6 Best Photography Locations in Grand Teton (+Useful Photo Tips)

Mormon Row is a famous spot for sunrise photography in Grand Teton National Park. I have to honestly say that it is one of my favorite spots to photograph the Teton Mountain Range bathed in the morning sunlight!

Thomas Alma Moulton Barn with the pointed roof is no doubt one of the most photographed barns in the world!

John Moulton Barn with the rounded roof in front of the towering Tetons is one of the most iconic sights.

GOOD TO KNOW: When the first rays of the sun start peeking above the horizon, they bring out the historic barns’ most beautiful shades of gold. The barns create a stunning image with the Tetons in the background!

To get to Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park, start driving north from Jackson on Hwy 191/89/26 past Moose Junction and turn right onto Antelope Flats Road.

Follow the road for about 1.5 miles until you see a north-south running dirt road marked by a distinctive pink stucco house on the left with a small dirt parking area. A trail brochure and interpretive sign can be found in the parking lot.

Oxbow Bend is one of the most iconic photography locations in Grand Teton National Park.

You get to photograph the Grand Tetons and Mount Moran reflected in the Snake River.

Oxbow Bend is a great location to capture both great sunrises and awesome sunsets. My recommendation is to be at Oxbow Bend about 30 minutes before sunrise. You will get to see how the light gradually changes the view. It is pretty spectacular!

INTREPID’S PRO TIP: If you miss the sunrise, then get to Oxbow Bend as early as possible to make sure that the waters of the Snake River are perfectly still. It usually gets windy later on in the day and it is hard to capture these reflections.

Also, if you are visiting in the fall, then you will get a chance to photograph the gold, yellow, and orange colors of the trees, which contrast beautifully with the mountains in the background.

GOOD TO KNOW: Oxbow Bend is a great place to see bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and osprey. In addition, you might get a chance to see otters, beavers, and muskrats swimming in the waters of the Snake River.

Fingers crossed, Oxbow Bend is a perfect location to see and photograph moose!

Oxbow Bend Turnout is located on highway 191/89/26 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. Specifically, it is located about 3 miles from Moran Junction, and about 2 miles from Jackson Lake Junction.

Schwabacher’s Landing is another very popular spot to photograph the Grand Teton Mountains.

My recommendation is to take time and find your perfect spot!

GOOD TO KNOW: There is a trail that starts at the parking lot and goes along Snake River. So, plenty of great photo opportunities to photograph Tetons reflected in the water.

At about two-tenths of a mile from the parking lot, you will get to a beaver dam. This spot is the best place to see some wildlife. Be on the lookout for moose, elk, and bison that like to graze in the grassy meadows along the river. It is a perfect place to see bald eagles, osprey, and great blue herons.

Schwabacher Landing is a very popular place to photograph the Grand Teton Mountains at sunrise.

You will have a lot of company at that location at aunrise!  Make sure to arrive early so you can claim the best spot.

Schwabacher’s  Landing is located about 4 miles north of Moose Junction on HWY 191/89/26.

It is easy to miss the turn-off HWY 191/89/26 that leads to the trailhead. So, make sure to slow down and be on the lookout for the sign pointing to Schwabacher Landing.

Once you make the turn, continue for about 1 mile. Unfortunately, it will be just a dirt road, so slow down and watch out for potholes.

The parking area is a good size, so you should have no problems finding a spot to park your vehicle.

Snake River Overlook was the shooting location for Ansel Adams’ famous black-and-white photo which he took in 1942. It is one of the best-known and most critically acclaimed photographs.

Now, the tree growth obstructs the view of Snake River. However, no matter whether the view of the river has changed since 1942, it is still one of the most iconic views of the Tetons.

INTTEPID’S PRO TIP: It is a very popular spot at sunrise. So, make sure to arrive early and get the best view. Also, plan on staying for a while, because the colors are constantly changing as more sunlight hits the mountains.

It is amazing how the view changes from before sunrise to during sunrise.

Snake River Overlook is located just off Hwy 191/89/26 between Moran Junction and Moose Junction. Specifically, it is located about 11.3 miles south of Moran Junction, and about 9 miles north of Moose Junction.

Hermitage Point offers unsurpassed views of the Teton Range! You will not get the better views of the Tetons anywhere else!

