Grand Teton National Park With Kids

Making The Most Of A Weekend At Grand Teton National Park With Kids

Fresh off of a 22-day Road Trip through the American West, Amy over at Pit Stops For Kids has put together an informative article for our readers in anticipation of Fee Free Days at our National Parks this coming weekend. We hope you enjoy!

Grand Teton National Park is one of those destinations that sneak up and surprise you with its (often unsung) beauty and dignity. And it need not worry about being upstaged by next door neighbor Yellowstone; what Teton lacks in geysers it more than makes up for in lack of traffic and crowds and an abundance of hiking, rafting, horseback riding, fishing, and camping.

Located directly to the south of Yellowstone (one park admission gets you into both), Grand Teton is manageable in size, making it easy for families to plan morning and afternoon activities with a mid-day break at their hotel, lodge, or campground. If you have time, day trips to both Yellowstone and Jackson Hole are worthwhile, but if only have a weekend (or just prefer to stay put), there’s plenty to keep you occupied within the park boundaries.

What to See with Kids:

Jenny Lake and Surrounding Areas: Many Grand Teton lakes will vie for your attention, but our families favorite hiking was along the shore of Jenny Lake and up to Hidden Falls. This beautiful landmark can be accessed by either hiking trail from the String Lakes Trailhead (1.5 mile hike in on level terrain) or by shuttle boat from the Jenny Lake Dock by Jenny Lake Lodge.

Jackson Lake by Horseback: Experience Grand Teton true cowboy-style with a horseback ride in the Jackson Lake area. (Stables are located at Colter Bay Village.) As you ride, your ‘wrangler’ will tell you many facts about the area, you’ll get plenty of photo ops of the mountains, and maybe spot some wildlife. Kids as young as eight can ride and it’s a great way to cover more ground than you would hiking!

Grand Teton Range by Bike: Bring or rent bikes to take advantage of the 8-mile-long multi-use pathway that runs along the Teton Park Road from Moose to South Jenny Lake through breathtaking scenery. The path is exposed, so plan on morning or evening bike rides!

Where to Stay with Kids:

There are several good lodging options within the park, but for lake access and family conveniences, moderately-priced Colter Bay Village cannot be beat. Truly an entire community of its own, Colter Bay has a marina with boat and canoe rentals, horseback stables (see above), two family friendly restaurants, a visitor’s center with a Native American heritage center, a convenience store, and a campground, tent cabins, or full cabins to choose from. Our family opted for a cabin, and found both the location (yards from the lake) and amenities (comfortable beds, private bathroom with shower, in-cabin heater) to be a nice change to roughing it. Add the evening campfire program and ice cream for sale in the store, and you’ve got kid heaven!