My wife and I have taken several trips to the Grand Teton’s and Yellowstone National Parks. We left in November right after Thanksgiving on our latest trip. Our main plan was to spend time in Yellowstone NP. One thing we did not look at was the park service’s calendar. In mid November thru the month of December, the park service closes Yellowstone to prepare it for winter. Come January the park host winter and snow activities. Our mistake leads to this, check the park service’s calendar when traveling to the area.
Staying In Jackson, Wyoming
We stayed in a cozy little cabin that I had found on the Airbnb site in the southwest part of Jackson. The building was a log cabin style build. It was approximately 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. Accommodations included, a queen bed, a kitchenet, and a full bathroom. At the time we were there it had a bathtub, but during our stay some of the other units were being remodeled and walk in showers were in stalled along with new flooring.
The name of the place is the Cowboy Village Resort. You can check availability on their website. They are pet friendly and are in walking distance from any restaurants and shops in the downtown area. A major attraction in Jackson is the town square. The town square has four arches made from antlers that have been shed by the elk in the area. At night, they light them up. There is a carriage ride which takes you around the area. Just remember that Jackson is a seasonal town. Some businesses may be closed or have limited staffing.
Wildlife in the Area
The area host a lot of wildlife, from bears, elk, big horn sheep, wolves and moose. Water foul and raptors are among the skies. Just north of Jackson is the National Elk Refuge. To enter the refuge, head east on East Broadway Avenue. Where the pavement ends at the refuge and the road turns to dirt. In the refuge there a few pullouts to park to see the wildlife. From a photographers view, a 500mm lens is the best for capturing the wildlife from a distance. If you look up on the hill, you may get lucky and see the big horn sheep on Miller’s Butte.
The elk can be seen mainly in the early mornings or evenings. November is hunting season, so the elk may a little hard to find. You may see herds of elk from just north of Jackson all the way up to the south entrance of the Teton NP, Moran Ranger Station on either side of the roadway. We had a very large herd run in front of our path just after the Jackson Airport turn off. If you plan to travel in that area before the sun has risen, be extremely careful.
To see bears and wolves, look for the car jams along the roadway. They may be at a good distance away to crossing the road. Give them their space as with all wildlife. Moose are harder to find. You will need to look for them. The best place to start is around the town of Moose. It is a popular area for moose, as the Snake River runs through that area.
Watch Out for Wildlife
A good place to view moose (and it is seasonal) is Schwabacher Landing. There is a short drive down the hill to a parking area. Early morning or late evening are the best times to view these animals. I have seen moose as far east toward Kelly, WY, but it is also hit or miss on a good sighting.
Bison are the next biggest animal that is seen throughout the area. They roam where ever they want. However, the majority are found in Yellowstone. Lamar Valley I believe has the largest population of bison. Hayden Valley is another good area to see bison. Also in both of these areas you could see grizzly bears and wolves.
Car jams and large gathering of people means someone has sighted some wildlife. Do not be that guy and stop or park in the roadway to see the wildlife. There are pullouts and parking areas for this, do you best to use them.
Mind your manners when it comes to the wildlife. You are in their home and they will protect their young and themselves at your expense. You do not want to be on someone’s Instagram or funniest home videos getting stomped out by the wildlife. The hospital bills will kill you if the wildlife do not.
Conclusion
The Yellowstone and Grand Tetons are seasonal, with the summer months being the busiest. You may need to make reservations months in advance to camp or lodge in the park boundaries. The town of Jackson has several hotels and Airbnb’s or short term rentals. Their biggest influx of tourism is during the summer months as well. You might find prices could be higher in the summer compared to spring/fall. Do your research, and plan ahead.
Traffic during the summer is also greater, and this means slower travels through the towns, the parks or park hot spots. You might be stuck in traffic while a herd of bison decide to walk down the roadway. Patients is a waiting game during the summer months. By the way June, July, and August are their busiest summer months. You may have snow on the ground in min June. The majority of lodging and camping end Labor Day, as the park slowly shuts down for the winter.
I hope you will enjoy the two parks. Drive safely through them and keep a watchful eye out for the wildlife, both on and off of the roadways. Leave no trace of your being, pack out what you packed in, leave only foot prints and take only pictures. Let other enjoy the same experience that you did.