Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park: Emerging from a Winter Sleep
May 01, 2025
While much of the United States is enjoying the arrival of spring, Grand Teton National Park was still holding on to winter. On this early May morning, temperatures hovered in the 60s, but snow and ice still blanketed much of the park, creating a peaceful, off-season atmosphere that most visitors rarely get to experience.
Approaching the park, we were struck by how quiet it was with no crowds, no lines, just the quiet beauty of nature slowly waking up. Within a few weeks, this same park would be buzzing with tourists from around the world, but on this day it was just us and a handful of hearty explorers willing to brave the lingering chill.
We made our way to Jenny Lake, having read about a trail that offered an easy walk to the shoreline. However, we quickly realized that spring comes late here and that the trail was buried under a couple feet of snow and ice. It was at that moment I realized I wasn’t quite prepared for a full-on winter hike. Instead, we opted to drive to the scenic overlooks, and from there, we were treated to an incredible view: the lake still frozen solid and the Teton Range standing snow-covered and majestic in the distance.
Rather than feeling disappointed, we felt lucky. This frozen landscape was quiet, stark, and dramatic, and is something most summer visitors never get to witness. Seeing Grand Teton National Park in its winter stillness was an experience all its own.
Despite a few seasonal road closures, we were still able to access much of the park. Driving through this snow-draped wilderness, I couldn’t help but feel like a kid in a closed toy store.
