A guide to the best family-friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park!
Grand Teton is filled with over 200 miles of hiking trails, and it is hard to know where to begin when planning a family trip. We have visited the park several times with the extended family and have enjoyed so many great experiences. With several easy family-friendly hikes, miles of scenic drives, and tons of gorgeous overlooks, Grand Teton National Park is the perfect place for a vacation for the entire family!
Where is Grand Teton National Park?
Grand Teton National Park is in the northwestern part of Wyoming in Jackson County. The Teton mountains are part of the Rocky Mountain range. There is a small airport here, Jackson Hole Airport, which cruises right over the rugged peaks and can cause a slightly turbulent (but safe) landing. This is the only commercial airport in the United States located within a National Park!
Otherwise, the closest international airports are located in Denver or Salt Lake City. We visited the Tetons often when we lived in Colorado, which was about an 8 hour drive. You will need a vehicle to fully see the Tetons and the surrounding areas, there is no public transportation or shuttles available.
The Best Family Hikes in Grand Teton
These hikes aren’t just great for kids, they are also perfect for the young-at-heart! My parents came along to the Tetons on several trips with us, and were able to keep up just fine. Read on for hikes that are great for any age!
Hike to Taggart Lake
The hike to Taggart Lake was the first hike we did in the Tetons. My parents had just flown in from sea level the day before we hiked. Also our kids were 5 and 11, so we needed an easier hike in order to include everyone.
Even though it was not hard, this hike was amazingly beautiful! It is a 3.3 mile hike with only 300 feet of elevation gain and a trail difficulty of “easy”. The water is crystal clear in the lake and is well worth the trip!
Phelps Lake Overlook
Another hike rated as “easy”, the hike to the Phelps Lake Overlook is a 2 mile round trip walk with 395 feet of elevation gain. You can stop once you reach the overlook, or you can choose to continue on another 1.4 miles further to the sandy beach area.
My parents and the kids decided to stay at the overlook, and David and I went on further. I’m so glad we did because we spotted a moose wading in the lake! We turned back though when hikers ahead of us spotted a bear. We were not prepared to get face to face with any kind of wildlife on this trip! Note to self: Always pack bear spray when hiking in the Tetons.
Hike to Inspiration Point
I feel like every hike with a name like Inspiration Point is, usually, pretty inspiring. 🙂 The hike to Inspiration Point is rated “easy”, 2.2 miles round trip with 450 feet of elevation gain. Along the way are small waterfalls and the top showcases a clear view of Jenny Lake, the second largest lake in the Tetons.
Once you reach the top of Inspiration Point (which is well marked with a sign so you can’t miss it!), you can continue on several miles further into Cascade Canyon. We did this for about half a mile or so, until the clouds started to grow threatening and we decided to turn back.
Optional Add-On: Hike Around Jenny Lake
You can actually add 2.4 miles to the hike (each way) if you start at the south parking area of Jenny Lake. Or, hitch a ride on the ferry boat for a few dollars to cross the lake- which is what we did. It was a nice ride and it’s a good thing we chose this route; right after our hike the skies opened up and we would have been drenched in cold mountain rain!
Note: David and I did this hike while the kids hung out with grandma and papa on the Jenny Lake ferry. The hike itself isn’t hard but there are parts with no rails. If you are planning this hike with kids, just watch them along these sections and don’t let them go ahead.
Hike to Moose Ponds
The absolutely best hike we’ve experienced as a family is the hike to Moose Ponds in the Tetons. It is easy and relatively flat, and only 2.7 miles round trip. And it’s almost a guarantee you will see moose.
We saw 3 beautiful moose while hiking and we heard another one close by, but we didn’t want to get too close because it might be dangerous. We also saw a female moose who was hiding behind a tree in plain sight! The hike was amazing and we were lucky to see such amazing creatures in nature.
As soon as we arrived at the ponds, a massive bull moose appeared and began calling out to a female close by. Witnessing this majestic creature in action was truly a memorable experience that will stay with me forever.
Note: One item you should bring when hiking in the Tetons is bear spray. There are black and brown bears that happily make their home here, and at the end of summer when they are gearing up for winter they will eat ANYthing. Don’t let that fool you though- the bison and moose are just as dangerous as the bears! Please be cautious and keep your distance from all these magnificent but very large animals.
Bear spray can be purchased or rented in various convenience stores found near the park, and at the Jackson Hole Airport. There is a recycling area to drop both used and unused bear spray at the airport before boarding your flight home, as it is not allowed on an airplane.
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When planning any trip to a National Park we highly recommend the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. We visited Teton National Park for several days and then went into Yellowstone, so the pass paid for itself on just one trip. If you are planning on visiting more than 2 parks a year, the pass is definitely worth your investment. At some parks it even saves you time entering the park, as you can bypass the normal lines and drive right in!
Tips for hiking with kids in Grand Teton
- Bring more water than you think you will need, the Tetons are rugged and can get pretty high in elevation. These hydration packs are great for hiking with kids because of all of the different compartments for snacks, tissues, hand sanitizer, and of course for holding special rocks or shells found along the way!
- There are several hikes that are very exposed with no shade, so sunscreen is a must! Also a hat and sunglasses are helpful.
- In the late summer the mosquitoes can be awful, so bring good bug spray. Also citronella candles or tiki torches are helpful if you are camping.
- We’ve already mentioned the importance of bear spray or a bear bell, which is a must when hiking in the Tetons. Especially when hiking with kids, who will always bring snacks on the hike, which the bears can smell from miles away!
- Pack a few layers of light clothing in case the wind kicks up on any of the hikes. You are in the Rockies after all!
- A great item to travel with is a portable GPS navigation, we bring ours on every trip. This one is affordable and easy to pack!
- A set of inexpensive binoculars kept our kids busy on hikes for hours. They loved trying to see things high up in the mountains!
Other Things to do in the Tetons
The town of Jackson has plenty of restaurants and shops that our kids love exploring. And Dornan’s in the park has ice cream, gift shops, and tons of places to eat. Read our post all about everything else you can do with kids in Grand Teton National Park here!
LEARN MORE: The Best Scenic Drives in the Tetons
Now can you see why Grand Teton is our favorite park to visit with our family? We hope you enjoy the Tetons as much as we do!
More family-friendly national park guides:
Happy travels!
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