2018-20 Grand Tetons NP to Cody Wyoming

2018-20

sunset on my last day at Grand Tetons NP

Jackson Wyoming
Grand Tetons National Park

Grand Tetons National Park
photo ops abound from anywhere in the park

Gros Ventre

Campground: Gros Ventre (National park campground) $15 senior rate. Dump Station and water available. No reservations, 1^st come first served.

Campground: Buffalo Bill State Park, Cody Wy. $17 (no hookups). Water and dump station available. $5 extra if electric site available. Northfolk campground has all pull-thru sites.

hwy 26 heading towards the Grand Tetons

thousands of acres of lush farmlands along hwy 26 valleys

From Idaho Falls/Rigby Idaho, heading east/south east on hwy 26 before heading north on 191 into Jackson Wyoming and Grand Tetons NP, hwy 26 is one of the prettiest routes I’ve ever taken. Wide valleys filled from horizon to rising mountain ranges with the lushest farm lands I’ve ever seen. Thousands of acres on either side of the highway. By heading east I’m on the side of the highway where most of the pull-outs are located making it easy to stop and take a few pictures and just drink in the awesome 360 degree views. The two lane highway follows the Snake River, a magnificent river rushing along in a hurry to get where it’s going. The closer I get to the 191 exit I’ve noticed many forest and rivers edge campgrounds. Some boondocking sites, others are forest campgrounds, all at very reasonable rates. A huge lake created along the Snake River via a dam really complements the stunning views. And hardly a town or cross roads within 25 or more miles in either direction. The lake is pristine, nary a cabin or cottage within view. With some planning, I’d very much like to come back to this area and do some camping. Realizing I’d need to stock up on food supplies and be prepared to be quite a distance from any civilization. But what a stunning setting to settle into one day, at least for a while….

hwy 26, Snake River/lake, not a cabin in sight

Distance Traveled: 114 miles

First views of the Tetons from the campground

my view from my back window of the camper

first moose siting on this trip, less than a mile from campsite

Downtown Jackson Wyoming

view thru one of four antler arches in central park, Jackson Wy

Now my GPS said it would take just over 2 hours, but with all the stops along the way it took more than 3 hours. But I finally drove through the town of Jackson (which most people call Jackson Hole). Winter months this is a skiing paradise for the well healed customer. During the summer it’s crowded with tourists coming to vacation in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone just up the road. High end restaurants on every corner, many not opening until 5pm. Not a burger king or Mc Donald's to be found anywhere. (later I found a Wendy’s and McDonald’s on the edge of town) How do I know, as I inched along the main road through town. Well I’ve been here in the past and I can tell you it’s only getting more crowded, or maybe it’s the time of year. In any case, the sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are packed. And the road I’m on through town is bumper to bumper traffic trying to just get out to town.

Note: there is ample parking about a block or two off the main streets including a few small city parking lots. Three hour parking limit.

15 miles out of town, I’ve arrived at the campground. Easy check in. And after having to go up front a second time to pick a different site, the first one they selected for me was impossible to back into, I settled in to my site. Lots of open space, great views and plenty of sunshine for my solar panels. Yup, I’m a happy camper.

Pendelton Store

In town, I walked into the Pendelton Store, one of only a few independently owned Pendelton stores in the country. They even have two of their own designed wool blankets. Store owners proud of their store and should be. They tell me the summers have more crowds, but the winters with the ski crowd is busy as well, just a different (well to do) crowd.

At the Dollar Tree store, yes it’s the only dollar store in town, the cashier told us that Jackson has 36 billionaires living in town. The most billionaire’s of any town in the world. The man who started Dollar Tree stores even lived here in Jackson Hole until he passed away in recent years. She also told someone interested in moving to Jackson about property. The cashier said, land in the area is currently going for a million dollars an acre, and a city block in town starts at one million dollars on up.

millionaire's homes overlooking the campground I'm staying in

Stories from Jackson Hole Wyoming

Talked to a young mom with two kids, one young boy had dislocated his shoulder and was in a removal cast. They live here year round, and she said the winters are a bit too long for her taste, even though they do love skiing in winter. Asked about the ground squirrels which I’ve noted are everywhere, especially at the campground and just about everywhere I’ve been touring. She said they have a barn cat, who’s very happy with the whole situation.

Idaho Falls is the closest place to find a Walmart and other big box stores. So once or twice a month the locals travel to Idaho Falls for serious shopping as Jackson has a lot of tourist shops, art galleries and designer restaurants, but few everyday shops.

Mosquito’s are present even during the day time. Very small little buggers. A breeze helps, but don’t stand still for too long or they’ll find you (or me).

A local country station that bills itself as Country music that still sounds like Country, KJAX 93.5. Nice to find a local station that fits the local area so well.

