One of the most daunting and grand national parks I have been to is Grand Teton National Park. This park is located in northwest Wyoming. It is full of stunning mountains and diverse wildlife. Rising more than 7,000 feet above the valley of Jackson Hole, the Teton Range dominates the park’s skyline. The summers are full of color and life while the winters can be unforgiving and bitterly cold. The Snake River winds its way through the bottom of the valley creating a beautiful picturesque scene. 

The park has a lot of cultural history that dates back to more than 10,000 years ago when paleo-Indians first visited the valley. The first Euro-American explorer who may have entered Jackson Hole was John Colter. Colter was a member of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Later, as America expanded westward, more and more travelers came to the area looking for wealth. The park did not become officially established until 1929.

The park is known for its unique geology. The mountain peaks rise 6,320-13,770 feet above the valley floor. They have been shaped by earthquakes, glaciers, and erosion. The summers are short but provide necessary relief from the harsh winters. The wildlife in the park has been  forced to adapt to the drastic weather and elevation that they call home. There are over 300 bird species located in the park as well as elk and bears. When I visited the park, I saw a bear the first day I was there grazing in the grass not far off the road. Wildlife sightings like this cause quite the traffic jam but the uniqueness is well worth it. 

The main attraction of the park is the hiking trails that it offers. This is something my family and I love to do and was why we wanted to visit this park. I distinctly remember one hike we went on in the park called the Jenny Lake Loop. We began this hike sometime in the morning. It was a beautiful day and we took our time admiring the views at different sports around the lake and had a nice picnic lunch. We could have taken a boat back across the lake at the halfway point but my dad insisted we finish the entire loop. So my family and I kept hiking. However, the weather quickly took a turn and we had to almost run the last mile of the hike. What could have been a nice 4 mile trip around the lake with a boat ride back turned into an 8 mile hike in the pouring rain with the threat of lightning. Even though that hike did not turn out to be the most enjoyable, it is something my family and I laugh about today. There are thousands of other hikes one can do in the park ranging from an easy stroll to a waterfall all the way to rock climbing. If hiking is not your forte, you can enjoy the scenic drives and wildlife of the park. 

Overall, Grand Teton National Park is the perfect place to see a stunning landscape full of wildlife. I will never forget the view of the mountains as we drove down the winding roads. It is truly an incredible place.