Thanks for any suggestions you may have!
Sounds like a great trip Clark.
A few thoughts:
- Outside of camping there's no real cheap lodging in or around GTNP. I agree Signal Mountain Lodge is closer to the affordable side for park lodges and puts you up North near very good wildlife habitat and near some of the great scenic locations. Staying in the town of Jackson is definitely an option, still not cheap but it does open up a lot more hotels and there are plenty of vacation rental properties in and around Jackson (Airbnb, Vacasa, Vrbo, etc.). The park actually begins about 3 miles from the edge of the town of Jackson but a lot of the more popular viewpoints and certainly the more active Bear areas are about 45 minutes to an hour North of town. Still the town of Jackson opens up a lot more lodging and eating options than staying up at Signal Mountain or Jackson Lake Lodge or one of the Northern dude ranches though those are all decent options if you really want to stay in the heart of the park. There are a few rental cabins at Dornan's in Moose that splits the difference between town and the Northern Park as well.
- There are scenic views of the Teton range all over the park but in addition to the Oxbow Bend and Snake River Overlook a few popular spots include: Schwabacher's Landing with its reflection pools, Jenny Lake Overlook (or many spots along the Jenny Lake one way scenic loop looking over the lake towards the range), various pullouts along Jackson Lake, the view from Jackson Lake Lodge itself looking out over the Willow Flats area. There are many other less visited areas as well but those are good places to start.
- As posted above, the hike to Hidden Falls with an optional boat ride across Jenny lake or across and back is a very nice short outing. If you plan to photograph the falls, consider an overcast day or early in the morning (typically prior to the first boat of the day so walk around and take the boat back) or late in the afternoon is much better than a bright day that all but guarantees the waterfall will blow out based on the shafts of sunlight hitting it and the relatively dark surroundings. Lot's of wildlife in Cascade Canyon near and then beyond the falls if you don't mind hiking with your gear. Moose are common there as are Black Bears, Mule Deer, the occasional Elk, Ground Squirrels, Pika, Marmots (including the jet black Marmots unique to the Tetons) and various birds including American Dippers, Hairy and Downey Woodpeckers, Clarks Nutcrackers, Stellar's Jays and others. Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point/Cascade Canyon beyond it are some of the most heavily traveled areas of the park so traveling on the edges of day are good for light and wildlife activity but also lower crowds. This is getting into the backcountry so bear spray is a smart move.
- The Swan ponds on the very edge of town looking out over the National Elk Refuge (thousands of Elk overwinter here each year but in September don't expect to see any Elk on the refuge) is a great and easy spot for waterfowl especially Trumpeter Swans. Flight shots here are common as they come and go with the refuge grasslands and the Gros Ventre range in the distance making nice backgrounds.
- One or many slow drives around the Antelope Flats loop past Kelly Warmsprings and the town of Kelly is a good place to look for Moose and in September a great place to see Pronghorn, Mule Deer and various hawks.
- Early morning or late evening drives along the inner park road, the road from the town of Moose to Signal Mountain running past Jenny and String lakes, along with some of the side roads is good for Elk (perhaps bugling Elk in the evenings in September especially in the meadows closer to the base of the mountains) is pretty good for large mammals, foxes, coyotes and other wildlife.
- The parking area below Jackson Lake dam can be good for various birds including American White Pelican but in recent years there's been an active Beaver pond there which can make for some good shots.
There are plenty of other areas in the park to explore depending on things like how much walking you're willing to do. Unfortunately like Yellowstone there's a lot of area to cover and no single place the wildlife hangs out so there's typically a fair amount of driving or walking involved or pure waiting as many of the Bear watchers up North in the park do every day.
Hope you have a great trip.
