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Posted by Granite Head (65.213.192.3) on 07:00:16 03/25/2010
In Reply to: Grand Teton day trip posted by luckster17
The Tetons are wonderful - the drive isn't too long from Grant Village, though there are some nice things to stop and see along the way (such as Lewis Falls, and I would also recommend Crawfish Creek, very close to South Entrance) in Yellowstone. Then there's the 8-mile Rockefeller Parkway, then you arrive at GTNP.
There is a visitor center at Colter Bay (which is a pretty place to stop, and which has a nice if small American Indian Arts Museum) where you can get maps, ideas for hikes and other useful information for your day-visit.
Head south to Jackson Lake Lodge. You can have a reasonable lunch at the grille there if you like, then goggle at the beautiful lobby and go out back for the view over the flats to the mountains. Sometimes you see moose, elk, coyotes, and very rarely and excitingly, a bear out there.
The next hot-spot is Oxbow Bend, which is one of the richest wildlife-watching spots in the greater Yellowstone system. The problem is that wildlife watching there as many places, is always best in early morning and after dinner until nightfall. But stop and look. I've seen plenty of moose, black bears, lots of coyotes, beavers, muskrats, and even river otters, white pelicans, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, osprey, blue herons and many kinds of waterfowl there at different times of day and different times of the year.
At that point you can either head west/south along the inner park road, which will take you over the Jackson Lake Dam. You can drive to the top of Signal Mountain for terrific views if it's a clear day.
Then make your way southward through the park, stopping for whatever views and/or hikes interest you. You will ultimately end up at the Moose visitors center which is a nice stop. From Moose, you have some choices:
1. Head further south along the Moose-Wilson Road (great place to watch for moose) for a stop at the fantastic Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve visitor center. It's part of GTNP and is at the head of a shortish, flatish hiking trail to Phelps Lake you might enjoy.
2. You can get back on the main highway (89-191) and pop down to the town of Jackson if that interests you - the National Wildlife Art Museum at the north end of town is great (and also a lovely place to have lunch overlooking the National Elk Refuge). Fun shopping in town.
3. Head back north towards Yellowstone, you get magnificent views of the Tetons all along the way. Watch for bison and pronghorn antelope in the sage flats to the east of the highway.
Hope that's of some help. The photo was taken from the top of Signal Mountain.
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