Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton and Yellowstone are like sisters, or maybe first cousins. They border each other and are part of the same connected ecosystem, so they have similar wildlife. But they are very different parks. Yellowstone is about vast landscapes, geothermal features, and abundant wildlife. Grand Teton is about a series of rugged peaks that rise sharply from the valley floor.

Their gateway towns are quite different as well. Yellowstone’s gateways feel like western small towns. They are economically dominated by the park, but they still feel like mountain towns. Jackson is another world, with the feel of a ritzy resort town full of high-end galleries, restaurants, and shops.

The Tetons are well worth visiting. The scenery is sharp, dramatic, and immediately beautiful. If Yellowstone is sprawling and untamed, Grand Teton is concentrated and iconic.