Grand Teton National Park Fun Facts
Grand Teton National Park is one of the most popular U.S. National Parks. Here are some Grand Teton fun facts so you can learn a little more about this amazing place before you visit.
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It was the 8th most popular National Park in 2025 (out of 63)
Toward the end of the first quarter of the year, the United States National Park Service releases data on the recreational visits to the units they oversee for the previous calendar year. In 2025, Grand Teton National Park was the 8th most visited of all National Parks (moving up two places from 2024 recreational visits).
This ranking is based on the list of 63 National Parks, not on the full list of all 433 individual units overseen by the National Park Service.
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It’s the 23rd largest National Park by land area at 310,000 acres
Although Grand Teton is one of the most popular National Parks (landing in the top 10 in recent years), it’s nowhere near one of the largest. It ranks only at number 23 out of 63 National Parks for land area, at about 310,000 acres.
For comparison, its close neighbor Yellowstone is more than 2 million acres. Wow! The biggest National Park is Wrangel-St. Elias, and it’s more than 13 million acres. Oh boy.
Easily navigate through Grand Teton’s stunning landscape with the GuideAlong self-driving Grand Teton audio tour.
We love using GuideAlong. It’s like having a movie trailer narrator/tour guide riding right beside you in your car as you tour the park. You’ll learn about the park’s history, great ideas for where to stop, and important natural and historical features of the park, among other things.
Grand Teton is less than 10 miles from Yellowstone
The southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park is less than 10 miles from the north boundary of Grand Teton National Park. The two parks are connected by the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway.
As long as you’re already making the journey to western Wyoming, consider combining your Grand Teton National Park trip with a visit to Yellowstone. The two parks pair well, and it just makes sense to see both since they’re so close together.
For more details, see my itinerary for 7 days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
A Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole is an option if you’re short on time.
The park was established in 1929
Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929, thanks to the conservation efforts of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Horace Albright. The parkway that connects Grand Teton to Yellowstone commemorates his contributions to America’s National Parks.
Horace Albright was the second director of the National Park Service. A scenic turnout and a peak in the Teton Range are named after him.
The park is home to 61 species of mammals
The Park’s mammal species can be found in all four of Grand Teton’s major “communities”: alpine, wetland, sagebrush flats, and forest.
Grand Teton National Park animal highlights include:
- Elk
- Moose
- Black bears
- Pronghorn
- Mule deer
There are over 250 miles of hiking trails
Grand Teton is a hiker’s paradise! Their 250+ miles of hiking trails include options for every level of hiker, including family-friendly trails that even the kids could enjoy.
Popular hikes include:
- Lakeshore Trail at Jackson Lake
- Inspiration Point & Hidden Falls
- Taggart Lake – Bradley Lake Loop
- Jenny Lake Loop
- String & Leigh Lakes
- Hermitage Point
- Phelps Lake Overlook
Never leave for a hike without proper preparation, and I like to check in with a ranger on trail conditions first.
If it’s your first time visiting Grand Teton, ask the ranger about trail options that might be best for your interests and fitness level. They’re experts and eager to help.
There are 44 named lakes
Grand Teton is filled with beautiful alpine lakes. I have a favorite. Her name is Jenny. She’s very popular. She even has her own scenic drive off the main scenic loop.
There’s also the very large Jackson Lake, which includes a great picnic spot, a nearby Catholic Chapel, a dam, and more.
You get the idea. There are a lot of beautiful lakes here.
There’s a commercial airport within its boundary
Yep! Grand Teton is the only National park to have a commercial airport within its boundaries. The Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is about 9 miles from Jackson (the town). Year-round flights are available to JAC from American, Delta, United, and Alaska.
If you’re planning a Grand Teton trip and looking for a larger airport to fly into and out of, the closest are Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Denver (DEN) International Airport.
SLC is about 280 miles from Jackson. DEN is the nearest major hub airport to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, but it’s over 500 miles from Jackson.
There are two chapels inside the park
Inside Grand Teton National Park, you will find two chapels. The Chapel of the Transfiguration is probably the better-known of the two. Because it has such a beautiful backdrop, it is often photographed.
This Episcopal chapel was built around a hundred years ago so that those who lived in the area wouldn’t have to travel to Jackson to worship. The chapel is open for you to go in, but it is still a functioning church. All are welcome, but please be respectful of the building and grounds.
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic Chapel, is located near Jackson Lake. There are usually services here during the summer on Sundays. We love the picnic area here, right on Jackson Lake.
You can recreate a famous Ansel Adams photo
Ansel Adams immortalized the Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park with his famous photograph. Why not try to recreate it?
I’m no Ansel Adams, of course. But it was fun to stand in the same area he did, so many years later, and see that same view.
In addition to being a great photo opportunity, this overlook is also a great place to just slow down and enjoy a beautiful view of the natural scenery.
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The bottom line
Grand Teton National Park is a beautiful and popular destination. It’s full of stunning lakes and great hiking trails, not to mention wildlife-viewing and photography opportunities. And it’s just minutes from the great town of Jackson, Wyoming.
