A 3 Day Summer Itinerary Highlighting Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Jackson Hole
3 Days In The Parks + More
In a region abundant with bucket-list summer activities, it can be hard to map the perfect itinerary to take advantage of everything. Our Pathfinders put together a 3 day itinerary for Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks, as well as one flexible day with options for adventure. Whether you stick to this plan or not, be sure and add these options to your upcoming visit and truly make the most of your time with us.
Day 1: Grand Teton National Park
Morning
Start off with a morning Wildlife Safari of Grand Teton National Park since sunrise and sunset in the park are optimal times to view wildlife, and the lighting at these hours typically offers the most photogenic views of the Tetons. Your knowledgeable biologist will guide you to breathtaking overlooks and wildlife hot spots, describing the behavior of various species throughout your tour. Our Grand Teton sunrise and sunset tours will give you the opportunity to view bison, pronghorn, elk, moose, osprey, bald eagle, bear, wolves, and much more! Our summer sunrise and sunset tours catch wildlife at their most active, as they move about while it’s cooler in the mornings and evenings. Observe these majestic animals amidst the beauty and solitude of the changing light across Jackson Hole.
Afternoon
Drive up to Dornan’s at Moose Junction for a hearty lunch in the historic lodge, visit the nearby information/visitor center, and meet your group at the boat launch for a Scenic Float. You will launch from the Moose Junction with our partner National Park Float Trips to enjoy the original Jackson Hole scenic float trip experience entirely within Grand Teton National Park, on the most scenic stretch of the Snake River. Relax and enjoy Grand Teton National Park’s natural beauty while discovering the magic of the Snake River. Your knowledgeable river guide will lead you into a protected sanctuary of pristine wildlife, beautiful wildflowers, sagebrush plateaus, cottonwood and spruce forests, and spectacular panoramic views of the entire Teton Range. Plan for an informative and most enjoyable experience. Several departures daily.
Evening
When finished on the float around 4:30-5pm, visit nearby Jenny Lake (since you are in Moose) and either walk the 2 miles around the perimeter or take the boat across (<10 min) and take in Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls while you are up there.
Sunsets are very late to our advantage in the summer, so return to Jackson and walk around the town square, pop your head into various shops, and enjoy dinner. Pop into the Million Dollar Cowboy or the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill to enjoy live music. Most Tuesdays they will have music live in the Wort Hotel/Silver Dollar Bar.
Day 2: Yellowstone
All Day
We highly recommend a full day Yellowstone Wildlife and Geology Safari with one of our great partners. Tour the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park from Jackson Hole with one of our knowledgeable wildlife biologists. This full-day Yellowstone lower loop tour explores the abundant wildlife of Hayden Valley and the famous other-worldly thermal features in our country’s first national park, including the iconic Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring.
Other highlights include a breathtaking overlook of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a walk alongside other vibrantly colored hot springs, and the chance to spot bison, moose, bears, wolves and more.
You could do this as a day yourself self-guided driving, but we recommend joining a small guided group/private tour. This way, everyone can focus 100% on the animals and surroundings, and there are many features that the guides have local knowledge of to point out such as eagle nest with birds etc. that it would be easy to pass right by if doing a self-guided tour.
Learn more about available tours from two of our partners:
Day 3: Guided Fishing OR Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Guided Fishing
Morning & Afternoon
An early morning rise for some guided fishing on the Green, Salt, New Fork, or Snake River depending on the weather and conditions. Our partner, Rendezvous Angler’s luxury drift boats are equipped with high end fishing gear and all the necessary tackle needed for the day. The boat has dry boxes to keep your valuables dry and safe. If needed our boats have rain gear. Our pick ups times are generally around 5:30am to 7:30 am, depending on the time of year and weather. You will be picked you up in Pinedale, Hoback, or Jackson. You do not want to miss this!
You are immersed beneath the awesome majesty of the Grand Tetons. Deer and elk peacefully forage amidst the willows of the riverbank. Eagles, Osprey and numerous waterfowl seek nourishment from the rich ecosystem of the Snake River. The wisp of your fly line descends along the eddies as the rambling current of the Snake River carries you in its embrace. Suddenly, an explosive strike rips your line tight and the golden flash of the Snake River Cutthroat doubles down on your rod. Fish on!! Soon, you are cradling the shimmering golden flanks of the trout crowned with black pepper-like spots and the signature red slashes along her throat. Time ceases to exist as the silky cool skin of this remarkable creature slips from your hands and vanishes back into the pristine waters of the Snake.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned angler, this adventure is a must do!
Evening
You will finish fishing rather late, so you can either head back to Jackson for an early evening OR add a few hours of Polaris Side x Side adventure in the evening after the fishing in the Bondurant region. Our partner who launches these fishing trips also specializes in side x side tours of the beautiful wilderness in that area. A great option for dinner would be a picnic up at the lakes, which they can help set up for you.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
All Day
Take your group up to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to enjoy the summer time activities, starting off with a Tram ride to the summit when you arrive for the classic breakfast of waffles at Corbet’s Cabin. Depending on preferences, you could hike around the trails with commanding views of the valley and beautiful wildflowers, participate in Via Ferrata guided mountaineering/Alpine course, enjoy mountain biking (riding the gondola for repeat access, rather than dragging the bike up), and check out their ropes course.
Once you have had a chance to partake in all desired activities in the village, you could make a day of it by riding the Tram to the Summit and hiking down the back and out of the canyon along the side of the Valley Trail with a visit to the secluded Marion Lake in the back country. If this is a little too adventurous or too far hiking, there are plenty of enjoyable alternatives that are less remote around there, and once you’ve “had enough” of the Teton Village you can drive back into town (stopping at the West Bank) on the way and browsing the shops in downtown Jackson.
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