Looking for great Grand Teton vantage points and hikes?
 

We will be leaving over labor day weekend and hitting Yellowstone for a few days and then heading south to Grand Teton's. I've been told about a good hike around Jenny Lake, beyond that I'm in the dark. I'd like some tips on where to go and maybe how to get there for some great stuff in the park. I'm a photographer making my first trip over and I'm looking to shoot some great landscape photos. I'd love to see the wildlife, but I'm more interested in photographing the landscapes.

I'm also curious about roads around GTNP, are there just the main roads you see on the main maps or are "forest road" type roads as well. I'm looking for ways to get away from any crowds.

Thanks for the help!

Dave

Drive up to the Signal Mountain overlook in the AM with sun at your back or around sunset-you have the lakes in front and the mountains behind them. If you can get it with fog/low clouds hanging over the lakes and clear above (as I did) it makes an ever better shot.

In Grand Teton ,one of the nice hike is the Cascade Canyon :
you take the boat at Jenny Lake and then from here, depending
your physical condition : hidden falls, inspiration point, cascade canyon and if you want really a great scenery, hike till Lake Solitude.
The falls are nice, the panorama from the overlook is great.
The canyon itself has a lot of nice spots for pictures and then the fork to lake Solitude is in open meadows, some woods
and the site of the lake is tremendous.
When you come back down the scenery looks totally different for this part as you have the Tetons in background.
Some wildlife(moose, elk) could be seen in the canyon, and a lot of marmots, pica are seen in the fork.
It's long but not too strenous(the denivellation is strenous in the first mile to the overlook, and then it's gentle till the lake.
For roads, I think there is only the one seen on maps..In fact, in GT you are immediatly in the trails for the part between southentrance and Signal mountain.
Then, it's more "flat" , from Signal to Jackson lodge, with
more wildlife than scenery.
We have made here : Phelps lake(+), Bradley and Taggart Lk(++)
Holy lake(+++) and Lk Solitude(++++).Perhaps the order of my list is not so objective because weather was absolutely fabulous for Holy Lk and Lk Solitude and not too nice for the 2 others. Otherwise, all the hikes we do worth the efforts...
Erik

Here are two great photo ops in the Grand Teton:
1. Stop at the Oxbow Bend overlook. The scene is magnificent. And, if you're lucky, the fall foliage season will be starting and the setting is even more magnificent.
2. Drive down Antelope Flats Road. First, you'll be closeup to a bison herd. Then, even more memorable is the view of the Moulton Barn with the snow-capped mountains in the background.
Those are but two of many. As a photographer, I can tell you that it gets no better than what opportunities you'll have in the Grand Teton.

Thanks guys, these are great leads! The more I look up the more these tips make sense. I'm making some "must do's" list now and Oxbow will be on there along with the other hikes you mentioned.

While researching I realized something about out lodging choices and I'd like some opinions here if I could: We are currently booked to spend 2 nights at a private cottage at Signal Mountain Lodge and then 2 nights at Colter Bay again in a 1 bed private cabin (both pretty modest from what I can tell). My question is Signal Mt seems to look a little nicer than Colter Bay from the pictures anyway. Provided I could actually get my room reservation extended, would you think we'd be better off staying put at SML or should we try out CB for the 2 nights?

Thanks again for the help!

Agree with monpetit's Cascade Canyon/Jenny Lake hike recommendation (Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls are great along the way). At Colter Bay, would suggest the Lakeshore Trail and Heron Pond/Swan Lake loop.

I don't know Colter Bay as we stay our 3 nights at Signal Mountain Lodge.It was great...We had what they call a lakeview retreat, in fact a 2 rooms : kitchnett/living room and a bedroom + bathroom directly on the lakeshore. So the view on evening and morning is awesome.If you can extend the sejour here ,I think it will be great. GT is not a so large park and so the trailheeads are not so far from anywhere you are.
The Peaks restaurant is of good value and breakfasts are great, both with view.
I've began a report on our trip in the region.
Erik

Have you seen this book? I got it a few years ago for photo info for my first rip to GTNP. As mentioned Oxbow bend and Mormon's row are must dos. Schwabachers Landing is also very nice.

http://books.google.com/books?id=tMW...age&q=&f=false

Whoa! Long link. I got it from Amazon for about $14.

Have a great trip.

