Grand Teton Photography
Grand Teton National Park is a photographer’s dream. The Tetons are located in Western Wyoming, just north of Jackson. This is one of the most accessible national parks in the US, and there is so much untouched natural beauty. The exposed peaks of the Tetons make for absolutely stunning landscape photos and the abundance of wildlife provides many opportunities for nature photographers.
We usually photograph landscapes, but started photographing wildlife during our time in Grand Teton National Park. Check out our photos of Grizzly 399 and her four cubs! In this post, we are going to focus on the best spots for landscape photography in Grand Teton National Park.
If you are visiting Grand Teton National Park in late September through early October, check out our favorite spots for fall colors in the Tetons.
Photography Gear for Grand Teton National Park:
We always aim to be transparent and never recommend gear we do not use ourselves and fully believe in. We participate in the Amazon Services and REI Affiliate Programs which are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products.
Camera: We highly recommend our Olympus OMD EM1 Mark II mirrorless camera as it packs down small for hiking and produces professional photos.
Lenses
Landscape: Our favorite all-around lens is the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO. This can capture wide landscape photos, portraits, and even zoom for some mountain closeups.
Wildlife: We use our Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 which is the equivalent of a 200-800mm full-frame. We’ve been able to capture some great grizzly photos with this lens!
Camera Bag: Peak Design makes great photography bags! We have the Everyday Backpack 20L and the Everyday Sling 3L which gives us versatility when hiking and changing lenses.
Tripod: Honestly, we use our tripod to stake claim to our spots while shooting popular sunrise and sunset locations and prefer to shoot handheld unless we’re shooting the stars. Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is an awesome lightweight, yet sturdy, tripod to take everywhere.
Photography Gloves: We love our Vallerret Ipsoot Photography Gloves and they have come in very handy for cold fall mornings in Grand Teton National Park. The thumb and index fingers fold back to allow camera adjustments while keeping your hands warm.
Pro Photographer Tips for Grand Teton National Park:
The Teton mountain range faces East, so sunrise provides the best light to illuminate the face of the mountains.
Check sunrise and sunset times. Depending on the time of year, the sunrise and sunset times can change a lot. We also noticed color in the sky a solid 20-30 minutes before sunrise.
Seasons bring different elements to photography in Grand Teton National Park:
Spring: Wildflowers!
Fall: Some of the most colorful foliage in the US
Winter: Incredible snow covered landscapes
Dress warmly as the weather can be extremely variable. The mornings can be incredibly cold, even on a hot summer day. We even experienced a freak snowstorm on September 8th!
Be aware of your surroundings. Grand Teton National Park has an abundance of wildlife including bears (black and grizzlies), bison, moose, and other animals that can be dangerous if you end up too close. Make sure to carry bear spray with you whenever you are away from your car.
Meet other photographers! We made some great friends while photographing in Grand Teton National Park. We even started a text string with several wildlife photographers we met for photographing Grizzly 399.
The Best Photography Spots in Grand Teton National Park
1. Oxbow Bend
Oxbow Bend is one of the most iconic photo spots in Grand Teton National Park. There are so many professional photos of the still water with reflecting mountains. In late September and early October, the entire area is surrounded by golden aspens making it a magical place for sunrise. Oxbox does not have the clearest views of The Grand, but has equally as impressive views of Mount Moran.
Pro Tip: Oxbow Bend has a lot of wildlife and it’s common to spot grizzly bears in the area. We spent an entire day photographing Grizzly 399 and her four cubs at Oxbow Bend!
2. Schwabacher Landing
Just below Highway 26, is a trail running along the Snake River called Schwabacher Landing. This area is typically closed upon first snowfall, but the gravel road is well maintained to access the parking lot during the summer and fall. There are a couple of spots within .5 miles of the parking lot that are most popular for photographers. The fall colors here are incredible and on still mornings you can capture beautiful reflections in the water.
Pro Tip: There is a small parking lot just before the main parking lot which takes you down to the river. We loved this quiet, still, secluded spot which has great views, still water for reflections, and even more fall colors.
3. Mormon Row
Mormon Row is home to several historic homes and barns, including the famous T.A. Moulton Barn (pointed roof) and the John Moulton Barn (rounded roof). These historic buildings make for great subjects in front of the towering Tetons. The two iconic barns at Mormon Row are the T.A. Moulton barn and the John Moulton barn.
Pro Tip: Drive past the barns and use a zoom lens to add compression to the photo to make the mountains look even larger, looming over the barns.
4. Snake River Overlook
This overlook perfectly frames the Snake River with the Teton mountain range. The overlook is right along Highway 26 making it a great quick stop when going between Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. This is where Ansel Adams took his famous photograph of the Tetons in 1942, however, the trees have grown and it’s not possible to completely recreate his exact composition today.
Pro Tip: Go all the way to the end of the parking lot for the best composition of the river with the Grand directly above.
5. String Lake Roadway
This is one of our *secret* spots in Grand Teton National Park. It’s on a main road, yet most people drive right on by without stopping. When you turn off of Teton Park Road, on to Jenny Lake Road, drive ~¼ mile down the road until it turns. There is enough room to pull off on the side of the road, and in front of you will be a slight switchback turn leading straight into The Grand itself.
Pro Tip: Check out String Lake afterwards! It’s one of our favorite places to paddleboard as you can portage/carry your board to Leigh Lake at the far end of String Lake.
6. Willow Flats Overlook
Just past Oxbow Bend is an overlook of Willow Flats, Jackson Lake, and Mount Moran. With a sprawling field below, it gives way to a beautiful perspective of the Tetons. This overlook is also one of the few places in the park with good cell phone service, making it a great spot to post up during the day, or for sunset.
Pro Tip: Be on the lookout for grizzly bears and elk in the fields below.
7. Elk Ranch Flats Turnout
The entire length of Highway 26 gives way to incredible Teton views to the West. There are many overlooks and pull-outs along the route, each with a slightly different angle and perspective of the mountains. Our favorite perspective is from Willow Flats Overlook!
Pro Tip: There are often bison herds and horses in this area, and they can sometimes line up for perfect subjects in front of the Tetons.