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Best sunrise and sunset Grand Teton National Park

Best sunrise and sunset Grand Teton National Park

Old May 5th, 2013, 04:08 AM
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Best sunrise and sunset Grand Teton National Park

We will be visiting in June (arriving late afternoon on the 8th and leaving for Yellowstone on the 10th) so I will have two sunsets and two sunrises to decide where to go for those photos. We will be staying at Jackson Lake Lodge and will plan our days around the morning and evening spots that we choose. What would be your choices? Any sample iteneraries with those choices in mind would also be welcome.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 04:12 AM
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I like any lake with a reflection of the mountains. Being up for Sunrise and Sunset has an added bonus of increased chances of seeing wildlife too.

Do you plan on hiking at those times or are you just asking about driving to a certain spot?

Are you doing any Lake Tours or floating on the Snake River?
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Old May 5th, 2013, 04:14 AM
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Driving to a certain spot for sunrise/sunset. We may do short hikes during the day but that is too early to get the kids awake and make them hike.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 05:29 AM
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Sunrise.
If you are facing the mountains the sun will be coming up behind you. That's good.

On the southern portion of the outside road
- Mormon Row Barns. The Tetons will be behind the barns. Turn right (east) off the outside road at Antelope Flats Road. Drive a couple of minutes to the first north/south road. One barn is just nort and the other is just south.

- Schwabacher's Landing. Go a mile or so north of Antelope Flats Road. About a minute or two. I believe there's a sign on the road but it's very close to the turnoff so be careful. Almost all people only stop at the roadside pullouts. Not us photographers. Turn left (west) at the sign for the landing. You'll drive about a half mile on a dirt road and be almost the only one there. There's a parking area. But now you'll have the Tetons reflecting in the Snake River. Beautiful.

- Oxbow Bend. This is just about where the inside and outside roads meet meet between Signal Mtn and Coulter Bay. Great sunrise but also popular for sunset. Since its right on the road with a nice size parking area you probably won't be alone. Possibly some wildlife viewing here.

I also got some very good sunrise photos at xSignal Mtn Lodge looking out over Jackson Lake with Mt Moran in the background.

Also fairly similar but different sunrise views at an auto pullout / parking area part way up Signal Mtn just south of Signal Mtn Lodge.

Sunset is a different issue. Since the sun sets on the west side of the mountains there aren't as many great views. Try Oxbow Bend if the sun is somewhat to the side.

You can see my photos of this trip and most of the above at:
www.travelwalks.com
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Old May 5th, 2013, 06:07 AM
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Great photos. One more question for you: If staying at Jackson Lake Lodge would it still be feasable to do Schwabacher Landing or Mormon Row for sunrise. According to the internet it appears to be 57 minute drive and I have read the warnings about driving while dark out. Would it be light enough to drive and make it there by sunrise?
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Old May 5th, 2013, 06:18 AM
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Jackson lake Lodge isn't on the lake. Using Google Maps it shows the distance as 19 miles or 26 minutes.

You don't have to be there at actual sunrise as the sun has to be high enough to light up the mountains somewhat. You just don't want blaring sun. The photos I took are not at first sun but still a bit early. Also, it starts to get light before sunrise so you get some time then.

It's not like Bryce Canyon where the first 15 minutes are what you want.

You always have to be careful driving in the dark. Just drive slowly and watch out.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 06:19 AM
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http://www.wyofoto.com/Teton_Photo_Map.htm

A good map of Grand Tetons showing some good locations. Click on the map.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 09:35 AM
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Keep in touch with the news on any fires in California, Utah or generally west of Jackson. We were there last August and the smoke haze diminished much of the grandeur of the Tetons. The smoke was more pronounced as the day went on (something about the rise in temperature with the density of the smoke) so sunrises may be better than sunsets. I would have thought June would be safer before the fires get going, but they are already having them in California. So the locals may know best where to go if smoke is an issue in June.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 01:59 PM
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Sunset from signal mountain lodge is not so bad.
If you have chance of some "clouds"( a little) , not too much it can be really terrific.
I put a pictures on my tripavdvisor reviews 4 years ago
Erik
On tripadvisor it´s dated from august,18 2009 both on signal mountain lodge-hotel and Peak´s restaurant under the name Monpetit
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Old May 5th, 2013, 04:29 PM
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Hi Erik.

Maybe we'll get together for dinner at Rising Sun. I think we overlap a couple of days there this summer.
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Old May 5th, 2013, 06:15 PM
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Normally yes.
We are at Rising sun nights august 9th and 10th and then Swiftcurrent for 3 nights
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Old May 6th, 2013, 03:51 AM
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I'm going with a friend.

We're at Swiftcurrent nights of Aug 4, 5, 6
and Rising Sun nights of Aug 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
and Banff & Jasper Aug 12, 13.
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Old May 6th, 2013, 07:51 AM
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So we have 2 nights same days in rising sun...
Normally while in rising sun we have diner at two flat dogs about 7-7'30 as Anny after a day hike likes to swim in the lake.
Wéll see how to organise this just before departure...
Erik
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Old May 6th, 2013, 09:25 AM
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Would be fun if we could get together after all of the posts.
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