Traveling to Oregon, from Grand Tetons to Craters of the Moon

Photos of our June 2021 journey through Grand Teton National Park and Idaho.

Bluffs in the Wind River Range between Dubois and Togwotee pass. These landscapes seem like what you would expect to see in Utah.
Pinnacle Buttes and North Breccia Cliffs are on your right as you drive toward Togwotee Pass.
Approaching Togwotee Pass over the Wind River Mountains and into the Snake River Valley and the Teton Range.
Highway 26/287 travels over Togwotee Pass, which is at 9658 feet of elevation (2944 meters).
We stopped at the Wind River Lake picnic area, but the picnic tables had too much snow on them, and ice still covered most of the lake on June 8.
Wind River Lake is at 9500ft (2900m) elevation, and snow and ice are still present in early-to-mid June. For picnics, wait until late June or July.
The view of the Teton Range from the rest area just above (east of) Togwotee Lodge. Alpine wildflowers can be found here.
Two Ocean Mountain. It is on the continental divide, so water from one part of the mountain flows into the Yellowstone, Missouri, and Mississippi, while on the other side water flows into the Snake, the Columbia, and the Pacific.
Grand Teton seen from US-26/287 on the approach to Moran, Wyoming.
Grand Teton rises behind a grassy meadow near Moran, Wyoming.
Oxbow Bend and the Snake River
View of Mt Moran (12,610 feet / 3844 meters) seen from Oxbow Bend on the Snake River. My previous visits to this spot had been early in the morning (near dawn) or in the late afternoon, so it was new to see the view in the middle of the day.
A very high resolution view of Mount Moran.
Mt Moran seen from from Highway-26/287.
Western Spring Beauty in an alpine meadow just west of Togwotee Pass.
Western Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata)
Larkspur near Leigh Lake
Larkspur is beautiful, but poisonous
Larkspur was growing in clearings in the forest, and we also saw some in the transition area between the sagebrush flats and the forests.
Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum, also known as Delphinium bicolor).
We noticed this cinquefoil growing along the Snake River at Oxbow Bend, and I think it might be a “slender cinquefoil” (Potentilla gracillis), but it looks a bit like a mountain meadow cinquefoil (Potentilla glaucophylla) and it somewhat resembles cliff wood beauty (Drymocallis pseudorupestris).
I suppose this is Potentilla gracillis, graceful cinquefoil or slender cinquefoil.
Skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata), growing near the Jenny Lake Visitor Center.
Skyrocket, a bright red flower found in the Rockies and west to the Pacific coast.
Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) near Leigh Lake on Leigh Lake Trail, ISO 100, f/5, 1/500s.
Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) near Leigh Lake on Leigh Lake Trail, ISO 200, f/9, 1/1600s.
Yellowbells (Fritillaria pudica) growing in an alpine meadow west of Togwotee Pass.
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a horrible invasive weed with thorns, but its flowers have a delicious scent and the fruits are edible. This one was growing in Falls Campground in Swan Valley, Idaho.
Little false Solomon’s seal or star-flowered lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum). This was near the Moose Ponds in Grand Teton National Park, south of Jenny Lake.
Feathery False Lily of the Valley or false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum).
False Solomon's seal (Maianthemum racemosum) seen near Jenny Lake Visitor Center
This is Alpine bog laurel (Kalmia microphylla) growing on the shores of String Lake.
Kalmia microphylla (Alpine Laurel or Alpine Bog Laurel to distinguish it from the bog laurel Kalmia polifolia of the highlands of New England and New York).
Alpine Laurel looks like its cousin the pink mountain heather. Both are in the Family Ericaceae.
Houndstongue or Gypsyflower (Cynoglossum officinale), a non-native plant from Europe.
Houndstongue or Gypsyflower (Cynoglossum officinale) growing at Oxbow Bend
Houndstongue grows in wet meadows.
Flower buds, possibly houndstongue.
Creeping Oregon Grape (Berberis repens) growing near the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, where we had a picnic.
Creeping Oregon Grape (Berberis repens) near Jackson Lake.
Coralroot, a sort of orchid. I'm not sure which type of coralroot this is, as it is not flowering yet.
I think it possible that this is summer coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata).
Common Elder (Sambucus nigra) growing between Jenny Lake and the Moose Ponds south of Jenny Lake.
