Bird Watching in Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton National Park



A perfect spot for adrenaline junkies, a visit to the National Parks have various health benefits too, such as replenishing the soul. Not only does it improve the physical well being, but mental well being also. A walk in nature indeed has positive effects on a person’s imagination, creativity, and insightfulness.

One such National Park is the Grand Teton National Park. Located in the state of Wyoming, the landscape of Grand Teton National Park is strikingly beautiful and memorable. Many come here to enjoy nature and bird watch. Wyoming is in itself a state of natural beauty and a sense of adventure housing the Teton County, which ultimately led to the creation of Grand Teton National Park. The region of Teton is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and is a mountainous region that is geographically active.

Beautiful Grand Teton National Park

Overview of the Park

Teton Mountains in Teton National Park


The beauty of Grand Teton National Park is not easy to describe in words. It was established in 1929 after Congressional approval. Named after the Grand Teton, which is the tallest mountain range in the Teton Range, the park covers 484 square miles of land and water. Unlike other mountain ranges, Teton lacks foothills that can obscure the view. This provides for a dramatic view, which is almost surreal, comprising of majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife.

Grand Teton National Park has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears, three species of wildcats, wolverines, and many small species of mammals. Along with this, the park is famous for bird watching as over 400 species of birds have been spotted in the state.

GET KIDS BIRD WATCHING

  • 12 Month Prepaid Bird Watching Subscription - 1 patch a month
    12 Month Prepaid Bird Watching Subscription – 1 patch a month
    $84.00
  • 12 Month Prepaid Bird Watching Subscription - 3 patches a month
    12 Month Prepaid Bird Watching Subscription – 3 patches a month
    $120.00
  • Kids Bird Watching Monthly Subscription
    Kids Bird Watching Monthly Subscription
    $10.00 / month
  • Kid & Adult Bird Watching Starter Pack Subscription
    Kid & Adult Bird Watching Starter Pack Subscription
    $10.00 / month and a $72.00 sign-up fee

Grand Teton National Park Map

Child looking at a map


It is essential to have a detailed map of the National Park. It can be taken from the website of nps.gov or can be acquired from the visitors’ center of the park. Mobile users can look for the map on various apps.

The cellular network range might not be good in every area, which is why it is important to have it pre-downloaded or have a hard copy.

The map usually covers picnic spots, campgrounds, park roads, and visitor centers.


Grand Teton National Park Camping

Camping in Grand Teton National Park


Sitting high on the horizon and set in the adventure rich state of Wyoming, the Grand Teton National Park lures visitors from all over the world. Spread throughout various vantage points and scenic landscapes, the Grand Teton makes for an ideal destination for camping.

The breathtaking campgrounds can be seen waiting for you to spend the night and unwind amidst astonishing views.

One can go for Jenny Lake campground, which is found in the heart of Grand Teton and is also one of the most popular campsites within the park. All 59 sites include tent camping along with access to flushable toilets and potable water.

Gros Venture campground is another option for camping, which is situated on the southern tip of National Park. Popular for its scenic beauty, the campground includes a picnic table, fire pit, and parking space. Curtis Canyon, Death Canyon and Teton Canyon campground are some other options to enjoy camping in the Grand Teton National Park.

Grand Teton National Park Weather


Weather can be quite unpredictable in the Grand Teton National Park, and this is what makes it essential for you to always carry a warm jacket, layers of clothing and rain gear. The summer season spans from July to August, with an average temperature of 70-80 in lower elevations. Fall brings cold nights and pleasant days, but snowstorms start increasing.

Winter season starts from November and continues until April. Days are beautiful and sunny, while winter nights are extremely cold and frigid and necessitate four-wheeled rides. The month of April brings the onset of spring, which offers mild days and cool nights, but the trails remain covered with snow until May.

Grand Teton National Park Hotels

View of the teepees at sunset


Grand Teton surely offers a robust setting ideal for road trippers, nature lovers, and outdoor adventurers. Due to its popularity, the park offers a wide range of accommodations, including mountain-inspired lodge, log cabins, resorts, bed and breakfast, and even teepees in eight distinct areas inside the park.

Some of the best accommodations include Jackson Lake Lodge, which amazes the visitors with its 60-foot windows in the lobby displaying unparalleled panoramic views of Jackson Lake and Teton Range. The rooms are styled in rustic mountain decor feature modern amenities. Guests can enjoy a round of golf, rafting down the Snake River, and horseback riding.


Next in the list is Jenny Lake Lodge that provides the best of both worlds – the old west charm and modern comfort. The cabins here are elegant, private, and relaxing and offer guests an opulent touch to their national park experience. Guests can choose from a list of activities, including a guided fishing excursion, Jackson Lake boat cruise, or raft down the Snake River.      

The Wort Hotel, which has a historical charm, the Snake River Lodge, and Spa which has an indoor and outdoor pool along with a full-service spa or Fireside resort where one can enjoy stunning mountain views, are some other top-notch hotels around the area.

