Overview
Grand Teton National Park is filled with an incredible variety of wildlife as well as a wild and scenic river system. Rocky Mountain megafauna such as bison, elk, moose and deer are all found here. This tour highlights what it means to experience the transition of day to dusk in this wild place, where predators and prey alike are active and vocal in hunting and feeding. This unique evening experience combines the talent of our river guides and naturalist guides in order to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience of Grand Teton National Park.
Highlights
- Guided Float on the Wild & Scenic Snake River
- Primetime Wildlife Viewing at Dusk & Sunset
- Gourmet Picnic Dinner in Grand Teton National Park
More than 310,000 acres of protected wilderness make up the Jackson Hole Valley, preserving habitat for free-roaming wildlife. Experiencing the transition of daytime to nighttime offers a rare window into the natural rhythms of this extraordinary place. Wildlife is most active in our Rocky Mountain summer evenings after the heat of the day has passed.
Sunset Wildlife Viewing
As the sun lowers behind the jagged Teton Range, your guide will lead you through the valley, river corridors, and open sagebrush flats known for their rich wildlife activity. Guests travel to Grand Teton from all over the world hoping to glimpse its megafauna — bison grazing on open grasslands, elk moving toward evening feeding grounds, moose foraging along willow-lined riverbanks, and, with luck, black or grizzly bears as they wander in search of food.
The wild animals of Grand Teton National Park live entirely within natural cycles. Sightings often begin with something subtle — the flick of an ear in tall grass, the curve of antlers in the willows, a dark shape crossing a ridge. Our guides know and follow these patterns intimately, using years of experience to interpret tracks, behavior, and seasonal movement so you can witness these creatures in their element.
Spring:
Bears emerge from their dens in late April and May, often slow-moving and intent on finding early vegetation like biscuitroot, spring beauties, and young grasses. Moose return to the valley floor, and migrating animals are abundant.
Summer:
As temperatures rise, elk, wolves, and bears often drift into the foothills and higher basins, sometimes requiring patience and long-range optics to spot. Moose settle into river corridors and pond edges where aquatic plants are plentiful.
A Park Shaped by Nature and History
Beyond wildlife, Grand Teton National Park holds a remarkable geographic and cultural legacy. Alpine peaks, wide glacial valleys, rushing rivers, and deep lakes create dramatic vistas at every turn. Humans have been drawn to this landscape for more than 11,000 years — from Indigenous communities who traveled seasonally through the region to the later homesteaders who attempted to carve out a life on the frontier. Today, the valley remains a rare pocket of the West where wildness still outweighs civilization.
Your Evening Adventure
A scenic float and sunset wildlife safari is designed to give you a little of everything — wildlife, landscapes, and the evening rhythm of the National Park. Your exact route will depend on wildlife activity, weather, and interests, but trust that your guides know the region intimately and will choose the most promising locations to make the evening unforgettable.
For a remarkable experience, consider adding a stargazing tour to your combination tour. We can continue right on through the evening to wonder at the night sky in this certified dark skies region.
What's Included
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Hotel pickup
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Professional naturalist guide
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Small group safari: 8 guests per vehicle, maximum
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Guided scenic float
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Assorted snack basket
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Gourmet picnic dinner
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Hot and cold beverages
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Use of UHD binoculars and spotting scopes
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Guide gratuities
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National Park entrance fees
Private Safari
Tour Information
What time is my hotel pickup?
All guests are picked up and returned to their place of lodging. We pick up at hotels and condos in Jackson and Teton Village. Your exact pick up time will be determined by your hotel location and the season. Please make note of your pickup time, and save it for your reference.
Please give your guide an additional 5-10 minutes before and after the scheduled time to allow for other pickups or traffic conditions. Changes to trip timing may be made to accommodate daylight and/or optimum wildlife viewing.
