Exploring the Area in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton is a bit like Yellowstone’s kid brother—a much smaller slice of a similar ecosystem populated by similar wildlife. But it’s also a premier national park in its own right: Few, if any, other parks can claim such a stunning mountain skyline, and the Tetons’ backcountry is the stuff of legend for hikers and river rafters. You could blaze through the park roads in a day, but you’d merely be scratching the surface of this fascinating combination of geologic artistry and ecological diversity. 

One more bonus Grand Teton has on its northern neighbor: The park’s proximity to Jackson, Wyoming, means you can easily combine the alpine wilderness with an A-list travel destination. Where else can you hike in the shadow of 13,000-plus-foot peaks by day, then sit down to a perfectly prepared steak and dance the two-step by night?