Grand Teton sunrise tour: Private wildlife viewing

The Tetons rise 13,000 feet straight up from the valley floor with no foothills in between.

A private sunrise tour of Grand Teton National Park departing from Jackson hotels, with a local guide, park entry, breakfast and binoculars included. You'll drive to Oxbow Bend, Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake and Mormon Row in search of resident wildlife including grizzlies, bison, moose and pronghorn antelope. The tour runs four to five hours and operates rain or shine. Children age six and up are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Grand Teton National Park2h · entry included
2. Mormon Row Historic District20m
3. Jenny Lake Trail15m
4. Jackson Lake20m
5. Oxbow Bend20m

Explore Grand Teton National Park

• See Teton Mountain Range
• Visit Mormon Row Historic District
• Photograph Moulton Barn and squirrels
• Walk Jenny Lake Trail
• View Jackson Lake
• Enjoy Oxbow Bend scenery

The experience

How do you see grizzlies and bison without spending the whole day in a car? A sunrise start from your Jackson hotel means you're at the park's best wildlife spots before the crowds arrive. Your local guide knows where the animals move at dawn (the Snake River bends, the open meadows, the lake edges), and carries binoculars so you can watch from a distance. The Teton peaks catch the first light while you're scanning for movement in the grass.

The route hits four named stops. Mormon Row comes first, where the original Moulton barns stand against the mountain backdrop: the barns date to the early 1900s and ground squirrels scatter across the grounds. Jenny Lake sits at the base of the Tetons, a glacial moraine lake fed by the Snake River from the north. Jackson Lake spreads wider and deeper, a recreational hub for boaters and fishermen. Oxbow Bend is where the Snake River curves and mirrors Mt. Moran. The guide watches here for white pelicans, trumpeter swans, blue herons, and occasionally beaver, fox or grizzly bears in the shallows.

Breakfast is included. You choose between a sausage egg cheese burrito, bacon egg cheese burrito, egg cheese muffin, or muffin and fruit. Park entry fees are covered, and the guide handles the route so you stay focused on the landscape and the animals. The tour runs whether it rains or shines, so dress in layers and bring a jacket.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from your Jackson hotel.
• a local guide who knows the wildlife patterns and park routes.
• Grand Teton National Park entry.
• breakfast with your choice of burrito, muffin or fruit.
• binoculars for wildlife viewing.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 06:30Last departure this season: 4 Nov

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Yellowstone Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Jackson without a car: pickup and return from your hotel means you don't arrange transportation, and the sunrise timing is what puts you at the best wildlife spots before the crowds and the heat of the day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife might I actually see on a Grand Teton sunrise tour?

The park's resident animals include grizzly bears, bison, moose and pronghorn antelope. At Oxbow Bend specifically, white pelicans, trumpeter swans and blue herons are common, and beaver, fox or grizzly bears appear in the water and along the banks. A local guide knows the movement patterns at dawn and uses binoculars to spot animals from a safe distance.

Does the tour include pickup from my Jackson hotel?

Yes, round-trip transport from Jackson hotels is included. The guide picks you up and returns you after the four to five hour tour, so you don't need a car or need to arrange separate transportation to the park.

What is Oxbow Bend and why does the tour stop there?

Oxbow Bend is a curve in the Snake River where the water stills and reflects Mt. Moran of the Teton range. It's a prime spot for wildlife viewing because animals come to the water to drink and feed, and the calm surface and mountain backdrop make it one of the park's most photographed locations.

Is breakfast included, and what are the options?

Breakfast is included and you can choose a sausage egg cheese burrito, bacon egg cheese burrito, egg cheese muffin, or muffin and fruit. The meal is served during the tour so you eat before or between stops.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes round-trip hotel pickup, a local guide, Grand Teton National Park entry fee, breakfast, and the use of binoculars. Non-US residents pay an additional $100 park fee per person. Guide gratuity is customary at 15–20% and is your choice at the end of the tour.