The western dogwood (Cornus sericea occidentalis) was in bloom in the Falls campground in Swan Valley, a little downriver from Jackson Hole and the Grand Teton National park.
This is probably Balsamroot, but the flowers are droopy.
This flower was all over the sagebrush flats and along the lakes in Grand Teton National Park, and I think it is Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata). There are many plants that look like balsam root, including Spearleaf Arnica (Arnica longifolia), Heartleaf Arnica (Arnica cordifolia), and Mule Ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis).
This is some sort of wild geranium, probably either sticky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) or Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii).
Lupine growing near Jenny Lake.
Utah Honeysuckle (Lonicera utahensis) growing near the Jenny Lake trail.
Parsnipflower Buckwheat (Eriogonum heracleoides) growing near Oxbow Bend.
This little flower we noticed on the Jenny Lake Trail on the south end of the lake is probably Maiden Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora).
Western Peony (Paeonia brownii) on the south end of Jenny Lake near the visitor center.
A serviceberry bush was in bloom by String Lake.
These are serviceberry (Amelanchier) blossoms, which will eventually become beautiful blue saskatoons (serviceberries), which are delicious when ripe.
String Lake has a bright green color.
A view of the north end of String Lake
Looking south over String Lake. We had a light rain soon after I took this photograph.
String Lake and mountains
Another view of the emerald color of String Lake.
At the Jenny Lake Visitor Center there is a touch-map of the Teton range so that persons with visual impairments can get an idea of what people see as they look at the Tetons.
Grand Teton or Teewinot Mountain or Nez Perce (the mountains are easily confused) seen from Moose Pond.
Jenny Lake is shallow near the boat launch.
Looking North along Leigh Lake, named after the family that settled in this area (an European-American settler rancher and a Native American woman, with their children.
Mount Moran can be seen as I look north over Leigh Lake.
Cascade Canyon seen across Jenny Lake
Cascade Canyon. In ancient times a glacier coming out of Cascade Canyon gouged out the depression that is Jenny Lake.
Eric at String Lake
Eric and Jenny Lake
Eric at Oxbow Bend
Eric and Jeri in a selfie taken at Mountain View turn-out with Mount Moran in the background.
The bridge over String Lake leading toward Paintbrush Canyon. We hiked up to Paintbrush Canyon in 2013 (and I, also in 1980).
Eric on the bridge to Paintbrush Canyon.
Jeri in Grand Teton National Park.
Balsamroot in foreground and the Grand Teton in the background where the road to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center meets Teton Park Road.
Picnic Table near the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. This is where we had our lunch.
View of Jackson Lake from picnic our picnic table.
Jeri admired the colors in these pebbles on the shores of Jackson Lake, just below the place where we had our picnic lunch.
Interesting pebbles from Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake stones on the lakebed.
Jackson Lake pebble beach where I waded just below the Sacred Heart Chapel.
Butterfly (a Stella Orangetip) on maiden blue-eyed Mary flower.
Stella Orangetip (Anthocharis sara stella)
A Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) butterfly on the shore of Jackson Lake.
Plebejus saepiolus
A Green Comma (Polygonia faunus).
Mt Moran seen from Sacred Heart
Mountain View turnout looking southward.
Mountain View Turnout scenery
Mt Moran from Mountain View Turnout
Close look at Falling Ice Glacier on Mt Moran
Leigh Lake flowing into String Lake where the bridge over String Lake carries hikers to Paintbrush canyon.
Sunshine on the lake with rain on the mountains behind the lake. The rain swept down the mountains and gave us a light rain for about twenty minutes.
Studying the mountains, there are many interesting scenes high up among the peaks.
Sunshine was shining at the top of the mountain, while the base of the mountain was dark and rain was falling.
Teewinot Mountain, Mt Owen, and Grand Teton.
It was raining up on the highest peaks of some mountains.
Grand Teton Peaks
The Tetons offer good opportunities for technical climbing.
A high spire in the Teton Mountains
Rock and ice looming above southern Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake Trail
A moose trail near Falls Campground in Swan Valley, Idaho.
String Lake and the trail along the east shore of the lake.
Weird tree along the south side of Leigh Lake.
The start of Leigh Lake Trail as it goes from String Lake to Leigh Lake.
Leigh Lake Trail.
