Like These Popular Places in Grand Teton National Park? You’ll Love Their Less Crowded Look-Alikes
By Visit Jackson Hole 
Solitude can still be found in the Tetons. You just have to know where to look.
Grand Teton National Park is among the top 10 most visited National Parks in the U.S., welcoming almost 4 million visitors a year. Increases in trail usage (up 34% in the last decade), social media popularization of key spots, and anticipated construction in Grand Teton National Park may contribute to more people at your go-to location. But these lesser-known places offer similar experiences and equally stunning views... with fewer people.
Like Jenny Lake? You’ll Love Colter Bay.
Miraculously, Colter Bay, on the shores of Jackson Lake, hasn’t seen the online notoriety or the in-person foot traffic that Jenny Lake has. But it does offer easy water access to an alpine lake, family-friendly hikes, clean and convenient facilities, and the quintessential lake-in-front-of-Tetons view that could be a screen saver.
Lakeshore Trail, Heron Pond-Swan Lake Loop Trail, and Hermitage Point hikes all start from Colter Bay, offering a range of difficulty levels and lengths. But unlike Jenny, Colter Bay Marina offers rentals right on the water, including kayaks, canoes, and even motorboats.
If you visit in spring or fall in the morning or evening, you may experience one of the truest pleasures of the Tetons – a still lake, Teton views, and being completely alone with one of the most awe-inspiring wonders in the world.
Like Mormon Row? You’ll Love The Cunningham Cabin.
In order to enhance the visitor experience at Mormon Row, improvement projects expect to add 20-minute delays to an already busy site with difficult parking. The Cunningham Cabin was built in 1888 in the Appalachian style by John and Margaret Cunningham. The structure sits in front of one of the most grandiose views of the Tetons, offering a unique portrait of the history of Western lifestyle in the mountains.
Another building where history meets nature in the Tetons is the The Chapel of the Transfiguration. While the road to the Chapel may experience some disruptions due to construction this season, it will be open for services every Sunday morning.
Like Taggart Lake? You’ll Love Leigh Lake.
During the 2026 summer, Taggart Lake trailhead will be under construction, causing closures in the early and late season (until June 19 and after September 8) and causing 45-minute delays in the height of the season. Additionally, the trail detour will require a longer, steeper out-and-back hike. Not to mention, Taggart Lake is already one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton National Park.
If you’re prepared for a detour and a busy trail, Taggart is still worth the adventure, but if you’re looking for something a little less crowded, try Leigh Lake. This lake, located just past String Lake via hiking trail, is by no means a secret to Park goers. But perhaps the longer drive and possibility for a longer out-and-back detours hikers, because it rarely feels over-crowded. The farther you go on the trail, the more solitude you’ll find. And what many people won’t tell you is that the lake access (both beaches and boulders) is much more enjoyable than Taggart.
Like Death Canyon? You’ll Love Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Backcountry Access.
Death Canyon trailhead will be closed all summer for construction while crews work to move the trailhead and better establish it as a backcountry access point. However, many backcountry hikes and campsites are accessible from Rendezvous Peak at the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. And it’s one of the coolest backcountry entrance (or exit) points in the nation!
Set apart by tram access, a waffle cabin, and a pit toilet (all very welcome sights after four days in the backcountry), ending a Grand Teton National Park backcountry experience at Rendezvous Mountain is a preferred option, regardless of construction detours elsewhere.
Like Delta Lake? You’ll Love Amphitheater and Surprise.
Park visitors love Delta Lake for its unique view, its challenging climb, and its rewarding, albeit very cold, water. However, the popular spot has been recently nicknamed “Instagram Lake” for the following it receives on social media, leading to increased foot traffic and misuse of the primitive trail. The popular trail is expected to get some love this summer and may see detours, re-routes, and temporary closures that will be announced in advance.
Instead, stick to the well-formed path and travel up to Amphitheater Lake or Surprise Lake and revisit Delta Lake next year, when a revamped trail is in place. These two offer the same turquoise waters and close views of the Tetons, as well as an equally-challenging 10.3 mile hike with 3,000-foot elevation gain. But the main thing that sets them apart is the peacefulness. Amphitheater Lake is one of the few places in the Park where I’ve spent an entire afternoon alone.
