Grand Teton National Park is situated between the town of Jackson WY to the south, Yellowstone National Park to the North, and the Gros Ventre Mountains to the East. It encompasses much of Jackson Hole (the valley) and the Teton Mountain Range, and sits adjacent to the National Elk Refuge. At 310,000 acres, it's relatively small compared to Yellowstone, its big brother to the north. At the base of the Teton Mountain Range, the park includes a "string of pearls" series of lakes that adorn the neck of the range and provide some of the most dramatic places from which to view the mountains and the valley. For those in good physical condition, the park offers some of the most challenging and beautiful hiking trails in the world, several of which connect to trail networks on the south and west sides of the range. In the winter, back country skiers escape the bounds of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, to endlessly ski many of these same trails. The park was established in 1929, originally consisting of only 96,000 acres. It has expanded significantly since then, most notably in 1950 when Jackson Hole National Monument, including 35,000 acres previously owned by John D. Rockefeller, was incorporated into the park. It continues to grow incrementally as private ranches are incorporated as part of past generations' succession plans. It is home to some of the world's most interesting and beautiful flora, fauna and wildlife. Beyond the parking lots, it rapidly turns into pristine territory that remains mostly unspoiled by human hands and feet. If there is a heaven on earth, this is it! The photos in this gallery offer a small sample of the incredible places contained in Grand Teton National Park. The views include Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, the historical Mormon Barns, and some panoramic scenes from the center of Jackson Hole.
