Everything we saw in one full day in the park, from barns and overlooks to a picnic at a lake with a view.
Enjoy the view with Mac the penguin after a picnic at String Lake
Most lists of things to do in Grand Teton assume you'll head for a trail. We're big hikers… but we visited with Jake's parents, so the plan was no long trails, no climbing, and nothing that needed boots. Instead, we enjoyed a beautiful fall day of scenic overlooks, historic barns, and short flat walks.
This guide covers the best things to do in Grand Teton and how accessible they are for non-hikers. For a day-by-day plan, see our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Hotel Jackson, Jackson — A hotel less than a five-minute walk from Jackson Town Square, with an outdoor hot tub and two restaurants.
• Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa, Teton Village — A resort at the base of the ski area, with an outdoor pool and a restaurant.
• Teton Valley Cabins, Driggs — Cabins with kitchenettes on the quieter Idaho side of the Teton Range (we stayed in Driggs).
🇺🇸 Top experiences:
• Horseback ride through Bridger-Teton National Forest from Jackson Hole — A guided ride in the national forest around Jackson, for a day away from the park roads.
• Yellowstone Lower Loop day tour from Jackson — A day tour of Yellowstone's lower loop that starts in Jackson, if you're adding the second park.
🚗 Compare car rentals at Jackson Hole Airport — Every base in this guide is a drive from the park, and you'll want a car inside it too.
Things to do in Grand Teton National Park without hiking: quick answer
The best things to do in Grand Teton without hiking are the scenic overlooks along the main park road, the historic barns on Mormon Row, a walk along the shore of Jenny Lake on the paved Discovery Trail, the Jenny Lake scenic drive or boat shuttle, and a picnic at String or Leigh Lake. Add wildlife from the car and a drive up Signal Mountain if your group likes a view. If you want a few easy hikes, the shortest are under half a mile, and the longest we'd suggest are about 3 miles round trip. The park is long and narrow, and parking at the popular stops fills early, so definitely start your day early. Our Grand Teton itinerary shows how we planned our day.
Scenic overlooks and drives: accessible viewpoints
Mormon Row is as photogenic as it gets
The goal of the first American National Parks was to make them accessible to everyone, and it’s definitely the case at Grand Teton. Some of the most impressive views are indeed a short walk from the road! Our day started very foggy and fortunately cleared by mid-morning (thanks universe, or whoever you believe in!)
Moose and the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center
Effort: a paved, flat route to a single-level building with accessible parking, restrooms, and exhibits.
Moose is a gateway between Jackson and the park, where the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center handles orientation and maps. The Park Service lists wheelchairs to borrow there.
Mormon Row
Effort: pull-off viewing with a short walk around the buildings. Parking is limited.
From Moose, Mormon Row is about a mile north on US 26/89/191, then about 1.5 miles east on Antelope Flats Road. The old Moulton homestead barns and the Pink House stand there with the Teton Range behind them. Apparently, it’s one of the most photographed spots in the park, and it’s extremely photogenic indeed! Parking is limited and often full at sunrise, midday, and sunset, so don't park on the road shoulder. It was pretty crowded when we went mid-afternoon! Mormon Row also has bison and pronghorn grazing in spring, summer, and fall, but we didn’t see any that day.
Snake River Overlook
Effort: a roadside overlook the Park Service lists as wheelchair accessible.
Snake River Overlook is about 8.5 miles north of Moose Junction on US 26/89/191. Ansel Adams photographed the Tetons and the Snake River from roughly this spot, though trees have grown since and the exact place is unknown. We also pulled off at the other overlooks along the road.
Signal Mountain Summit Road
Effort: a 5 mile paved road that climbs about 800 feet. Trailers and RVs are prohibited.
The narrow road ends at a summit with views of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole, and Jackson Lake, and it passes two overlooks on the way up. It's open in spring, summer, and fall, and closed in winter. It's a good choice if your group wants a big view from above without any walking.
Oxbow Bend and Schwabacher Landing
Effort: a paved pullout at Oxbow Bend. Schwabacher Landing is a short walk to the river.
Oxbow Bend is a paved pullout on the Snake River along US 89/191, between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. It’s home to pelicans, great blue herons, muskrats, otters, moose, and bear, and Mount Moran can reflect in the water on calm days. It also calls it a popular area for sunrise or sunset. Schwabacher Landing shows the Teton Range reflected in a braided channel of the Snake River, especially on calm mornings, and it's moose and beaver habitat.
Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake was very low when we visited due to a lack of snow in winter, and many of its viewpoints weren't at their best. If the lake is low when you go, spend the time at the mountain-side stops instead.
Jenny Lake, String Lake and Leigh Lake
What a West American postcard on our way back from String Lake!
Jenny Lake is one of the most popular stops in the park, and it’s great for short walks (although we were really tempted to do the full loop or one of the ascending trails!).
