Colter Bay and Jackson Lake Area
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We rolled into Grand Teton National Park and were greeted by a massive herd of bison, several hundred strong, right off the road. We stopped to take it in for a few minutes, but didn’t linger long as we were ready to settle in at Colter Bay Campground and relax after a day on the road.
Bison off of Hwy 191
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We quickly learned that wildlife in the Tetons comes out early and late, so the next morning, for the first time on this entire trip, we were out the door at 5:30 AM. We hit all the supposed wildlife hotspots near the campground and cruised down Willow Flats Road, a classic moose spot. And… nothing. Not a single animal. But with those stunning early morning Teton views, we couldn’t be too mad.
By 6:00 AM, we were on the trail hiking the Heron Pond and Swan Lake loops near Jackson Lake. At Heron Pond, we spotted American White Pelicans gliding among the lily pads and perched on a narrow spit of land jutting out from the bank. I zoomed in and took some photos while Danny scanned the area with binoculars. He thought he saw an eagle, but I didn’t. After reviewing my photos later, I spotted the back of a juvenile bald eagle perched right amongst the pelicans.
At Swan Lake, we came across two Sandhill Cranes with a colt, barely visible in the reeds. One of the adults clearly wasn’t thrilled about us being there. It marched out of the lake, squawking and pacing in front of us making a scene. I took a few quick shots and walked away, leaving the cranky parent behind.
The mosquitoes were absolutely relentless, despite it being a chilly 50 degrees F. As long as we were moving, it was manageable. Stop for a second, and it was instant swarm mode.
After lunch and some rest back at camp, we headed out again. We checked out the Jackson Lake Dam. Then drove up to the Signal Mountain Summit, which delivered sweeping panoramic views of the Tetons, Jackson Lake, and the Snake River winding through the valley below. Afterwards, we did the short Potholes Trail along the Teton Park Road, which showcased glacial depressions that look like divots scattered across the terrain. A divot in the landscape wasn’t particularly intriguing, but hey—the beautiful Tetons hung in the background. Just past that, we stopped at the Teton Glacier Turnout, which gave us a stunning view of the mountains framed by yellow wildflowers, a real postcard moment.
That evening, we capped things off with an 8 PM ranger talk on predators in the park. The room was packed with adults and kids, and the ranger did great. He kept it engaging and interesting for all age groups. Did you know a bald eagle’s grip strength can reach up to 400–500 psi, compared to a human’s 30–80 psi? Strong enough to crush bone or snatch prey in a blink. Impressive… and a little terrifying.
By 6:00 AM, we were on the trail hiking the Heron Pond and Swan Lake loops near Jackson Lake. At Heron Pond, we spotted American White Pelicans gliding among the lily pads and perched on a narrow spit of land jutting out from the bank. I zoomed in and took some photos while Danny scanned the area with binoculars. He thought he saw an eagle, but I didn’t. After reviewing my photos later, I spotted the back of a juvenile bald eagle perched right amongst the pelicans.
At Swan Lake, we came across two Sandhill Cranes with a colt, barely visible in the reeds. One of the adults clearly wasn’t thrilled about us being there. It marched out of the lake, squawking and pacing in front of us making a scene. I took a few quick shots and walked away, leaving the cranky parent behind.
The mosquitoes were absolutely relentless, despite it being a chilly 50 degrees F. As long as we were moving, it was manageable. Stop for a second, and it was instant swarm mode.
After lunch and some rest back at camp, we headed out again. We checked out the Jackson Lake Dam. Then drove up to the Signal Mountain Summit, which delivered sweeping panoramic views of the Tetons, Jackson Lake, and the Snake River winding through the valley below. Afterwards, we did the short Potholes Trail along the Teton Park Road, which showcased glacial depressions that look like divots scattered across the terrain. A divot in the landscape wasn’t particularly intriguing, but hey—the beautiful Tetons hung in the background. Just past that, we stopped at the Teton Glacier Turnout, which gave us a stunning view of the mountains framed by yellow wildflowers, a real postcard moment.
That evening, we capped things off with an 8 PM ranger talk on predators in the park. The room was packed with adults and kids, and the ranger did great. He kept it engaging and interesting for all age groups. Did you know a bald eagle’s grip strength can reach up to 400–500 psi, compared to a human’s 30–80 psi? Strong enough to crush bone or snatch prey in a blink. Impressive… and a little terrifying.