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Tetonscapes: The 7 Best Photo Ops Around Jackson Hole
By Jim Mahaffie
THANKS TO THE miracle of the Tetons, jagged and jutting straight up from the sea of sage that blankets our valley, the landscapes here can make the greenest photographer’s pictures—even taken on a phone!—look like coffee-table book material. What are you waiting for?
Jackson Town Square
The Shots: 1. Each corner of the Town Square is adorned with an elk antler arch 2. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and its neon bucking bronco sign are on the west side of the square.
Pro Tip: Use the sun and evening light—with four arches facing four different directions, one will always be in sunshine (provided the sun is shining).
Get There: The Town Square is defined by Broadway Avenue, Cache Street, Deloney Avenue, and Center Street.
Photo by Bradly J. Boner
Gros Ventre Road
The Shot: The Tetons in the distance with aspens and dude ranches in the foreground.
Pro Tip: In the fall, this is where you’ll find some of the valley’s best colors. Time it right and you can get a photo of orange and yellow aspens and the snow-dusted Tetons.
Get There: Six miles north of Jackson on U.S. Highway 26/89/191 at the Gros Ventre Junction, follow signs for Kelly (the first exit from the roundabout). At the tiny community of Kelly the road makes a sharp turn left (north). About three-quarters of a mile past this, Gros Ventre Road is a right-hand turn.
Photo By Ryan Dorgan
Cathedral Group Turnout
The Shot: An up-close image of the Teton Range’s Cathedral Group, the group of peaks between Cascade and Death Canyons that includes the Grand, Mt. Owen, and Teewinot Mountain.
Pro Tip: Drive a few miles farther to the one-way Scenic Loop Road and the Jenny Lake Overlook to get a photo of the same peaks, but with vivid-blue Jenny Lake in the foreground.
Get There: From Teton Park Road, turn onto the Jenny Lake Scenic Loop Road at North Jenny Lake Junction. The turnout is on the north side.
Photo by Bradly J. Boner
Schwabacher’s Landing
The Shot: Similar to an Ansel Adams classic—the Tetons with the Snake River meandering along the base of the range.
Pro Tip: At sunrise, the sun climbs into the sky at your back and spills light onto the river and mountains.
Get There: Find the clearly marked entrance on the left as you head north on U.S. Highway 26/89/191 from Grand Teton National Park’s main headquarters at Moose.
Photo by Ryan Dorgan
The Wedding Tree
The Shot: A high, open vista of the expanse of the Tetons. Whether or not to include in your shot the ancient Limber Pine and Douglas Fir that grew together and give this site its name is up to you.
Pro Tip: Because it’s in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (rather than GTNP), dogs are allowed.
Get There: Walk 5 minutes from a pullout on the south side of Gros Ventre Road; the pullout is past Gros Ventre River Ranch, but before you can see Lower Slide Lake.
Bradly J. Boner
Snow King Summit
The Shot: The Town of Jackson and the National Elk Refuge immediately below; beyond, the entirety of the Teton Range.
Pro Tip: While the biggest views are to the north, don’t neglect to look south and east where the Gros Ventre, Snake, and Wyoming Ranges stretch as far as you can see.
Get There: Ride up Snow King’s Summit Scenic Chairlift or hike 1.8 miles up (and about 1,500 vertical feet) to the 7,808-foot summit.
Photo by Ryan Dorgan
Top of Bridger Gondola
The Shot: An expansive image looking down on the Snake River and Jackson Hole and out at the surrounding mountain ranges from an elevation of 9,095 feet at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Pro Tip: The 1.5-mile Casper Ridge Loop hiking trail winds though stands of healthy, ancient whitebark pines and offers views of the Grand Teton.
Get There: The Bridger Gondola leaves from the base of Teton Village, near Jackson Hole Sports; the trip takes about 10 minutes. JH
Photo by Ryan Dorgan