Wyoming
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Wyoming gives you the essential experience of America's wildest state, from the extraordinary jagged peaks of Grand Teton National Park rising directly from the valley floor without foothills in the most dramatic mountain front in America to the geysers, hot springs and bison herds of Yellowstone National Park. This route covers the heart of Wyoming. The extraordinary Snake River Overlook where Ansel Adams made his most celebrated photograph, the extraordinary Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon of Grand Teton, the extraordinary Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring of Yellowstone and the finest elk and bison wildlife viewing in the American West.
Best Time To Visit
June to September for all roads open and peak wildlife
Getting There
Fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) inside Grand Teton NP
Getting Around
Rental car essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx $140 to $220 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some high-altitude hiking
DAY 1
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
SNAKE RIVER OVERLOOK AND THE GRAND TETON VIEWPOINTS
The Snake River Overlook is the most extraordinary mountain viewpoint in America, the exact location where Ansel Adams made his most celebrated photograph in 1942, the Teton Range rising 7,000 feet above the valley floor without foothills in the most dramatic mountain front on the continent. The Oxbow Bend viewpoint with its extraordinary moose, trumpeter swans and bald eagles in the Snake River wetlands is equally extraordinary. Both free with park entry. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
JENNY LAKE AND CASCADE CANYON, THE FINEST DAY HIKE IN GRAND TETON
Jenny Lake is the most extraordinary alpine lake in Grand Teton National Park, its extraordinary turquoise water reflecting the sheer face of the Teton Range. The boat shuttle across the lake to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point trail gives the most extraordinary close-range view of the Cathedral Group in the park. The Cascade Canyon trail beyond Inspiration Point is the finest wilderness hike in Wyoming. Shuttle approx $10. Entry $35 per vehicle. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
MORMON ROW AND THE ANTELOPE FLATS
The Mormon Row historic district is the most photographed collection of barns in America, its extraordinary T.A. Moulton Barn standing against the full panorama of the Teton Range in a view that defines the American West. The Antelope Flats road running east from the barns gives extraordinary close-range viewing of pronghorn, bison and ground squirrel. The bison herd grazing beneath the Tetons at sunset is the most extraordinary wildlife scene in Wyoming. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Schwabacher Landing on the Snake River is the finest hidden sunrise viewpoint in Grand Teton National Park, its extraordinary beaver ponds reflecting the Teton Range in perfect stillness at dawn with moose regularly feeding in the willows. Almost entirely unknown to visitors who go to the Snake River Overlook. Free. Turn off Teton Park Road 5 miles north of Moose.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Persephone Bakery, Jackson The finest bakery in Wyoming. Extraordinary pastries, local eggs and the best coffee in the valley. | Lunch: Dornan's Pizza and Pasta, Moose Outstanding casual lunch inside Grand Teton with extraordinary Teton views from the deck. | Dinner: The Handle Bar, Hotel Jackson Extraordinary Wyoming bison, elk and trout in the finest restaurant in Jackson Hole.
DAY 2
JACKSON HOLE
MORNING
NATIONAL ELK REFUGE AND THE WILDLIFE OF JACKSON HOLE
The National Elk Refuge adjacent to Jackson is the most extraordinary wildlife refuge in the American West, its extraordinary 25,000 acres of valley floor wintering up to 10,000 Rocky Mountain elk each year from November to May. The elk and bison herds are year-round inhabitants of the refuge flats. The National Museum of Wildlife Art overlooking the refuge contains the finest collection of wildlife art in America. Entry to museum approx $15. Refuge free. Drive: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
JACKSON TOWN SQUARE AND TETON VILLAGE
Jackson is the most extraordinary mountain town in America, its extraordinary Town Square with elk antler arches, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the finest concentration of galleries and outfitters in the West giving a destination unlike any other in Wyoming. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at Teton Village has the finest vertical drop of any ski resort in the United States and gives extraordinary aerial tram views to 10,450 feet in summer. Tram approx $40. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
SNAKE RIVER FLOAT TRIP AND THE VALLEY FLOOR
A float trip on the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park is the most extraordinary way to experience the valley, the extraordinary 10-mile section from Deadman's Bar to Moose giving face-on views of the Teton Range from river level as bald eagles fish overhead and moose wade the shallows. Commercial trips from Jackson give the finest guided experience with wildlife interpretation. Float trip approx $65.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Granite Canyon in Grand Teton, accessed from the Granite Canyon trailhead south of Teton Village, is the finest uncrowded backcountry valley in the park, its extraordinary trail through open sagebrush and forest giving views of the southern Tetons almost entirely without other hikers. Free with park entry. Almost entirely unknown to visitors who hike only Cascade Canyon.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Creekside Market, Jackson Coffee and breakfast burritos before the elk refuge opens. The finest quick breakfast in Jackson. | Lunch: Gather, Jackson Outstanding farm-to-table lunch on the Town Square. Local bison, elk and Wyoming craft beer. | Dinner: Snake River Grill, Jackson The finest restaurant in Jackson. Extraordinary local elk, bison and the best wine list in Wyoming.
