While the majestic Teton Mountains captivate many tourists, the wildlife in Grand Teton National Park is another top attraction. With more than 310,000 acres, knowing where to spot wildlife in the park can be tricky.
It’s best to have a plan and narrow your focus to a few key areas.
Today we’re posting our best tips to spot moose, elk, and other wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. Get your camera’s ready, those Instagram-worthy shots are coming soon!
Related: Visit all the National Parks in Wyoming
The key thing to know:
Our best suggestion for spotting wildlife in any of the national parks? Get off the highway.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but millions of people visit Grand Teton National Park every year and never travel off Highway 89/191 that extends the length of the park. The best chance you have to see wildlife in Grand Teton National Park is by moving away from the visitor center parking lots and into the more remote sections of the park.
A multi-day backpacking trip is not necessary. But a day hike or a picnic lunch near one of the six moraine lakes at the base of the Teton Mountains will dramatically increase your odds of seeing wildlife during your visit.
You know you’re at the best spot to see wildlife in Grand Teton National Park when at dusk, the line of cars in the pull-outs belong to Jackson, Wyoming natives and not a rental car company.
You also might consider these wildlife hotspots in the park:
1. Oxbow Bend
Between Moran Junction and Jackson Lake Junction is the Oxbow Bend Turnout. It is one of the most popular wildlife viewing areas by both Jackson locals and visiting wildlife photographers.
Moose, deer, and the occasional bear frequent the river flats in this area. Smaller wildlife (otters, bald eagles, swans, etc.) regularly dot the landscape as well. If you’ve seen stunning photos of golden river sunsets in Jackson, chances are you’re seeing shots of Oxbow Bend.
2. Antelope Flats Road
Travel south from Oxbow Bend along the main park highway and you’ll meet a left-hand turn to Antelope Flats.
In 2016 the National Park Service acquired an additional 640 acres of land in the Antelope Flats area. With good reason — as its name suggests — the area is a popular place for wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. Pronghorn aren’t the only animals you’ll see here either. Visitors can see bison and dozens of bird species. The area also lies along the migration route for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s large elk population.
One of the best features? It’s a spot for a 360° unobstructed view of Jackson Hole Valley, something you won’t find in many other places in the park.
3. Moose-Wilson Road
Moose-Wilson Road is the 8-mile route between Teton Village at the southern entrance of Grand Teton National Park and the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. While we cannot guarantee a moose sighting, visitors who leave early in the morning or in the late evening just might spot one. The underbrush or along the slopes of the roadside are good places to point your camera lens in this area.
Bonus Spot: The National Museum of Wildlife Art
If you’re not lucky enough to spot wildlife in any of these locations in Grand Teton, be sure to check out the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming.
It’s one of the premier collections of wildlife photography, sculpture and other art in the world and definitely not to be missed!
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