Grand Teton and Yellowstone With Three Little Kids: Our Week, Day by Day

By Graham Martin

Heyday sells the WildRide and WildBird products mentioned in this post. The other gear is what we own and used.

This summer Rose and I took our three kids to Grand Teton and Yellowstone for a week. They were 1, 4, and 5 when we left, and our oldest turned 6 on the trip. People ask us whether a trip like this is worth it with kids that small. It is. Here is what we did, what we carried, and what we would do differently.

Day 1: Into Jackson Hole

We drove into Jackson and went straight to StillWest Brewery and Grill. Rose and I got a beer, and the kids ran around in the big open field across the street, just below a ski lift. After a long drive, that was all any of us needed. If you are planning your own trip, find the field first and the restaurant second.

Day 2: The park, the overlooks, and a junior ranger lesson

We spent our first full day driving through Grand Teton and stopping at overlooks. Then we went to the visitor center, where the kids did a junior ranger lesson. It gave the 4 and 5 year old something of their own to do, and it was a good break from the car.

One of our favorite stops was the T.A. Moulton Barn on Mormon Row, the old wooden barn with the Tetons right behind it. The kids ran all over the open ground in front of it, and our son pulled out his golf club and played a few holes with the mountains behind him. It is one of the moments from the week we talk about most.

Day 3: Sunrise, the Jenny Lake boat, and Hidden Falls

We started the day early with sunrise at Sweeping Valley Vista. Our tip: walk in about a quarter mile from the parking area. The crowd thins out, the views get better, and there is a lot more room for the kids to run around while you wait for the light.

From there we headed to Jenny Lake, took the boat across, and hiked to Hidden Falls. The boat ride cuts the walk down, which matters when half your group has short legs.

Day 4: Signal Mountain, Old Faithful, and the drive north

This was our travel day to Yellowstone, and we broke it into stops. First was Signal Mountain, where we looked back at the Tetons one more time and got a little work done. We ate at the Trapper Grill, which sits close to the water. The kids threw rocks in the lake for as long as we let them.

From there we drove up to Old Faithful and saw wildlife along the way. We settled into West Yellowstone that night.

Day 5: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

We spent the day at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We hiked, stopped at the overlooks, and took our time.

Day 6: Looking for wildlife

We went out early to look for animals. Early is when you see them, and early is when little kids are at their best anyway.

A safety note: give wildlife plenty of room. The park asks visitors to stay at least 25 yards from bison and elk and 100 yards from bears and wolves. In the thermal areas, stay on the boardwalks and keep kids within arm's reach the whole time.

Day 7: A day out of the car

We had planned one more day inside Yellowstone. By then the driving had caught up with the kids. They did not want another overlook. They wanted to see some animals up close and run around.

So we skipped the park and went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, right in town. No long drive, real bears and wolves to watch, and room for the kids to move. It turned out to be the right call, and it was an easy, happy last day.

If your kids hit a wall partway through the trip, give yourself permission to change the plan. A slower day close to where you are staying can be the best one of the week.

What we carried

For the 1 year old, on short stops: Rose wore the WildRide toddler carrier. It is the one she has on in the Signal Mountain photo. It goes on fast, which made it the right choice for overlooks, the visitor center, and anywhere we were in and out of the car.

For longer trails: I carried a framed Osprey child carrier pack. We do not sell it. For a real hike with a 1 year old, a framed pack is the right tool, and a soft carrier is the right tool for everything else.

For sleep: we packed our WildBird sheet from home. A familiar sheet made a new room every few nights a little easier for the kids.

What we would do differently

We would spend more time in the Tetons. Yellowstone is huge, and seeing it meant a lot of driving for the kids. The Tetons were breathtaking, everything was closer together, and we left wishing we had another day or two there.

If we planned it again with kids this age, we would do 4 or 5 nights in Jackson Hole and 2 or 3 in West Yellowstone, and pick two or three things in Yellowstone instead of trying to see it all.

If you are planning this trip

• Plan one big thing per day and treat everything else as a bonus.
• Find a place for the kids to run at the end of every drive.
• Stop at the T.A. Moulton Barn on Mormon Row. It is flat, open, and an easy place for kids to burn off energy.
• Catch sunrise at Sweeping Valley Vista, and walk in a quarter mile for fewer people and more room.
• Use the Jenny Lake boat to shorten the Hidden Falls hike.
• Do the junior ranger program. It gives older kids a job.
• Go out early for wildlife.
• When the kids are done with the car, try the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone.
• Bring a quick carrier for stops and a framed pack for trails.

Getting ready for your own trip? See the carriers we recommend, or read our guide to carriers for dads.