I’ve seen moose, deer, pronghorn antelope and elk but no moose this time around. Perhaps in the next couple of days. I’m sure they need a break from we tourists.

Taking a few back-roads in the area, I’ve seen some pretty country, all with views of the Grand Tetons. Some of the original Mormon Settlement farms have been preserved and are now a part of the national park, though most are not available to tour the interiors. Great opportunity to take some great pictures of the old barns, homesteads and out buildings. Even toured some old log cabins in disrepair and a warm spring that was created only about 100 years ago when they had a big landslide in the area.

The Grand Tetons National Park is the only national park with it’s own airport. Making for a convenient way for all those billionaire’s to fly their private jets into Jackson hole.

great fishing spot and moose watching

prong horn

river out of Jenny Lake

one of my favorite shots

elk

downtown Jackson's famous 4 arches

and then I have to show just a few more shots of the Teton area:

a photographers dream location

this warm spring was created about 100 years ago
after a massive mountain slide

views of the Tetons from every vantage point along my touring route

another favorite shot

love it

blue birds were so active and colorful
when they spread their wings

your classic shot that everyone takes

Distance Traveled: 161 miles

to Cody Wy

Now where did I leave off on my journey…. I was heading north on 191 through The Grand Tetons NP and hadn’t seen a bison. By the way, these national parks are big, I’d been traveling for about 40 minutes, still in the Grand Tetons when I noticed a bunch of vehicles on the side of the road, usually my best bet for spotting wildlife. And there they were, a whole heard of buffalo. Not the largest herd I’ve seen by any means, but still great to see.

A short while later, on the turn off heading toward Yellowstone NP, I had to stop and take a couple of really classic shots of the Tetons with a lake reflection. I’m sure you’ve all seen this shot, and it would make any amateur photographer a professional for at least a day.

really.... what NOT to do

and yes, the bison is looking at her
any moment now....... and she could be done for

Now I know you won’t believe this but I’m actually just passing through Yellowstone which of course will take a couple of hours, not including the obligatory stops along the way. Now you know Yellowstone is noted for all the hot springs, geysers, waterfalls and gorgeous high country lakes. But I had to stop for all the wildlife and wildflowers everywhere. Bison, Elk resting in a thicket of burned out trees and young grizzly bears enjoying a bed of tall grass. A huge bison was munching on grass at a most picturesque backdrop of a placid lake, with spruce trees lining the far shoreline, lupine wildflowers covering the landscape and there I witnessed idiots, yes you read that right, idiots, one after another walking right up to Mr Buffalo as big as a house, taking their selfie shots, mere feet away from being mauled to death. Ignoring what the buffalo was up to as they adjusted their cell phone to they could get just the right picture for posting to their friends and family. Clueless,, I tell you, they were clueless. And only a couple of weeks earlier two people were mauled by a bison in the park.

another classic shot that make every photographer
a professional at least for the day

Back in my truck towing the camper through Yellowstone, taking a route through the park I’d only partially been on in the past as I was heading towards the eastern entrance and Cody Wyoming. I’d make a couple more stops to watch Elk and a couple of young grizzly bears that were finally pushed out by mama bear. Yes even mama bears need to push their kids out to go on their own after a couple of years.

elk in repose

show off

young grizzly bear, recently pushed out of home

lupine and yellow daisy's 

Lupine everywhere the forest fire was

heading to Cody Wy

After passing through a couple of road construction sites in the park and did I mention much of the narrow two lane road had no shoulders with potentially dangerous drop off, what they usually call “soft shoulders”. Let’s just call it what it is, Non-existant shoulders.

Climbing up the final leg through the eastern entrance, I drove to the top of a mountain pass around the 8,500 ft height and their along with a nice pull-out where snow drifts. What fun to walk on snow and even make a snowball and throw it. Some kids even slid down the snow right on their pants, getting a bit soaked along the way, but loving every second of this most unexpected summer joy.

a bit of unexpected fun!

too much fun

Cody Wy

across from my campsite, Cody Wy

Doug, Susan, and Michael (photo by Michael)
all happy campers

I’m staying at a nice State Park about an 18 minute drive into town, where I’ve met up with Michael and Susan (Desert Trails Rv friends). Catching up on how their summer travels are going and surprised that they have gotten a second camper (travel trailer) just to travel around in during the summer months. It’s smaller that their 36ft (?) fifth wheel camper and makes it easier to get in and out of all the campgrounds along the way. Actually a number of full time Rv-ers have opted for owning two campers, one for long term stays and the other for more adventurous travels. There are just so many ways to do this Rv lifestyle.

oh, and on laundry day, I met this wonderful couple
from California traveling on their 3 wheel bike
Cody Wy

Many more photos:

Grand Tetons NP  372 photos

Cody Wy and passing thru Yellowstone NP  109 photos