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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
Your first view of the jagged Tetons, regardless of whether you are heading north from Jackson, travelling south from Yellowstone National Park, or heading west on US26/US287 from Dubois over the Togwotee pass, is an unforgettable experience.
The Grand Teton National Park offers vastly more than just that magnificent view for a few minutes as you travel between Jackson and Yellowstone. A decision to turn off the main highway, enter the Grand Teton Park proper and spend a few days exploring it will be well rewarded. Don't pass the Tetons by.
Another fine view is to be had from the foot and horse bridge over Cottonwood Creek near the Jenny Lake parking area. Photograph (112KB)
Yet another magnificent view can be had from a footbridge near String Lake parking area.
Take the Jenny Lake boat trip (excellent value at $5 return per adult as at the summer of 2000) and walk up to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon. From the western boat dock, I would highly advise you to ignore the wooden steps straight ahead of you and instead immediately turn left - that trail is by far the easier of the two. The trail crosses several small footbridges over the creek. Photograph (150KB). There is then a very short spur trail to an excellent view of Hidden Falls from below. The trail then climbs steeply to an overlook with a truly wonderful view over Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole. I call this place "false Inspiration Point" or "mini Inspiration Point" since so many people incorrectly believe that it is the real Inspiration Point. I would highly advise anyone to make every effort to make it at least this far. The trail then climbs even more steeply, with some very narrow ledges and dangerous drop-offs, to the top of Hidden Falls and then the real Inspiration Point, which offers an even better view of Jackson Hole. From then on the trail turns west into a valley between the mountains and is much flatter along beautiful Cascade Canyon. Photograph (117KB). Photograph (128KB). A trip as far as Cascade Canyon will take most people a full day, and is in our opinion one of the best possible ways to spend a day that we know of in the USA or Canada (or anywhere else for that matter). At the far end of Cascade Canyon the trail continues to Lake Solitude, involving another steep ascent I believe, but unfortunately we've never made it that far. One minor but rather vital piece of advice - on the way back you may see a sign pointing to "Jenny Lake P.A.". Thousands must have puzzled over the meaning of "P.A.", which I can reveal means "Parking Area". If you follow the sign then you'll end up walking round Jenny Lake, which is a pleasant but lengthy walk. If you want to take the boat back then follow signs to the boat dock, not the parking area. In the summer of 1999 it appeared that the trail signs had been renewed and made more obvious - the "P.A." sign seemed to have been replaced.
Admire the excellent view of the Teton Range from Jackson Lake Lodge. You may also see some wildlife on the meadows below.
Drive up to the top of Signal Mountain for the excellent views.
Visit the fascinating and extensive Museum of Indian Art at Colter Bay. On one visit we were lucky enough to catch a demonstration of how to put up a tipi being given outside this museum.
The Menor's Ferry Historic Area, just inside the park very close to Moose Visitor Centre, tells the interesting story of the old ferry across the Snake River.
The Gros Ventre Slide and the ghost town of Kelly are also well worth a visit. Photograph (117KB). The Gros Ventre slide was a gigantic landslide which blocked the Gros Ventre River at the base of a mountain. The water slowly built up and formed a lake, and when the blockage eventually burst the resulting flood virtually destroyed the town of Kelly. The landslide can still be seen. Take the Gros Ventre Slide road east from Gros Ventre Junction on US191 near the park's southern boundary.
Be sure not to by-pass the Tetons on the way to Yellowstone - this park is definitely well worth fully exploring in its own right and it deserves the time to do this properly. In our opinion the Tetons have even more to offer than Yellowstone.
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Most recently modified 9-Dec-02