GOOD TO KNOW: It is a bit of a hike to get to Hermitage Point. However, it is a fairly easy and fun hike with lots of opportunities to take great photos along the way.

To top it off, Hermitage Point Trail passes by Heron Pond and Half Moon Bay Overlook.

Heron Pond is quite a sight when it is covered with lilies. Moreover, it is an awesome area to spot some wildlife.

And, Half Moon Bay Overlook offers some best views of the Teton Mountains.

When you are hiking between Half Moon Bay Overlook and Hermitage Point, you will have endless opportunities to capture the most incredible photos of the Teton Range!

The hike to Hermitage Point begins from the Hermitage Point Trailhead.

The Hermitage Point Trailhead is located at the south end of the Colter Bay Visitor Center. To get to the trailhead, drive about 5.4 miles from the Jackson Lake Junction to the Colter Bay Visitor Center.

The observation area at Signal Mountain Summit offers some incredible views of the Tetons at sunset.

GOOD TO KNOW: By the way, there are two parking lots. I always head straight to the second one and then, I make my way down to capture some awesome photos!

First of all, turn left off Teton Park Road into Signal Mountain Road. Next, drive for about 5 miles to the summit where there is an observation area.

Signal Mountain Road is a narrow two-way traffic road with no painted lines and lots of curves that create poor visibility of incoming traffic and even wildlife.  However, it is in good condition and well-maintained.

Please make a note that trailers and RVs are prohibited on this road.

Sunrise is the best time to photograph Grand Teton National Park. However, sunsets can be as spectacular!

GOOD TO KNOW: The best light is about 15-30 minutes before sunrise or 10-15 minutes after sunset. It is the proverbial “golden hour” during which the daylight is softer and redder. Needless to say, it is the time during which the Tetons start to glow.

So how do get the best photos of the Tetons at sunrise or sunset? Here are some recommendations:

•  Choose a Low to Mid-Range ISO

When capturing a sunrise or sunset, use a lower ISO setting such as 200, 400, or 800. These settings compensate for reduced light during these times, allowing flexibility in choosing aperture and shutter speed while maintaining image quality. Avoid the lowest ISO (usually 100) to ensure better results.

• Choose High Aperture

Many opt for a high aperture like f/11, f/16, or higher during sunset photography to achieve a broad depth of field, keeping both foreground and background sharply focused. Yet, there’s flexibility to lower the aperture for creative effects, as there are no strict rules.

• Determine a Shutter Speed

With your ISO and aperture set, it’s time to choose the shutter speed that will give you the proper exposure. Keep an eye on your light meter while adjusting the shutter speed and when it reads “0,” it’s telling you the exposure is correct.

To make this simple, put your camera in aperture priority mode (if it has it) and your camera will automatically select the shutter speed that will work best for proper exposure.

Also, consider that if your shutter speed gets too low you may need a tripod to prevent blurring caused by the shake of your hands. The general guideline for determining the lowest usable handheld shutter speed is to look at your lens focal length and use a tripod for any shutter speeds lower than that number.

GOOD TO KNOW: If your lens has a focal length of 50mm, you should be able to shoot at 1/50 of a second without getting handshake blurring, but you’ll want to use a tripod for speeds slower than that.

• Bracket Your Exposures

Relying on your camera’s light meter to get the best shot can sometimes produce mediocre results, especially during sunrise or sunset when you’re trying to expose the bright sun on the horizon and darker subjects in the foreground. To get the best exposure, try a technique called bracketing.

GOOD TO KNOW: Bracketing involves taking several pictures exposed above and below what your camera suggests.

• Expand Your Subject Matter

While photographing a sunrise or sunset, it’s common to focus solely on the captivating horizon. However, upon reviewing the photos, you may notice a lack of the scene’s true splendor. To enhance your images, incorporate elements that convey scale, depth, and originality, ensuring they capture the essence of the breathtaking moment as you experience it.

INTREPID’S PRO TIP: During your next photography session, step back and include elements like trees, people, rocks, or water in the foreground and middle ground.

Remember, a stunning sunrise or sunset photo doesn’t always require capturing the sun directly. Explore how the golden light spreads across the landscape or how the pink hues paint the surrounding peaks. Challenge yourself to look beyond the sun and discover creative ways to add interest and depth to your images.