Grand Teton Photography: Tips on how to photograph this beautiful park

Everyone has their favorite National Park. It’s more or less about personal preference, but regardless of where it ranks, no one can discount the beauty and awe of Grand Teton National Park. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph Grand Teton extensively twice.

The exquisite nature of this place blows minds and offers many opportunities for Grand Teton photography. Below, we’ll dive into the best places to photograph in Grand Teton National Park and its mind-blowing views.

One of the pros of Grand Teton photography is how many places are accessible without having to hike or backpack—though those will surely help you get even better views.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

What you need to know about Grand Teton Photography

Embrace Golden Hour and Blue Hour

You’re not going to land standout photos from your bed. Instead, make sure to be at your destination 20 minutes before sunrise at the minimum and an hour before sunset. Plus, you never know what sort of wildlife you might find in the wee hours of the night. (Remember, bear spray.)

Have the right camera gear.

While your gear won’t make or break your Grand Tetons photography, it sure does help to have reliable equipment. Most summer days are lovely in the Tetons but can be cruddy. So you want gear that you can count on in all conditions. My gear is in parentheses.

• A trusty body (Canon R5)
• Wide angle lens (Canon EF 16-36)
• Telephoto Lens for wildlife (Tamron EF 150-600)
• Standard Lens for hiking (Canon RF 24-105 or Canon EF 24-70)
• Sturdy Tripod (Siriu)
• Filters
• Extra Batteries

What is the best month for photography in Grand Teton National Park?

For the longest days and best weather, late May through September will be best for your photography. However, early spring will see bears emerging from hibernation, and fall will have changing colors. Unless you’re okay with single-digit temperatures, stay away in winter, but the rest is perfect!

Where is the most photographed place in Grand Teton National Park?

It’s either Swarbachers Landing or Oxbow Bend. Both are incredibly beautiful and easy to access, giving tourists many options for photography at Grand Teton National Park.

The best photo spots in Grand Teton National Park

Swarbacher’s Landing

Easily one of the best places to photograph in Grand Teton National Park. This gives you incredible reflection views of Grand Teton and its neighboring peaks. Plus, all it takes is a 5-minute walk, and you can snag some epicness. This is best for sunset/sunrise.

Oxbow Bend

Another one directly off the road, Oxbow Bend, can have special conditions when the water is calm enough, giving nice reflections of Moran Mountain. There’s a good amount of parking, but with its popularity, it can fill up fast. It doesn’t matter when you come—sunrise or sunset.

It’s one of the best places to photograph in Grand Teton National Park.

Snake River Overlook

It’s not as great as the above two, but this is a nice pull-off that could be awesome with an incredible sunset. The biggest downside is that the river/valley below gets dark fast and would be hard to see in a sunset photo.

I’ve also never landed a good shot here, so take this with a grain of salt.

Teton Point Overlook

A pull-off with full views of the entire Teton mountain range. You cannot go wrong here when you photograph the Teton range. I recommend bringing in a pizza or dinner from town, setting up some chairs, and enjoying the night!

Furthermore, it’s undoubtedly one of the best places to photograph in Grand Teton National Park.

Curvy Road into the mountains

On your way to Jenny Lake, you’ll find yourself seemingly driving directly into the mountains. It’s a humbling feeling, being so small with the giants above you. The parking options are not great here, and be aware of traffic.

But come here for sunrise to be the safest doing your Grand Teton photography.

Mormon Row

A fan favorite, also with drive-up access, is Mormon Row. This old area is unique and offers views of the majestic Tetons. Walk through a rustic settlement and score some sweet photos.

Delta Lake

This is quite possibly the most beautiful lake in the entire park. At about 4 miles up, it’s not easy and requires a little off-trail hiking. But it is incredibly worth it. Go for sunrise, and you will have your mind blown. You must go here if you plan to do Grand Teton National Park photography.

Road Shot

Hard to know what to name this, but you’ll know it by the photo. This is east of the park, looking back west on SR26. It’s perfect for sunsets for Grand Teton National Park photography as the sky above the peaks will glow.

Cascade Canyon

Take the Jenny Lake ferry to cut out a four-mile round trip hike before heading into the beautiful Cascade Canyon. There’s about a 1.5-mile uphill push before you get into the canyon, but once in, it’s mostly flat. We saw three moose in here, and it was so beautiful. This is a gold mine for Grand Teton photography.

Open Fields for Wildlife is critical for Grand Teton National Park Photography.

Patience and some good luck are needed here with Grand Tetons photography. When it comes to scoring wildlife, you want to plan for either early mornings or sundown. Also, whenever you see cars pulled over, stop. It usually means there’s something out there.

Finally, if you are serious about getting great shots, you’ll want at least a 400mm lens. REMEMBER: Do not get close to animals. The rule of thumb is 100 yards for moose and bears and 50 yards for everything else.

Some places to aim for Grand Teton Photography:

• Moose Lake
• The road between Teton Village and Jenny Lake
• Oxbow Bend (and any site that has water)
• Cascade Canyon

Photographing Grand Teton National Park at Night – Milky Way Shooting

It depends on the moon and time of year to nail the perfect Milky Way shot. I suggest Jackson Lake Dam and String Lake for exquisite Grand Tetons photography. We got some great shots from these two areas.

Wrapping Up – best photo spots in Grand Teton National Park

It’s an honor to get the chance to photograph Grand Teton National Park. There’s so much to see and experience that you’ll return with a memory card full of memories!

I can’t wait to get back here to photograph the Tetons and hope you have an amazing trip!

Until next time adventurers, take care and be safe.

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