In our opinion, the views off of the Signal Mountain Auto Road are spectacular. There's a turnoff just before the summit (can't remember the name of it) which has views that beat any other in the area. Also, if you are able to get to Jackson Hole, take the tram to the top of Rendezvous Mtn for some super pictures. Mormon's Row area is nice, too, and is featured on many a calendar.

I'll second the recommendation of the "Photographer's Guide to Yellowstone & the Tetons." I got some great tips from it.

Hey Chuck, I'm on the verge of ordering the book you recommended, but I have one question. I'm actually a professional photographer, I've been shooting commercially for over 10 years and doing landscapes for a hobby for even longer, I don't mean to sound like a "know it all" far from it, but my question is having quite a lot of general experience is this book going to tell me enough specially about the parks to make it worth my while?

Again, I don't want to sound arrogant, but also don't want to buy a book unless it's going to help me. I by no means have any clue about getting around these parks or the nice details that I'm asking for help here on, so if the book can give me more, I'll send for it today!

12 Days before the trip!

As a serious amateur" protographer, I'd strongly recommend the book...even for a professional photographer. It's loaded with helpful information....and some great examples of the photographic beauty of the two parks as well.

I'm not sure why you are moving from Signal Mountain to Colter Bay. I haven't stayed at Colter Bay (drove through it once just to see it), but none of the lodging inside the park (Jackson Lodge, Jenny Lodge, Signal Mountain or Colter Bay) are far enough apart to warrant,IMO, moving from one to the other. Jenny Lodge is more private and, I think, more expensive. Jackson Lodge is a pretty busy area and the largest -- we generally stop in there to eat and for the view. Signal Mountain is smaller and quieter with mostly the people staying there in the restaurants. It is on the lake with a great view also. Colter Bay appears to me to be more a camping type area with a general store. You can eat at any of them.

In a panic about 10 months ago with fear from rumors of places filling up, I made all of our reservations without fully doing the research. So when I booked Colter Bay I was thinking it was GT Lodge, and in the southern area of the park.

I just called Signal Mt and they are fully booked with exception to their big cabins which the two of us really don't need. So, we'll see Signal Mt and Colter Bay on the this trip!

And Howard & Chuck, I ordered the book, with the 2 referrals and the strong recommendations, I'll take the chance. I'll let you know what I think.

Thanks again everyone for the help!

Two main roads go next to the Tetons. The Teton Park Road and John D. Rockefeller Hwy. The Park Road splits from the highway around Moose and rejoins it again around Jackson Lodge. There are many viewpoints along the Rockefeller Parkway. The Tetons are to the west so you want to figure time of day into your photography. You can follow this on a map, but you want to drive the Teton Park Road also. There is a one way road by Jenny Lake you want to take. Also, Signal Mountain Road as mentioned above.

If you have time, Pacific Creek Road (some of it not paved, but we did fine in a regular car) by Emma Matilda and Two Ocean Lake is a drive with few people taking it. You can drive Antelope Flats Rd to Mormon Row and a dirt road connects it to Gros Ventre Road. Also, you can take Moose-Wilson Road from Teton Village area to Moose Junction. There is also a dirt road right next to Oxbow Bend (it is a rough road, but people are finding out about it and there are usually a couple of cars on it). There are also mountains on the east side of Jackson Hole. We took a drive on Gros Ventre road to the Gros Ventre Slide (there is a short hike there) which we found very interesting. Stop at the Chapel of the Transfiguration for a photo. As a photographer you will love GTNP.

I was writing the same time you were I guess. It really doesn't matter about the lodging. You can compare them and let us know.

Being a pro, you will likely not benefit as much as I did from the tips on aperture, shutter speed, filters, etc. But I think the advice on locations will be worth the price of the book. Hopefully you will agree.

The Snake River Overlook is roughly the same vantage point of Ansel Adams' famous "The Tetons-Snake River" photo.

http://www.inkjetart.com/4870/48bit/tripod.html

As mentioned above Teton Park Rd. and Jenny Lake Rd., and Gros Ventre Rd. at the slide are great spots. There is a beautiful lake created by the slide that damned the river. Was there in the late pm as a thunferstorm brewed. Great photo op with interesting sky. Watch out for lightning!

Yellowstone is great for wildlife, but as a landscape photographer I think you will be blown away by the Tetons. You will think you are in Switzerland!

I just got my copy of the book in the mail today! I've flipped through it a little and can see where it will come in handy. I need to come up with a game plan now and I'm not sure where to start, but all these leads will help!

Thanks again,

5 Days till the trip!