Grand Teton National Park is a wild place. Glaciered peaks, 13,000 feet tall, jut out of the flat prairie, and big game and big predators abound. Summer days see highs of 95 and nights plummet to 45. Snow is possible any month of the year, and thunderstorms can blow in and out in a matter of minutes. These extremes make the park a place of unexpected, captivating beauty.

Wild River, Dry Prairie

The icy Snake River is a defining feature of the park, offering varied habitats for wildlife and recreation for visitors. Cutthroat and rainbow trout populate the river, drawing bald eagles and fishermen alike. Industrious beavers have dammed parts of the river, creating calm waters where moose feed on willows and aquatic plants--Schwabacher Ponds and Oxbow Bend are particularly good places to look.

One of the best ways to see the river is on a sunset float trip. Sharp-eyed river guides can help you catch a glimpse of native animals as they emerge to feed in the cool of evening. Or if you’re feeling more adventuresome, a whitewater rafting trip provides plenty of thrills--and a good dousing of cold water.

Away from the river, grazing animals like buffalo, elk, mule deer and pronghorns thrive on the park’s extensive sagebrush flats. The porous soil that underlies the flats holds little water, but supports more life than one might think, including 20 types of grass, colorful spring flowers and several rodent species.

Antelope Flats, along Highway 89 on the eastern edge of the park, is a particularly good place to find buffalo. If you’re lucky, you might see a coyote or wolf hunting on the dry prairie.

Into the Mountains

Hiking is the best way to get into the mountains and see what the Tetons have to offer. During the peak of summer, start early in the morning to avoid both heat and crowds. The area around Jenny Lake offers several picturesque treks, including Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon.

To cut trail time, take the lake ferry from Jenny Lake Visitor Center to the base of Inspiration Point on the other side. It is a steep seven-tenths of a mile up to the point, but absolutely worth the effort.

On the way, take the 100-yard detour to Hidden Falls, a spectacular tumbling cascade. Beyond Inspiration Point, the trail levels out as it heads into Cascade Canyon, which threads its way between Mount Owen and Mount John, with views of the towering Grand Teton peak.

After you’ve worn your legs out hiking, give your arms a turn and rent a kayak from Jenny Lake Boating. With just you and your kayak on the water, you’ll experience the solitude many seek in the park. String Lake, just north of Jenny Lake, is particularly good for kayaking: it’s small, calm and nestled at the base of the mountain range.

When you’re ready for a break, head to the Jackson Lake Lodge. The upstairs lobby, with massive windows that showcase the Teton range, is a field of comfy couches and armchairs ideal for writing postcards or delving into a good book.

Big Wyoming Sky

Without tall trees to block your view, the adage about the West’s “big sky” couldn’t be more apt. The sun sets to the west, sinking behind the mountains and silhouetting the sharp peaks. The full moon rises in the east, lighting up the land like a streetlamp.

With no large towns creating light pollution, star-gazing is spectacular. In mid-August, the sky offers a special treat--the Perseid meteor shower. The streaks of light start falling in late evening and generally peak just before dawn, with up to two meteors per minute.

Local Flavor in Jackson

The historic town of Jackson, Wyoming, is just four miles south of the park and is pleasantly touristy. The shaded town square is the focal point, famed for its four arches made of elk antlers. Before it became a park, the square was grazing land for settlers’ cattle.

Jackson offers food options for every taste and budget--and there’s no place in this laid-back, Western town that you can’t show up in jeans and a nice shirt. Sample a spicy curry at the cash-only Teton Thai, or nibble on fresh tortilla chips and salsa at The Merry Piglets Mexican restaurant. The Blue Lion’s rack of lamb is killer, and at the Snake River BrewPub, you can sip a pint of local beer.

To cap off your Western vacation, park your horse at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, a rollicking saloon that offers live country music, saddle-topped barstools and was featured in the Clint Eastwood film, Any Which Way You Can.