Road Trip - Grand Teton

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

After lunch at the Old Faithful Village at Yellowstone National Park, we drove over to the Grand Teton National Park which is just 8 miles away from the south entrance to Yellowstone. I had great expectations from this park. It must be pretty magnificent to have the "Grand" in its name.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

I soon found out that Grand Teton is the name of the mountain with the highest peak in the Teton range. It was pretty grand but I think I prefer the Rocky Mountains better :)

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Our first stop was the Colter Bay Village where we saw another gathering of Homo sapiens and it turned out that they were looking at a mummy fox and her two baby foxes. One of the baby fox had a squirrel in its mouth and was trying to eat it for lunch.

Fox Family

Fox Family

Fox Family

Fox Family

From Colter Bay, you can have a pretty good view of the Jackson Lake with the Teton Range in the background.

Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

One of the rangers at the Colter Bay Village Visitor Center recommended an auto tour of Grand Teton National Park, with a list of places to visit along the way. Our first stop was the Jackson Lake Dam.

Jackson Lake Dam, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jackson Lake Dam, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jackson Lake Dam, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Next, it was the Signal Mountain Summit Road where we drove to the peak of Signal Mountain at 7593 feet. There were lots of mosquitoes and Sonya didn't want to get out of the car once again so Justin and I had to take turns to get out of the car to view the surrounding landscape.

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

I got someone to help me take a photo of myself at the top of the Signal Mountain.

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Aerial View from Signal Mountain Summit, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

As we were driving down from Signal Mountain, a large bird walked right in front of our car and crossed the road. I have never seen this type of bird before and am still unsure what bird it is.

Big Bird

Big Bird

We continued to drive down the Teton Park Road towards Jenny Lake. We found out that there was a shuttle boat that ferried people across Jenny Lake but it closed at 4pm. We decided that we would come back the next day if we have some extra time.

Teton Park Road, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

It was already early evening by the time we got to Moose Junction and we headed to Jackson Hole where our hotel for the day was located. Another cowboy town for tourist :)

Jackson, Wyoming

Guess what Sonya is pointing at? It's the horse carriage in the photo below :)

Jackson, Wyoming

Clara is getting pretty good at indicating what she wants by pointing with her finger and saying "there"

Bunnery, Jackson, Wyoming

If this finger doesn't work, change finger :) "There"

Bunnery, Jackson, Wyoming

This is just to show you our in-car entertainment system with Barney playing on the DVD Player. The moment we got into the car, Sonya will say, "Mummy, can I watch Barney/Dora" and Clara would point at the DVD screen and say, "There!"

Chrysler Town and Country Interior

We continued on the auto tour that the ranger recommended and came to Antelope Flats where antelopes and bisons were frequently seen.

Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

There! An Antelope! But it was standing so still, I wondered if it was real. After a long while, it finally did moved its head. Yes, it is a real live antelope :)

Antelope

Antelope

When we came back on the same road later on, it has actually changed directions so it was definitely alive :)

Antelope

Three more antelopes in the fields :)

Antelopes

Antelopes

And bisons! There were so many of them!

Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Bisons

Bisons

Did you ever think that bisons would go right in the middle of a field of yellow flowers and just rest there like that? What does this tell you? Even the toughest of the cow family have their soft side too? Sonya was concerned that they have crushed the flowers :)

Bisons at Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Bisons at Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Bisons at Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Then it was Snake River Overlook where the famous photographer, Ansel Adams, took his famous photo of the Teton Range and the Snake River. My photos are below, not as beautiful of course.

View from Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

View from Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

View from Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

View from Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Now look at Ansel Adams' photo.

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Next it was the Cunningham Cabin Historic Site where I took this photo of this beautiful bird. I am no Ansel Adams but still pretty good photo, right?

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

More deers in the fields!

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

And then, looking straight at me on the plateau far away, a pronghorn!

Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

One last stop at the Oxbow Bend Turnout before we head off to lunch. This is the place where birds, beavers and coyotes were frequently spotted but we didn't see any. Maybe they were all hungry like us and headed off to lunch :)

Oxbow Bend Turnout, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

We had lunch at the restaurant at Signal Mountain Lodge where they had outdoor seating which overlooked the Jackson Lake and the Teton Range.

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Did you see something at the top of the pillar in the photo above? It's a bird's nest :)

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

More birds on the railings.

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

It was a beautiful place to have lunch :) If only the kids would just sit and have their lunch quietly :)

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

After lunch, we were off to take the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake. The ferry costs $9 round trip for adults and $5 for Sonya.

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

On the other side of the lake, we decided to burn off some of the calories from our lunch and take a hike to the Hidden Falls. It was 0.5 miles uphill and Sonya managed to walk all the way to the waterfall without any calls of "bao bao". I had to hold her hand, of course :)

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Before reaching the waterfall, we came across this bridge with rushing waters and once again, Sonya was a little terrified and wouldn't cross it with Justin.

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

She finally agreed to go on the bridge if I carried her :)

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Up the mountain we go again...

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Finally, the Hidden Falls.

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming



Video of the Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Down the mountain we went to go back to where the ferry was waiting.

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Same bridge again but this time, Sonya was not so afraid anymore.

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The ferries came and went every 15 minutes. There was a queue in front of us so we just have to wait for the next ferry.

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Besides just driving around the national parks, we finally did our first little hike on the trip. My left arm got a little sunburn from the ferry ride back :(