Grand Teton National Park Cabins


The Grand Teton National Park also offers a chance to rent a cabin offering lodging options that provide access to beautiful scenery and majestic landscape. These cabins are situated in and around the park. People looking for a secluded, nature-filled getaway should consider renting a cabin instead of a hotel.

Colter Bay Cabins, Headwater Lodge Cabins, and Budge’s Slide Lake Cabins are some of the options which can be considered and promises a relaxing and exciting stay.

Grand Teton National Park Hiking


The trails lined with big alpine backdrops, glacier-fed waters, and an assortment of wildlife. Grand Teton National Park is truly a hiker’s paradise. The park proudly displays some of the most outstanding scenery, and with plenty of trails to choose from, it caters to the skill level of all hikers.

Hiking in the Grand Teton National Park can deliver experiences that can satisfy even the deepest wanderlust and offers unbelievable views of the Teton Range.

Cascade Canyon Trail, Jenny Lake Loop, Death Canyon Trail and Paintbrush Canyon Trail, Hermitage Point Trail, Alaska Basin, and Phelps Lake Trail are some of the options to experience this amazing land.

Bird Watching at Grand Teton National Park

Bird Watching in Grand Tetons

The Tetons are the mountains one thinks of while thinking of mountains! Majestic, magnificent, and snowcapped. It’s so pretty that the birds like it too! From tiny Calliope Hummingbird to resplendent birds of prey such as Golden Eagle, Grand Teton National Park is a perfect site for those who love watching birds and ornithologists.

Over 400 species of birds have been spotted in the state of Wyoming and around 282 in Teton County. Flora and fauna are believed to give immense pleasure if one loves nature. The colorful birds making melodious sounds fills people’s hearts with joy and happiness.

The park houses all types of feathered creatures and makes sure that the visitors spot some beautiful birds no matter what area of the park they go to.

The best time for bird watching is during the summer season as most of the birds migrate south for winters and spend only three to six months in the mountain range.

The Ten Most Common Birds In Grand Teton National Park


Trumpeter Swan

The Trumpeter Swan are immense waterfowl with heavy bodies and long necks held straight both on water and during flight. These are entirely white with a black bill and black legs. Trumpeter Swans usually breed in open habitats near shallow water bodies.

Ring-Necked Duck


The male Ring-Necked Duck is gleaming black, grey, and white, whereas females are rich brown with a delicate face pattern. These are usually found in small, shallow wetlands. During fall migration, Ring-Necked Ducks form immense flock.

Great Blue Heron

  • Great Blue Heron iron on patches
    Great Blue Heron Iron on Patches
    $2.99


The Great Blue Heron when poised at a river bed or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, is indeed a majestic sight. They may move slowly but can grab a fish like lightning. It is interesting to know that despite their impressive size, these birds weigh merely 5-6 pounds. These birds can hunt day and night because of the high percentage of rod shaped photoreceptors that improve their night vision.

Golden Eagle


The Golden Eagle is one of the largest, fastest, most nimble, and witted raptors in North America, one is most likely to see this eagle in western North America, soaring on steady wings or diving in pursuit of the jackrabbits and other small mammals. Although Golden Eagle is capable of killing large prey such as cranes, it subsists primarily on rabbits, hares and ground squirrels.  

Great Horned Owl


The Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks because of earlike tufts and intimidating yellow-eyed stare. The powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself but also dines on tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs.


Northern Flicker


The Northern Flicker are large, brown woodpeckers with a gentle expression. They mainly eat ants and beetles and try to find food on the ground. Northern Flickers are strongly migratory and move south for winters. These birds make a loud, even spaced drumming sound.

Clark’s Nutcracker


Clark’s Nutcracker are also referred to as Clark’s Crow or Woodpecker Crow and are ash grey in color except black and white wings and central tail feathers. This bird has a special pouch under its tongue that it uses to carry seeds long distances.

Mountain Chickadee


Mountain Chickadee is tiny, large-headed but small billed with a long narrow tail. It is strikingly black and white with little parts of gray, and the white stripe over the eye identifies mountain chickadee from all other chickadees. These are known for storing food when they find it in ready supply.

Pine Siskin


Pine Siskin is a small brown bird that shows yellow in the tail and wing. It mainly feeds on seeds and can even temporarily store seeds. These birds are usually considered residents but can be nomadic in winters.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch


Red-Breasted Nuthatch are tiny and active birds of north woods and western mountains. They sometimes steal nest lining from nests of other birds.  They travel through tree canopies with chickadees, kinglets, and woodpeckers.


No doubt, National Parks are some of the most spectacular places on earth because of the beauty and the protected wilderness. This is why bird watching is so amazing in a park. A National Park is truly the destination of extreme beauty and extreme weather. Never forget to plan your trip accordingly. Moreover, one should not skip stopping at the visitors’ center and the lesser-known spots of the National Park. Keeping these things in mind, pack your bags, carry your camera, and take a life changing trip, to the Grand Teton National Park.  

Please Share to Help Us Get Kids Bird Watching