Grand Teton National Park Planning Your Time

Pack a picnic lunch and make your way to Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center for a 9 am, two-hour, guided Snake River scenic float trip (book with one of the half-dozen outfitters that offer the trip). When you're back on dry ground, drive north on Teton Park Road, stopping at scenic turnouts—don't miss Teton Glacier—until you reach the Jenny Lake ranger station. Take the 20-minute boat ride to the west shore boat dock for a short but breathtaking hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Return to your car by mid-afternoon, and follow Teton Park Road, detouring on Signal Mountain Road to the summit, where you can catch an elevated view of the Tetons.

Return to Teton Park Road and continue north, turning east at Jackson Lake Junction to Oxbow Bend or north to Willow Flats, both excellent spots for wildlife viewing before you backtrack to Jackson Lake Lodge for dinner and an evening watching the sun set over the Tetons. Or if you'd like to get back on the water, drive to Colter Bay Village Marina, where you can board a 1½-hour sunset cruise across Jackson Lake to Elk Island. You can reverse this route if you're heading south from Yellowstone: start the day with a breakfast cruise from Colter Bay and end it with a sunset float down the Snake River.