Grand Teton National Park in June

Visiting Grand Teton National Park in June

Deciding what time of year to visit the most popular US National Parks always involves tradeoffs. You’ll either have good weather and large crowds or vice versa, but it’s usually difficult if not impossible to have both. Offseason travel can be a good solution to this problem, but some of the parks are so brutally cold in the offseason that it’s not a viable option. We visited the Grand Tetons in June, and while there were certainly pros and cons, overall it was a good time of year for a visit. The weather was generally good, and while it was somewhat busy, the summer crowds were still in their infancy.

Weather

Much like its neighbor to the north (Yellowstone) the warmest and driest months are July and August. While these months give you the best chance of warm sunny days out on Jackson Lake, June is not far behind and is generally a very cool and comfortable time of year. The mornings and evenings will likely get cold and the temperature will drop precipitously at the higher elevations, but in general June is one of the best months to visit the park from a weather standpoint. Rain is always a possibility, but chances are good that you’ll get some spectacular views of the Tetons still covered in snow. Given the temperature fluctuations based on elevation and/or time of day, it’s wise to pack layers so you are prepared for wide range of temperatures. While there will probably still be snow on the peaks of the mountain, all park roads, visitor centers, and campgrounds will be open throughout the month.

Grand teton in June — Wildflowers at the foot of the mountains in late June

grand Teton national park June — Rainbow in the Tetons

Crowds

The correlation between weather and visitation is unmistakable. When the summer weather is at its warmest, the park is at its busiest. June is not quite as busy as July and August, but you should still expect crowds, especially towards the end of the month when kids are on summer vacation. Make sure to book accommodations well in advance as hotels book quickly in the park and in the neighboring town of Jackson. As is the case with most national parks, if you get off the beaten path, the crowds begin to thin out. The majority of tourists like to stick to the more easily accessible attractions, so getting out on the many hiking trails will allow you to escape the crowds (just don’t forget to pack bear spray since this is grizzly country).