Fall Creek Falls to Grand Teton NP

About a week ago, I made reservations for Gros Ventre Campground in Grand Teton National Park. I’d been to this National Park before but a lot has change in those years since. I booked 5 nights, hoping to relax, get some hiking, cycling and photography in.

I woke near Gregg Mazda outside of Idaho Fall, Idaho. Yesterday had been a long day and I slept late. I had slept well and had a craving for French Toast. While I ate breakfast I planned my trip north.

Fall Creek Falls

I had Fall Creek Falls, near Swan Valley, Idaho, on my itinerary. It added about 30 minutes to my drive to Grand Teton National Park. The falls are a few miles off Route 26, down a dirt road that was reasonably well maintained.

I managed to drive past the falls twice, even though Google Maps had pinpointed the location perfectly. There was a narrow turnoff with just enough room for a couple of cars to park. A well-worn path led through tall brush to an overlook of the falls.

There wasn't nearly as much water flowing as I had seen in photographs, and I wasn't particularly happy with the view from the overlook. I wanted a better angle, so I slid down the hillside closer to the falls and gingerly maneuvered beneath the cliff, where I could get a slightly better view. I hadn't brought my tripod, although getting it down there would have been difficult anyway.

Getting back up proved to be more challenging than getting down, particularly since I wasn't wearing hiking shoes. I eventually scrambled my way back to the path and returned to the van.

The views from the cliff were actually quite spectacular. The broad Snake River wound through the valley below, with groves of aspen trees beginning to turn yellow and mountains rising in the distance. A few fishermen floated past on the river, apparently in no particular hurry, enjoying the warm sunshine and the quiet afternoon. Even with the reduced flow over the falls, the surrounding landscape made the detour worthwhile.

I spent another half hour driving along the road, looking for a better vantage point from which to photograph the falls. It became obvious that the best view would be from the island across the Snake River, but there was no way to reach it from where I was. I would have needed a boat. I eventually gave up the search and continued toward Grand Teton National Park.

Grand Teton National Park

Back on Route 26, I continued toward Alpine, stopping periodically to photograph the scenery along the way. I stopped in Alpine for gas and groceries before heading toward the park. The scenery was tempting, but I forced myself to keep driving rather than stop for more photographs.

I arrived at Gros Ventre Campground a little after 2 p.m. There was only one other camper in the check-in lane, and a woman came over to check me in. Everything was straightforward. She mentioned that the campground would be closing for the season on Saturday, my last day, and that I would need to leave by 11 a.m.

I found my campsite and took a short break before heading to the visitor center to pick up a map and some information about the park. Along the way, the afternoon sun was lighting up the aspen trees, their brilliant yellow leaves contrasting with the darker evergreens. I made a few stops to take photographs before continuing to the visitor center, where I collected some brochures and talked with a ranger about hiking trails and places worth exploring.

I also watched Grand Teton National Park: Life on the Edge, a 24-minute documentary about the park's landscapes, wildlife, and natural history. I've always enjoyed these park films. They're so well done and invariably leave me wanting to get out and explore.

I bought a few things in the gift shop before returning to the campground to make dinner and catch up on some writing.