Snake River Overlook – Grand Teton’s ICONIC Viewpoint

Article Overview: Snake River Overlook

About Snake River Overlook – Grand Teton National Park

Snake River Overlook is the iconic view of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park originally made famous by the legendary landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Here visitors can gaze out at the winding Snake River set against the majestic Teton mountains.

Snake River Overlook is a great year-round destination in Grand Teton as the different seasons bring new and beautiful changes to this epic view. For those wondering, there is no hike involved to get to Snake River Overlook, one simply drives up and parks their car here.

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Snake River Overlook Information

Trail Length: None, this is a drive-up site.

Parking Difficulty: Varies by season – usually fairly easy.

Operating Hours: 24/7

Recommended Time of Day: Sunrise or Sunset

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Parking at Snake River Overlook

Parking at Snake River Overlook is usually not difficult due to the sound infrastructure of Grand Teton National Park and the abundance of parking spaces at the overlook. In peak summer parking can at times prove difficult here so you’ll want to show up in advance of the sunset if you’re planning on taking it in.

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Photography at Snake River Overlook

Let’s face it, if you’re visiting Snake River Overlook you’re not leaving without a picture from this magnificent viewpoint. Here are some things to know as you look to get the best shot here:

• Ansel Adams iconic photograph from the Snake River Overlook cannot be reproduced. Yes, sad to say, but the beautiful scene Adams captured of the entire stretch of the winding Snake River with the Tetons in the background is simply not possible to capture anymore due to tree growth around the overlook obstructing portions of the river below.
• Both sunset and sunrise are excellent times to photograph this majestic view of the park. Sunset, however is the best time to capture this vista in all its glory as the sun dips behind the Tetons creating a sometimes spectacular display in the sky.
• Look for partly to mostly cloudy days for the best results at sunset and during magic hour here.

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When to Visit Snake River Overlook

Sunset is the best time to capture the view from Snake River Overlook as the sun traces behind the Tetons and lights up the sky. There’s no bad time of year to visit Snake River Overlook with each season bringing it’s own beauty to the famous viewpoint.

Summer is of course the most popular time to visit Snake River Overlook and offers the best weather. Fall is a showstopper here as the aspens along the river light up a brilliant yellow, but the weather can tend to be unpredictable. Winter sees heavy snow and ice accentuate the beauty of the Teton mountains. And Spring offers good weather, vivid greens, and blooming plants.

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About Grand Teton National Park

Located in the spectacular Jackson Hole Valley and encompassing nearly 500 square miles, Grand Teton National Park boasts an awe-inspiring array of pristine wilderness, glacial lakes, winding rivers, diverse wildlife, and the magnificent Teton Range.

The park derives it’s name from the mighty Teton Range popularly known as simply the Tetons, or the Grand Tetons. The park’s creation and eventual scale (in terms of acreage) was largely made possible by the wealthy philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr.

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Things to Know Before Visiting Grand Teton National Park

Entrance Fees

$30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be purchased at any national park) and gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Grand Teton Map

The best map for the park: We like this map the best.

Best Guide Book

The best guide book for Grand Teton: This is our favorite guide for Grand Teton.

Mosquitoes

During the months of June and July expect to find mosquitoes at varying levels. I recommend this bug spray which has worked for me in the park and is environmentally friendly.

Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park

The Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park is in Spring and Fall to take advantage of lesser crowds and beautiful scenery. Summer is a great time to visit as well but it will be crowded.

Leave No Trace

We’re big fans of Leave No Trace, here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.

Bear Spray

Bear Spray: It’s a good thing to have on lots of the trails here. We like this one.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on trails in most national parks due to their potentially disruptive presence with the natural ecosystem. The basic rule is they are allowed where cars can go so be sure to check the rules before bringing along your furry friend.

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Grand Teton National Park Map

RELATED: Best Grand Teton National Park Maps

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Where is Grand Teton National Park?

Grand Teton National Park is located on the Western side of Wyoming in Jackson Hole. The park shares a border with the more popular Yellowstone National Park to the north, the less-visited Bridger-Teton National Forest to the east, and the even lesser-visited Caribou-Targhee National Forest to the west.

Snake River Overlook is located near the center of the park along US Highway 191. The overlook is about halfway between Moose, WY and Moran Junction.

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Snake River Overlook Summary

Well that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed this deep dive on Grand Teton’s iconic Snake River Overlook. If I missed anything be sure to let me know in the comments or via email. And if you make it to Snake River Overlook and found this useful I hope you’ll let us know!

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