When visiting a super-popular destination like Grand Teton National Park, there tends to be a checklist of attractions you gotta see to make the experience complete! For example, high on the list of “things to do in Grand Tetons” are: kayak Jackson Lake, visit Moulton Barn on Mormon Row, and watch the sunset at Oxbow Bend. These types of “must-do’s” usually top tourists’ lists because they’re impressive, exhilarating, or awe-inspiring. And they definitely should be experienced! But the drawback of sticking to the “don’t-miss” list is that everyone else is there, too. If you are looking for ways to avoid crowds at Grand Tetons, read on!
Since long before the days of Social Distancing, our family strives to avoid crowds. On this short visit to the wondrous Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we found three awesome ways to spend our time away from throngs of travelers:
1) The banks of Gros Ventre. We managed to snag an RV site (on our second try) at the Gros Ventre campground within national park boundaries. Behind the campground/RV loops is a totally deserted riverbank. Lined with smooth river stones and a gentle current perfect for floating, sunbathing, splashing, and how we spent an afternoon: building a solidly engineered tipi fort! We enjoyed playing in the shade for 3 days in our creation, with no one else around.
2) Kayak on String Lake, EARLY. Grand Teton is known for beautiful lakes in the shadow of striking, jagged mountain peaks, the largest and most popular being Jenny and Jackson lakes. String Lake is tiny, narrow, and shallow from bank to bank. The water is so clear you might mistake it for a glass pane – until the paddle dips in, creating ripples of light on the lake bottom. At the north end, we ported our kayaks over a crest to Leigh Lake. There we found a perfect rock on which to enjoy our Nutella sandwiches and jump in for a refreshing swim! We only saw a handful of others on our trek, but upon return, cars had been circling the lot for an hour hoping to luck into a (our) parking spot.
3) Granite Hot Springs. Inconvenience doesn’t lend itself to popularity, but it does help when you’re looking to avoid the crowds! In this case, driving over an hour, largely on bumpy gravel roads, leads to a worthwhile reward: a secluded swimming pool fed by a natural hot spring. A rugged vehicle is recommended. There is a small fee for the pool (under $10) and no alcohol allowed so it retains a nice family atmosphere. Check out more details about Granite Hot Springs here.
It’s important to see the popular attractions in Grand Teton National Park (and all the other wonderful places we travel). But after that, especially if you’re looking for some seclusion and magical, crowd-free moments, don’t be afraid to dig deeper. Get past those top hot spots on the web search, get a local’s input, and go off the beaten path to make your travels more extraordinary!
We love to hear stories, answer questions, and share ideas! Leave a comment or question here, or follow ALL our RV travel adventures and send us a message on Instagram @renegadewinters!