Jenny Lake Visitor Center and Discovery Trail
Effort: the Discovery Trail is about 0.35 miles, paved and wheelchair accessible.
The Jenny Lake Visitor Center sits in the historic Harrison Crandall Studio, built in the 1920s and renovated in 2019. The Discovery Trail runs from there to the lakeshore, with interpretive panels along the way. The parking lot fills in summer, and the Park Service asks you to pull fully off the shoulder if you have to park along the road. It was already pretty busy around 9am late September!
Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
Effort: a paved, one-way drive of about 3 miles. The Park Service gives 15 to 30 minutes.
This is the easiest way to see Jenny Lake from the car. You turn at North Jenny Lake Junction, head west toward the mountains, then turn left onto the drive, which skirts the east shore of the lake and rejoins Teton Park Road just north of South Jenny Lake. The Park Service lists it as open from May 1 to October 31, and mentions pulloffs for wildlife viewing and photos. Drive carefully and watch for animals on or near the road.
Jenny Lake boat shuttle
Effort: a boat ride across the lake. Reservations aren't accepted, and a fare applies.
The shuttle across Jenny Lake is run by Jenny Lake Boating. Shuttles run every 10 to 15 minutes through the day, and you buy your ticket at the East Boat Dock and board. Summer can mean lines, and the last boat leaves at the posted closing time. It’s a nice way to cross the lake, but it’s especially interesting for hikers to reach trails.
Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls from the boat dock
Distance: Hidden Falls is about 0.5 miles each way from the west dock, and Inspiration Point is about 1 mile each way. Both are trails, not walks.
The shuttle boat can get you at the trailhead. 1 mile round trip with about 300 feet of climbing, on a dirt trail with rock steps, roots, and rocks. Inspiration Point is farther on. There are no bathrooms or other facilities on the western shore. Inspiration Point is a real hike, so skip it if anyone in your group doesn’t walk at all. The hike to both from the visitor center, without the boat, is much longer.
String Lake and Leigh Lake
Effort: a short, flat walk. A half a mile of uneven compacted dirt along the east shore.
String Lake is shallow, popular for picnics and swimming, and easy to reach from the North Jenny Lake Junction on Teton Park Road. We did a short, flat walk around String and Leigh Lakes, which was lovely, and ate our picnic there. A ranger told us black bears are common around these lakes, so keep your food with you and use the bear boxes when you're done.
🐧 Penguin tip: Parking at Mormon Row, Jenny Lake, and String Lake is limited and fills early. Aim for the first part of the day, if possible. Read our Teton Hotel & Cabins guide to book the best base.
Easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park
Stunning Leigh Lake in September
We are so used to hiking in Norway that we forget a short walk of two or three miles counts as a hike for many people. If you're searching for easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park that you can do with the whole family, these are the ones we'd point you to. For the boat route to Hidden Falls, see the Jenny Lake section above.
String Lake and Leigh Lake shoreline
Distance: a short, flat walk. 3 miles roundtrip to String Lake along Leigh Lake
We walked along the beautiful Leigh Lake and enjoyed a picnic with a view by String Lake. On our way back, we saw horse riders in the lake, with the Tetons as a backdrop. What a postcard!
Menors Ferry Historic District and the Chapel of the Transfiguration
Distance: about 0.3 miles of level paths, per the Park Service hiking guide.
This is the shortest walk on the list, but we didn't do it, so it comes from the Park Service. The paths are level compacted dirt, gravel, or asphalt around the historic buildings, though some sections are too narrow for ADA standards and there are no ramps to the general store or Maud Noble's cabin. The log chapel was built on land donated by Maud Noble. It still operates as a house of worship and is open to the public for services and weddings from May through September, so visit respectfully.
Taggart Lake
Distance: 3.0 miles round trip, rated easy, with about 350 feet of climbing.
We didn't walk this one either, but the Park Service hiking guide rates it easy.
Swan Lake and Heron Pond
Distance: 3.0 miles round trip, rated easy, with about 200 feet of climbing.
A loop that starts at the Colter Bay and Hermitage Point trailhead, up at the north end of the park.
Wildlife you can watch from the car
Meeting the locals at Elk Ranch Flat turnout
You don't need a trail to see animals in Grand Teton. There are a few places where wildlife is easy to see from a pullout, although we saw more wildlife in Yellowstone (read our guide to the Things to Do in Yellowstone if you’re heading that way). Mormon Row has bison and pronghorn in spring, summer, and fall, Oxbow Bend has fish-eating birds, otters, beavers, muskrats, and moose, and Timbered Island has pronghorn through the day. Blacktail Pond has elk grazing during the cooler parts of the day.
Bears and wolves are in the park too. Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves (we’ve see bears but we’d love to see a wolf in the wild!) and 25 yards from all other wildlife, whether you're in a vehicle or on foot. Use binoculars or a long lens for close views, and obviously never feed wildlife.