DAY 3
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
OLD FAITHFUL AND THE UPPER GEYSER BASIN
Old Faithful is the most extraordinary geyser in the world, its extraordinary eruption of boiling water to heights of 130 feet occurring with extraordinary regularity approximately every 90 minutes. The Upper Geyser Basin surrounding Old Faithful contains the largest concentration of geysers on earth. The Grand Geyser, Morning Glory Pool and the extraordinary Beehive Geyser are all within a 1-mile walk. Arrive before 9am. Entry $35 per vehicle. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY HOT SPRING IN THE WORLD
Grand Prismatic Spring is the most extraordinary hot spring in the world and the third largest hot spring on earth, its extraordinary concentric rings of vivid color from deep blue at the center through turquoise, green, yellow and orange created by heat-loving bacteria at different temperatures. The Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk gives a partial view. The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook trail gives the full extraordinary aerial perspective. Free with park entry. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
LAMAR VALLEY, THE AMERICAN SERENGETI
Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone is the most extraordinary wildlife destination in America, its extraordinary open grasslands home to the largest free-roaming bison herd in the world, reintroduced wolf packs, grizzly bears, pronghorn and coyotes. The valley at dawn and dusk is most extraordinary. The Lamar Valley road gives pullout after pullout for wildlife watching from the car. Free with Yellowstone entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Fairy Falls trail in Yellowstone leads to both the 197-foot Fairy Falls and the finest elevated view of Grand Prismatic Spring, its extraordinary turquoise and orange thermal pool visible in full from the overlook reached by a short side trail. The falls are extraordinary and far less visited than the boardwalk. Free with park entry. 5.4 miles round trip.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Old Faithful Inn dining room The most extraordinary breakfast setting in Yellowstone. Classic lodge dining beneath the extraordinary log ceiling. | Lunch: Picnic at Yellowstone Lake Pack lunch from West Yellowstone. The extraordinary shoreline of the largest high-altitude lake in North America. | Dinner: Wild West Yellowstone, West Yellowstone Outstanding Montana beef, local trout and Wyoming craft beer in the finest gateway town.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Jackson, Nights 1 to 2 Hotel Jackson or Amangani resort above the valley. Approx $180 to $500 per night. Moose or Kelly, Night 2 alt. Triangle X Ranch or Spur Ranch Cabins in the park. Approx $150 to $280 per night. West Yellowstone, Night 3 The Yellowstone Hotel or Kelly Inn. Approx $120 to $200 per night.
Top Tips
1. Snake River Overlook at sunrise with the Tetons reflected in the river is the most extraordinary view in Wyoming.
2. Jenny Lake boat shuttle saves 4 miles round trip for Cascade Canyon. Book ahead in July and August.
3. Old Faithful is most extraordinary in winter when steam and snow create extraordinary contrast. Summer: arrive before 9am.
4. Lamar Valley in Yellowstone at dawn is the finest wildlife experience in America. Bison, wolves and bears at first light.
5. Jackson Town Square elk antler arches are free. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is the finest honky-tonk in Wyoming.
6. Grand Prismatic Spring viewed from the overlook trail is extraordinary. The boardwalk gives only a partial view.
Total Budget
$140 to $220/day