The Crown Jewel Tour Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Day One
Departing from Kemmerer, where J.C. Penney opened his first store and where tours of his store and home are available, travel either to Fossil Butte National Monument on US 30, the site of one of the richest fossil deposits on earth, or to Big Piney and Pinedale at the base of the awesome Wind River Mountains. Traveling on US 30, you enter the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Afton-Star Valley area, passing under the massive elk antler arch in the town of Afton. Then it’s on to the town of Jackson, the famous mountain valley town offering galleries, shopping, theaters, nightlife and big-name entertainment, chuck wagon cookouts, aerial tram rides, museums, scenic and whitewater float trips and excellent accommodations. In winter, there is skiing literally into town on Snow King Mountain and a sleigh tour through the National Elk Refuge is mandatory. Twelve miles northwest on WYO 390 is Teton Village, well known by skiers worldwide for the 4,139 foot vertical rise at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Days Two & Three
The majestic beauty of the Grand Teton Range dominates Grand Teton National Park, almost overshadowing the wealth of wildlife and the world-class resorts within the park. From Moose Junction, travel to the serene beauty of the Chapel of the Transfiguration, then onto Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake by scenic cruiser, ride horses at the base of the Tetons or float the calm Snake River on half-day or all-day float trips.
Days Three & Four
Yellowstone National Park is the nation’s first and finest national park, containing 2 million acres of uncommon beauty. Proceed through the southern entrance from Jackson or (eastern entrance from Cody) to West Thumb Geyser Basin and Lewis River Falls, then west along the lower loop to the Old Faithful Geyser Basin, where Old Faithful erupts about every 73 minutes. Continue north on the lower loop through Midway Geyser Basin and the Firehole Lake Drive, emerging at Fountain Paint Pots, where each thermal feature is showcased by nature as you walk along a short boardwalk. Past Madison Junction is Gibbon Falls and the Norris Geyser Basin. Travel by Roaring Mountain and Obsidian Cliff to Mammoth Hot Springs, where 500 gallons of water flow every minute from the earth to shape and feed the ever-changing terraces.
Traveling east along the upper loop road past Tower-Roosevelt, view Tower Falls before seeing the breathtaking Lower and Upper Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Continue south through Hayden Valley, a lush meadow dotted with wildlife, to Yellowstone Lake, the country’s largest high-altitude lake.
The chiseled profile of the Teton Range - there is no more dramatic panorama in Wyoming. Craggy and snowcapped, these battleship-gray mountains with their glacial spars harbor a realm of world-class mountain climbs as well as moderate hikes that invite you into the landscape. read more
Whether you are planning to visit Wyoming in the spring, summer, fall or winter, there is so much to see and do. Each season in Wyoming has its own character. If you’re planning your first trip to the Cowboy State or you’re an old hand, there’s always more to explore and find. read more
