Grand Teton Wildlife Safari & Snake River Scenic Float Trips

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park encompasses more than 300,000 acres of protected land, spanning high alpine peaks, sagebrush flats, wetlands, rivers, and glacial lakes. The Teton Range rises sharply from the valley floor without foothills, creating a dramatic transition from open valley to rugged alpine terrain. These geological features, combined with long winters and high elevation, have shaped the region’s wildlife communities and movement patterns.

The valley floor, located at over 6,000 feet above sea level, is defined by sagebrush steppe, rivers, and remnants of glacial activity. As elevation increases, vegetation shifts to mixed conifer forests and aspen stands before giving way to alpine environments above treeline. This range of habitats supports a wide variety of species, from large grazing mammals to apex predators, birds of prey, and aquatic species that rely on healthy river systems.

Human history in the region spans more than 11,000 years, beginning with Indigenous peoples who traveled through the valley seasonally. Later settlement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought significant change to the landscape, leading to conservation efforts that ultimately established Grand Teton National Park. Today, the park remains a carefully managed landscape where natural processes are prioritized and preserved.

Grand Teton Wildlife Safari & Snake River Scenic Float

Spend a full day exploring Grand Teton National Park by both land and water, combining a guided wildlife safari with a scenic float on the Snake River. This full-day experience brings together Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris and Solitude Float Trips to offer a comprehensive way to experience the park’s landscapes, ecosystems, and natural history. It is the only combined wildlife safari and scenic float tour conducted entirely within Grand Teton National Park.

The day begins with a guided wildlife safari by vehicle, traveling park roadways that wind through forests, along glacial lakes, and across open valley terrain. Guides focus on areas known for consistent wildlife movement and adapt the route throughout the day based on current conditions. Guests may observe large mammals such as bison, elk, moose, and, with favorable conditions, black or grizzly bears. Throughout the safari, guides provide context on animal behavior, habitat use, and the broader ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Midday, the experience transitions from road to river with a scenic float on the Wild & Scenic Snake River. Guests join Solitude Float Trips for a calm, approximately 10-mile float that offers a different perspective of the park. Floating through cottonwood corridors and open river channels allows for quiet observation of the landscape and opportunities to see birdlife and smaller mammals along the riverbanks. From the water, guests enjoy wide views of the Teton Range and some of the park’s most recognizable scenery, with ample time for photography as you float.

By combining a guided wildlife safari with a scenic river float, this full-day experience offers a well-rounded introduction to Grand Teton National Park. Guests gain access to a wide range of habitats, travel through the park in multiple ways, and benefit from the expertise of guides who understand both the land and the river—providing a thoughtful, efficient, and memorable way to experience the park in a single day.

Snake River Scenic Float & Sunset Widlife Safari

Grand Teton National Park offers an exceptional setting for wildlife viewing, especially during the transition from late afternoon to evening. This sunset scenic float and wildlife safari experience combines a guided tour on the Wild & Scenic Snake River with expert naturalist interpretation, providing a relaxed and immersive way to explore the park at one of its most active times of day. As temperatures cool and light fades, wildlife begins to move, creating ideal conditions for observation.

Floating the Snake River allows guests to experience the park from a different perspective. The park encompasses more than 310,000 acres of protected land, supporting free-roaming wildlife and intact ecosystems. Evening hours often bring increased animal activity, and traveling by river and then road offers a different view of productive habitat along cottonwood forests, riverbanks, and open valley corridors. Throughout the float, guides share insight into the area’s ecology, wildlife behavior, and seasonal patterns.

Following the scenic float, guides lead guests through areas known for reliable wildlife movement. Common sightings may include bison grazing in open meadows, elk traveling to evening feeding areas, and moose foraging along willow-lined waterways. With favorable conditions, guests may also see black or grizzly bears moving through the landscape. Wildlife encounters often begin subtly, and guides rely on experience and observation—reading tracks, movement, and behavior—to help guests understand what they are seeing and why animals are using the landscape in the ways they do.

Wildlife activity varies throughout the season. In spring, bears emerge from dens, sometimes with new cubs, and begin foraging as vegetation becomes available. Migratory species can be seen returning to the valley during this time. In summer, warmer temperatures may push elk, wolves, and bears into higher elevations, while moose remain close to water sources and aquatic plants.

For your evening meal, a thoughtfully prepared gourmet picnic dinner is included, offering time to relax and enjoy the setting while remaining immersed in the park environment.

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