Hiking the Grand View Trail

We have hiked parts of the Grand View Trail, but we had never reached the mountain top. The last attempt was stopped when a storm moved in and we had to retreat to the car, (lighting is never good when you are on a mountain). It rained heavy last week but the skies had cleared and we decided to take advantage of three days of clear skies and hike to the top. Now the view from Grand View Point, is reported to be the best view of the Tetons. A long time ago I climbed Teewinot and from there had a stunning view of Jackson Hole, the Gros Ventre Slide, and Blacktail Butte. However, you can’t really see the mountains when you are standing on top of one.

Renita packed a lunch, while I got out the bear spray and loaded the car. Taking off, it’s a sixty five mile drive to the Moran Entrance Station, we reached the Grand View Parking lot about ten thirty am. Gearing up with water, cameras, lunch, and of course bear spray we began the hike, (Always carry bear spray when ever you see the bear warning signs).

Now we are both over seventy years young, so we planned on taking it easy hiking up the trail. The trail starts off with an easy slope but about one third of the way up it becomes steeper.

There were lots of wildflowers and so we paused to catch our breath and took pictures, At one place, we walked through a stand of choke cherry bushes loaded with ripe fruit, (hmm bears love choke cherries).

At places the trail became steeper, and we frequently paused. It flattened out and we made pretty good time. Finally an open spot appeared. and we could get a view of the Tetons. As we enjoyed the view three teenage girls caught up to us and one offered to take our picture. Passing us they continued on and we slowly followed them.

We spotted Two Ocean Lake and a little higher Emma Matilda Lake. Years ago, I had been on a field trip with high school students and had hiked part of the lake’s trails. It was so long ago that grizzly bears were not in the area, (now there are about one thousand grizzlies and black bears are numerous in the Yellowstone Ecosystem).

We saw the girls sitting on a clearing and after a few pictures we finished the hike to the summit.

We both posed for a picture with the sign and then retuned to a bare spot to eat our lunch. A couple reached us and the women asked if we had seen the bears! She was quite excited and said that a black bear sow with two cubs and crossed the trail right in front of them. The couple both had bear spray and were the only two with spray of the many people we encountered on the trail. The three teenage girls talked incessantly. We offered to take their pictures. No chance the bears would show up at our lunch spot. Being a former high school teacher, I removed my hearing aides, and their conversation was reduced to a quiet murmur.

Renita mentioned to them that they should make noise when returning down the trail and one of them had actually brought a speaker along. We could hear their music as they hiked down the trail, We have never thought to bring a speaker on a hike as we like to hear birds. elk bugling, and even bears breaking branches as they strip and eat berries off bushes.

We finally decided to head back down the trail. We never did spot the bears but Renita did see a small bear print, probably from one of the cubs. She has become quite the tracker and looks for tracks as I scan for the bears, (I do occasionally look back to make sure we are not being followed down the trail). Reaching the car, we both agreed that Grand Point View is the best view of the Teton Range. You can even look north into the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The hike is one we plan on taking again and is well worth the effort, (on the All Trails app it is described a as moderate hike). Clear skies and be sure to carry bear spray!