Approximate pickup times for Jackson Hole include:
May 15 – September 14
- 4:00 PM – Town of Jackson locations
- 4:00 PM – Wilson, Aspens, Amangani and Spring Creek locations
- 4:00 PM – Teton Village locations
Private safari guests are picked up at 4:00PM from May 15 – September 14.
What is the itinerary?
Your exact route and itinerary will be determined by your interests, current wildlife sightings, and current weather and road conditions. Our guides are all highly experienced, with thousands of hours in the field, and will expertly tailor your safari to you and your group.
On the Menu
Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris is proud to offer locally sourced zero waste lunch options for all our guests on this tour. The menu includes assorted sandwiches with meats, veggies, and bread, served with chips, and a small dessert. Water is provided on every tour, and your guide will have additional hot or cold beverages on hand. Assorted snacks will be available throughout the day.
Vegan or vegetarian meals may be available. We may source meals from multiple partners in order to satisfy dietary requests or seasonal demand. Please indicate if you have a food sensitivity or allergy at the time of booking so we can discuss your meal options prior to your tour. We cannot guarantee allergen-free meals.
What an amazing tour! The scenery was absolutely stunning and our guide was not only extremely friendly and helpful with boarding and other details but so knowledgeable about Grand Teton National Park in general. He answered every question with patience and knowledge. He also gave us so much information while still allowing us quite moments to soak in all the beauty surrounding us.
Safari Tour Gallery
All photography has been shot by our talented tour guides.
FAQs
Vehicles & Optics
Our Vehicles
At Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris we use top-of-the-line vehicles designed to enhance your wildlife safari experience while ensuring comfort and safety. These rugged and comfortable vehicles feature expansive windows, giving you unobstructed views of the incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes of Jackson Hole. We use small passenger vans and SUVs for small group sizes to accommodate a personalized experience. With high-clearance capabilities, the vehicles can easily navigate any terrain we encounter, ensuring a smooth and stable ride through the area’s remote spots. Spacious seating, climate control, and knowledgeable guides ensure a comfortable, immersive experience, allowing you to connect with nature while minimizing your impact on this beautiful, pristine environment.
Our Optics
Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris provides top-tier binoculars and spotting scopes for their tours to ensure guests have the best possible viewing experience of wildlife in the stunning landscapes of the region. We utilize high-quality, durable optics that offer sharp, clear images, even at long distances, making it easier for guests to spot elusive animals and enjoy close-up views of birds, mammals, and other wildlife. Our Athlon binoculars are lightweight and easy to handle, perfect for all ages and experience levels. The Vortex spotting scopes, equipped with powerful magnification, allow for exceptional detail when observing wildlife from afar. These professional-grade tools enhance the overall safari experience, giving guests a front-row seat to the beauty of Jackson Hole’s natural world.
Guides and Staff
Our Team
Local, experienced, and passionate guides and photographers.
Further Reading
A Month by Month Guide to Grand Teton National Park
Jun 21, 2024
Deciding when to visit Grand Teton is entirely dependent on your personal interests, availability, and preferred weather conditions. Planning ahead is essential to managing expectations and anticipating what you may need. For example, if your number one goal is wildlife sightings of bears or moose, then midsummer may not be the best time for you to go. If you don’t want cold temperatures and wish to hike as much as possible, spring and fall may leave you disappointed. Every month is different and offers equally enchanting possibilities, but knowing what is and isn’t available will help you immensely. No matter when you visit, our wildlife safaris run year round and are sure to show you a spectacular time in the park…
Yellowstone National Park Wildlife
Feb 27, 2025
Few places are home to such exciting and majestic megafauna as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). At the heart of this spectacular region is Yellowstone National Park. A visit to Yellowstone in summer can deliver encounters with bears, elk, bison, moose, wolves, and many, many more. Knowing what the different seasons offer and where in the park to look are key to successfully finding wildlife sightings of a lifetime. Booking a Yellowstone tour with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris is an excellent way to efficiently see the park with an experienced and passionate guide who knows where to go…
