Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a premiere destination for vacationers seeking the experience of viewing some of North America’s most beautiful mountain ranges and wildlife. Jackson Hole attracts visitors from all around the world because of its prime location near Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Spring in Jackson Hole brings opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to see various wildlife and beautiful scenery once covered by the winter snow. Here is a list of places to see and things to do in Jackson Hole during Spring.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Yellowstone is one of the United States’ greatest treasures. Many individuals have heard of “Old Faithful” – a geyser that erupts with boiling water every 65 – 90 minutes, pushing the water as high as 185 feet at times. However, Old Faithful is not the only, nor the most spectacular of the geysers in the park. If you’re lucky, when taking a tour of Old Faithful and the Lower Loop of the park, you may get a glimpse at Steamboat Geyser. It is less predictable but infinitely more impressive – capable of pushing water 300 feet into the air and venting impressive amounts of steam after each eruption.
Covering an area of just under 3,470 square miles, this massive park is filled with gorgeous lakes, expansive canyons, gurgling rivers, and inspiring mountain ranges. Sitting atop the largest super volcano on the continent, Yellowstone also features lava flows and volcanic rocks for the avid geologist to discover. All of that space is filled with a diverse range of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and plants, making it the most famous megafauna location in the continental U.S.
There are plenty of stunning attractions to visit at Yellowstone National Park. Make the most out of your next trip by planning a Yellowstone Tour with BrushBuck Wildlife Tours.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Just 10 miles south of Yellowstone is Grant Teton National Park, part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and incorporating the 40-mile-long Teton Mountain Range. The park is named for the tallest mountain in the Teton Range, at 13,775 feet. It towers over the valley of Jackson Hole and offers a number of lakes and rivers to explore. Geologists have identified some of the oldest rocks on the continent within this park – some dating back nearly 2.7 billion years. And, if you hurry, you may even catch some small glaciers still lurking about the taller peaks.
The park features more than 1,000 drive-in campsites with access to hiking trails, mountaineering, fishing, and other outdoor activities – with plenty of specialized tours depending on the time of year and personal interest. There is a number of sites to visit in Grand Teton National Park. With so much to do and see, seeking an experienced tour operator will help you make the most out of your trip. Explore BrushBuck Wildlife Tour’s list of Grand Teton National Park Tours to help you plan your next trip.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS
Both of these parks offer a number of activities for visitors, including:
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Scenic & Wildlife Tours
- Boating
- Whitewater Rafting and Scenic River Tours
- Climbing
THE NATIONAL ELK REFUGE
Located at the south end of Grand Teton National Park is the National Elk Refuge. This 25,000 acre piece of land is dedicated to preserving the nation’s largest herd of elk, which was decimated in the early 1900s by the encroaching city and the resulting loss of access to winter feeding. Once believed to have numbered in the range of 25,000 individual animals, the herd now averages around 7,500 elk that migrate from the southern parts of Yellowstone each winter looking for exposed grasslands.
Activities within the park vary depending on the time of year, but can include horse drawn sleigh rides and wildlife viewing of bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer and trumpeter swans, among others. Rare wolves and grizzly bears have also been spotted within the park.
You can, of course, visit any of these parks on your own, but you may see more of what you are looking for by booking a specialized tour. Several options are available to enable you to choose one that’s right for you.