake. A few outfitters also offer guided horseback rides in the park: Grand Teton Lodge Company (tel. 307/543-2811; www.gtlc.com) has 1- and 2-hour rides out of Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, and Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch ($43–$80). Guests at the nearby Lost Creek Ranch & Spa (tel. 307/733-3435; www.lostcreekcom) and Jenny Lake Lodge (tel. 307/543-3100; www.gtlc.com) also enjoy horseback riding options.