Fall in the Tetons

While every season brings its own unique beauty, I personally find fall to be the most stunning. The changing tone of the leaves adds pops of color that help bring out the rugged features of the terrain. Every drive feels magical again, even if you've been driving that same road every day of the year. And the cool, crisp air energizes you, like the purest cup of coffee imaginable. 

My first hike of the fall season took me to Colter Bay — a return to the magnificent place I was fortunate to call home last summer. Before even reaching my destination, I was reminded of how wild and natural this area is when I had to stop the car to let a herd of Bison cross the street.

Upon reaching Colter Bay, I was met with inspiring views. Staring out at the dramatic vista of the Tetons across Jackson Lake never ceases to amaze. 

This late-September day allowed me to enjoy the early stages of the fall transition, yet the mid-day sun gave me a window to sneak in one final (cold, yet refreshing) dip in the lake.

That afternoon in the park had me hooked for more. So, I let fall set in some more and placed my sights on a different section of the park at Jenny Lake the following weekend (October 1).

Fall had really kicked into full gear and my hike around Jenny Lake reminded me of peaceful autumn days spent hiking the woodlands and forests of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

But as I made my way towards Cascade Canyon, I knew I was in for a treat that falls in the Great Lakes states (as amazing as they are) can't quite provide. As I rounded the bend from Inspiration Point to the canyon, the sublime vista filled me with a sense of euphoria. Color flooded the canyon and peeking out behind the rolling morning clouds was a mountaintop dusted with snow from the night before, illuminated by the early morning glow of the sun. I nearly shed a tear from a combination of its pure beauty and the fact that my camera was dead.

This experience fueled my desire for more and there was no way I was waiting a whole week for it. So, on Tuesday, October 4, I charged up my camera, strapped a GoPro to my car, and woke up before sunrise to be one of the first to catch that day's view of the Tetons.

My first stop of the day was at Blacktail Ponds Overlook, where I was greeted by an inversion sweeping through the valley. 

Unfortunately, as golden hour set in, the clouds became thicker. While I raced around to find unobstructed views, it became evident that even being teased by the top half of the glowing upper peaks was magical in its own way.

As I made my way towards the park, I pulled into Elk Ranch Flats Turnout to watch some wildlife. There were no elk, as the name of the turnout would suggest, but pronghorn, the fastest land animal in North America! Learn more about pronghorn and some of the other magnificent wildlife that call the area home in my blog post from this past spring: Wyoming's Wild Side. 

As I entered the park, I drove straight into the inversion and entered a thick fog that was far from ideal for photography. But I figured it would pass, so I pulled into Oxbow Bend Turnout to wait it out and begin writing this blog post by hand. When I looked up from my notebook to see the fog clearing, I let out a loud "YES!" with more excitement than I ever thought was possible from the simple movement of clouds. But this excitement was certainly warranted as the view opened to a pristine lake lined with bright yellow trees and the beast of a mountain called Mount Moran. This mountain has held deep respect and admiration in my heart ever since I free soloed it last summer, but this view from Oxbow Bend is sure to stir up amazement regardless of your familiarity with the mountain. 

As I made my way through the park and headed towards Jenny Lake, I pulled an audible and drove up Signal Mountain to get a different look at the Tetons. The summit provided a humbling view with a sea of pine trees leading to the range.

After descending Signal, I continued on my way to Jenny Lake for a scenic drive down the one-way Jenny Lake Loop (a snippet is featured in the video banner at the top of this blog post). As I pulled into Jenny Lake, I just knew this post wouldn't be complete without pictures of Cascade Canyon. With time dwindling down, I armed myself with my camera and set off on my first trail run of the year. A wave of color filled the mountainsides, providing a more beautiful run than I could have ever asked for.

I even spotted a moose making its way through the dense trees and I finally stopped for a bit of a breather at Hidden Falls. 

It didn't take long for this serene waterfall to calm me down and give me the energy to power through the rest of my run up to Inspiration Point and into Cascade Canyon.

While driving back to the office and continuing to enjoy the scenery out my windows, I thought about the changing of the seasons. And while these serene fall hikes will keep me more than content for the time being, I cannot wait to strap my board back on this upcoming winter season. Even if you aren't able to make it out for a fall hike in the Tetons this year, now is the perfect time to plan your winter getaway. Secure your spot in advance to save up to 10% on lift tickets and then get out on some fall hikes, wherever you live, with the peace of mind knowing your spot on the mountain is secured this winter. 

Enjoy more photos from my fall escapade through Grand Teton National Park below.