For tamer animals, you’ll find some friendly horses at Elk Ranch Flat turnout!
Beyond the park: hot springs and Jackson
Loving Astoria Hot Springs (especially after the cold plunge, look at our happy faces!)
A foggy morning turned our plan upside down. We left the mountain views for the next day and spent Day 5 of our itinerary on waterfalls, hot springs, and lunch. If the weather doesn't cooperate for you either, these make a good backup. We stayed in North Driggs, Idaho, on the quieter side of the range, and our Grand Teton Hotels: Where to Stay in Wyoming and Idaho by Area covers where to sleep on each side.
Fall Creek Falls, in Idaho
These falls are near Swan Valley, Idaho, right off Highway 26. It's a short drive on a dirt road to a small parking lot and a roadside viewing area. We couldn’t resist walking down to the fall and get soaked, but the rock is slippery, so non-hikers can stay at the top.
Astoria Hot Springs Park
Astoria Hot Springs Park is about 20 minutes south of Jackson, with paved access and structured parking. It has four hot pools, a cold plunge (yay!), and a shallow children's pool, and two of the pools are accessible. Reservations are recommended, so book ahead. The light sulphur smell reminded us of our beloved Iceland!
Jackson, and local specialties at the Silver Dollar
We ate at the Silver Dollar Bar and Grill inside the Wort Hotel: bison chili, trout, and elk gyros, all local, all delicious. The hotel was built in 1941 by brothers John and Jess Wort, and the bar got its name in 1950, when an S-shaped bar inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated 1921 silver dollars was installed. Jackson is nice to walk around and if you need souvenirs, but a bit too touristy for our taste.
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
We took the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, Idaho Highway 47 east of Ashton, hoping to see the falls. The falls were closed for road and access work when we arrived, and we couldn't get to them. The Forest Service announced that the closure would begin on August 10, 2026, and was expected to continue into winter. The drive was worth it anyway, with free-roaming cattle on the road and almost nobody else. Check the status with the Ashton and Island Park Ranger District before you go.
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FAQ: Things to do in Grand Teton without hiking
The colors at this viewpoint!
What are the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park without hiking?
The scenic overlooks along the main park road, the historic barns on Mormon Row, the paved Discovery Trail at Jenny Lake, and a picnic at String Lake. Wildlife viewing from the pullouts and a drive up Signal Mountain add more without any trail.
Are there easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park?
Yes. Taggart Lake, at 3.0 miles round trip, and the Swan Lake and Heron Pond loop, also 3.0 miles round trip, are rated as easy. Menors Ferry is about 0.3 miles, and the Jenny Lake Discovery Trail is about 0.35 miles.
How does the Jenny Lake boat shuttle work?
Jenny Lake Boating runs the shuttle across the lake. According to the Park Service, boats run every 10 to 15 minutes through the day, reservations aren't accepted, and you buy a ticket at the East Boat Dock. We haven't taken it, so check Jenny Lake Boating for the season and fares.
Can you see Grand Teton in one day?
You can see the highlights. We spent one full day in the park, starting at Moose and covering Mormon Row, Snake River Overlook, Jenny Lake, and String Lake. Our morning was very foggy, so leave room to adjust.
Is Grand Teton wheelchair accessible?
Parts of it are. The Park Service lists the Jenny Lake Discovery Trail as paved and wheelchair accessible, Snake River Overlook as wheelchair accessible, and the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center as accessible with wheelchairs to borrow. Menors Ferry has level paths, but some sections are too narrow for ADA standards.
How far is the hike to Inspiration Point from the Jenny Lake boat?
The Park Service says the trail to Inspiration Point is about 1 mile each way from the west boat dock, and Hidden Falls is about 0.5 miles each way. The trails are dirt with rock steps, and there are no bathrooms on the western shore.
Is it safe to hike in Grand Teton National Park?
Bears live in the park, and the Park Service says black bears are common around String and Leigh Lakes, so keep your food with you. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and check the Park Service trail conditions page for closures before you set out. Carry a bear spray if you’re planning to hike.
When is the best time to visit Grand Teton?
We went in late September, with fall color, cool mornings, and a few foggy ones, and Jackson Lake was very low. Some roads and services are seasonal. Signal Mountain Summit Road, for example, is closed in winter, so check the Park Service pages for your dates.
Although it’s our favorite way to explore, you don't need to hike to visit Grand Teton. You need a car, an early start, and some patience for the fog. Pick the walks that fit your group, book a good base (read our Grand Teton Hotel guide) and leave the rest for the next trip. We definitely have some hikes in mind!
And if you’re planning to visit Yellowstone as well, read our Itinerary for Grand Teton & Yellowstone, as well as our Yellowstone Hotel Guide by Area.
Finally, explore all of our USA Travel Guides here.
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