Aspen grove south of Jenny Lake along Jenny Lake Trail.
Moose Pond below Grand Teton.
Moose Ponds
View from near Moose Pond.
Jenny Lake with a Kayak sitting by the lake.
Ferries crossing Jenny Lake
Sunshine on Jenny Lake
Beautiful Jenny Lake, seen from the south end of the lake.
Baby geese scurry across the Jenny Lake Trail.
One little goose chick was separated from its family for a moment before continuing down the slope to Jenny Lake.
The geese all arrived safely on Jenny Lake.
Goose parent with one of the three chicks.
Geese with their babies swim away across Jenny Lake.
Jenny Lake is one of the loveliest lakes in North America.
Lupine growing in meadow near Jenny Lake Visitor Center.
Lupine, sagebrush, and mountains. Typical scenery in Grand Teton National Park.
The Welcome Center in Jackson, Wyoming.
Elk Antler Arch in Jackson Hole. These were first constructed in 1953, and they were most recently rebuilt in 2007-2013, as the antlers only last about 40 years.
Looking south from the road (Route 22) between Jackson and Wilson.
The Jackson Hole (the valley of the Snake River containing the towns of Jackson, Wilson, and Teton Village) stretching below the Teton Pass.
Swan Valley Highway between Swan Valley and Ririe, Idaho.
Approach to Swan Valley on Pine Creek Road, which connects Victor, Idaho to Swan Valley.
Along Pine Creek Road, the view to the north as the road enters Swan Valley.
Falls Campground sign along the Snake River in the Swan Valley.
A yellow-pine chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus) peeking from behind a tree in Falls Campground.
The curious yellow-pine chipmunk checks out the scene.
The chipmunk in our campground has found something to eat.
Uinta Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus armatus) in Falls campground.
Sun on hummingbird at feeder. The black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) and broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) were common, and some Calliope hummingbirds (Stellula calliope) frequented the feeders in Falls campground.
Hummingbird at feeder.
A female hummingbird with her long beak.
Possibly a Calliope hummingbird at the feeder put out by the campground host.
Hummingbird takes a sip of sugar water from a feeder.
This hummingbird feeds while flying, and doesn’t even land.
The campground hosts put out nectar to attract hummingbirds, and the birds come in great numbers.
We boiled water in my grandmother’s old pot, using the fire pit in Falls Campground.
This moose was nibbling on a tent.
The moose was just tasting the tent, not eating it.
The moose in Falls campground is alert.
The moose seems thoughtful.
Moose chewing leaves.
The moose looks directly at me.
The moose walks across some grass.
Sunlight on the moose as it strolls by me.
Moose like to browse and munch.
The moose keeps an eye on me as I photograph her.
Bright sunlight on the moose.
The moose has an intense expression.
The moose started walking toward me, and I backed away.
Moose in clearing. I was using a 300mm lens, so I was not so close to this moose. I kept my distance from her.
The Snake River in the Swan Valley.
Snake River near Falls Campground.
An aster or fleabane by the Snake River.
I think the flower is likely to be a showy fleabane (Erigeron speciosus).
Trail in Falls Campground
This trail near the campground was made by moose and other animals.
The falls at Swan Valley, which give the name to Falls Campground.
Falls and Snake River. There is no sign alerting people to the existence of these falls. You just have to know about them to find them.
Overexposed photo of the falls (ISO 200, f/22, 1/15s).
Changing the shutter speed to 1/20s gave me a slightly better image.
A very high resolution image of the Falls by the Snake River in Swan Valley.
The Snake River near Falls Campground. The moose trail leads to this point, where the large creatures enter the river.
Looking upriver at the Snake River at the point where the moose trail enters the river near Falls Campground.
View of the Snake River from the bridge where US-26 crosses just west of Swan Valley.
View of the Snake River from US-26 near Poplar, Idaho.
Scenery near Heise Hot Springs, Idaho.
Pine Creek meets the Snake River just north of US-26, and the river flows west (to the left) while Pine Creek runs in from the east (the right).
A view of a wind farm along US-26 east of Idaho Falls.
Jeri at Craters of the Moon.
Jeri in a lava tube cave.
Lava field at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.
A skylight in the cool lava tube cave known as Indian Cave.
Collapsed cave tube at Craters of Moon.
Lava tube cave in Craters of the Moon.

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