Grand Teton loop: Mormon Row, Signal Mountain and Jenny Lake

Route description

Drive north from Jackson on US-191 past the National Elk Refuge and into Grand Teton National Park. There is no entrance station on this stretch of US-191; you pay the park fee at the Moran entrance further north. Turn onto Antelope Flats Road for Mormon Row, where homestead barns stand against the mountains. Sunrise is the best time for photos, and bison often graze nearby.

Back on US-191, take the short gravel road down to Schwabacher Landing for views of the Tetons reflected in beaver ponds. Then continue north to the Snake River Overlook, where Ansel Adams took his famous photograph. At Moran Junction, turn west and continue to Jackson Lake Junction, where Oxbow Bend is a favorite place for wildlife.

South of Jackson Lake Junction, Signal Mountain Road climbs 8 km to viewpoints over the valley. The road is narrow and trailers and RVs are not allowed. Continue south on the Teton Park Road to Jenny Lake, where a shuttle boat crosses to the trail for Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Parking fills by mid-morning, so arrive early. Gros Ventre, Signal Mountain and Colter Bay campgrounds take reservations.

At Moose, stop at the visitor center, the Chapel of the Transfiguration and Menor’s Ferry. From there, the narrow Moose-Wilson Road leads through forest to Teton Village, but vehicles over 23 ft and trailers are not allowed. With a big rig, return to Jackson on US-191 and take WY-22 and WY-390 to Teton Village. The aerial tram there goes up to 3,185 m.