Tow­er­ing above Jack­son Hole Val­ley with jagged snow-topped peaks, Wyoming’s majes­tic Teton Moun­tains are in high relief at Grand Teton Nation­al Park. From the 13,770-foot Grand Teton to the glit­ter­ing Jen­ny and Jack­son lakes – which reflect the moun­tains in their depths – the pho­­to-ops are end­less. But the park isn’t just for moun­taineers and pho­tog­ra­phers. In the peak sum­mer sea­son, the area’s trails call to hik­ers of all abil­i­ties and reveal gems like hid­den water­falls and breath­tak­ing views of the Tetons. Mean­while, the Snake Riv­er appeals to kayak­ers, rafters and those who sim­ply fan­cy a float. His­toric dis­tricts like Menors Fer­ry and Mor­mon Row attract his­to­ry buffs inter­est­ed in the 19th-cen­­tu­ry past of this piece of West­ern Fron­tier.
The near­ly 500-square-mile park also con­tains an array of wildlife, includ­ing black bears, griz­zlies, moose, ante­lope and bison. Plus, autumn vis­i­tors can wit­ness the park light up with gold­en aspens. Trav­el­ers who want to tick off anoth­er nation­al park on the same vaca­tion can trav­el the few miles north to Yel­low­stone, which adjoins Grand Teton.