Grand Teton Autumn Activities

Everyone should get to experience a Grand Teton autumn at least once in their lifetime. Not only are the turning leaves a site to behold, but visitors to the park can expect less crowds and more active wildlife than during any other time of the year.

In general, the fall season lasts about six weeks – from the beginning of September through mid-October. Although dependent on a number of factors, including climactic reasons such as the amount of rainfall and daily low temperatures, the peak of the fall foliage season is historically around the third week of September. The abundance and variety of trees – including aspens, cottonwoods, willows, and many different types of shrubs – make for an incredible display of brilliant yellows and oranges - with a splash of deep red here and there.

Obviously, the changing leaves are the first thing you’ll notice when you visit Jackson Hole in the Fall, but almost as obvious are the uncrowded conditions and abundance of visible wildlife. Visiting the park in September and October will give you a completely different perspective; the deer are in rut, the bears are eating as much as they can before months of hibernation, and the moose and bison are more out in the open than at any other time of year. And you very well may not see another person all day.

The weather is marked by Indian summer warmth from dawn until dusk; in the evenings the air often turns crisp and cools down quite a bit. It’s a perfect time to sit before a fire in one of our condo rentals and rehash all of the fun things you did that day. If you’re planning on being outside after the sun goes down, be sure to bring along some extra clothing and rain gear as the temperature can plummet quickly.