Tetons In Late September

If you plan to go to Yellowstone as well you will want to do so early in September as almost all the campgrounds inside the park shut down by mid-September. No such problems in the Tetons.

Changing colors of the leaves depends upon when the cold weather hits and that is anybody's guess. This year the snows melted very early and Tioga Pass in Yosemite was open by the middle of May as were the other mountain passes in California. It is never all that predicable and hardly going to get easier with the forces of global climate change taking effect more and more across the USA. Best to be prepared for anything weatherwise.

Dan,
Great T.R. on Yellowstone and the Tetons in October. Thanks a bunch (of bananas) for the fine travelog. Just great pix. We have friends who live in J-hole and look forward to winter mountaineering around this time. Hardy folk.
regards, as always, jefe

We were there in October of 2010 -- just phenomenal. Here is our blog entry -- lots of photos:

Yellowstone and Tetons in October

Bring warm clothing and a camera:

Listen to Bryan; he knows from whence he speaks. Since you are not part of Club TC, I would counsel having all-wheel drive and M&S rated tires in good condition. Cool and snowy comes early to that part of the country and you don't want to get caught with your proverbial pants down. I've been there in June when it was cold and inclement. The times you are contemplating could be magical for pix. The date is October 6th. The location: our campsite, east side, Sierra Nevadas, a lot further south and west of the Tetons. Jeanie is turning on the propane: Not a good day for picture taking. It got down into the teens overnight. You just never know.

regards, as always, jefe

I have spent 40 consecutive years in Grand Teton/Yellowstone National Parks and worked there as a Park Ranger, in the 70s. I might know a little about those two parks and would be happy to share some of this. There are a lot of factors that will influence what will impact the fall colors there. Mostly, wind and snow. Things begin shutting down (campgrounds/services) in the Tetons/Yellowstone after the third weekend of September. Gros Ventre (pronounced; Grow Vont) Campground will be the only campground open in the park, into October. Snows can happen anytime, and begin to increase into October. Expect temps, 60s-70 daytime and nighttime, 20s-30s. The best part, inclement weather moves through quickly, so just be patient.

I did a trip report many years ago and much of it is still relevant. The photos no longer work, as the RV.net script corrupted the tags on them. Tetons/Yellowstone.

If you would like, send me a PM (as anyone can) and I will send a “cheat sheet” of hikes and places to visit and eat.

As for the Photos, start looking for the color changes around mid September to the end of month. Colorado usually is the last week of September to the first week of October.

Have fun!

We have been to the Tetons and Yellowstone in September only once, in 2007. Your post prompted me to look at our pictures from that trip, something which is always enjoyable. Our last day in the Tetons was Sept 20th and the Aspens were showing good color. The Willows and other plants in the meadow below the Jackson Lake Lodge were very colorful and we got some good shots of a mother Moose with calf there. Obviously, peak color is different year to year.

The only negative for that time of year was that there was no snow on the mountains. IMO, snow makes the Tetons much more dramatic. Of course, an early snowfall this year could make all the difference.

Not likely to have the real RICH colors of hardwood forests but Aspins make a VIVID yellow addition to the evergreen and some of the ground cover can also be very colorful. Late October COULD mean some heavy snow in surrounding mountains which can diminish the effect of fall colors somewhat.
Good luck / Skip

Send me an email or PM me. We plan to shoot the Tetons around that time, maybe sooner depending on how the colors happens. I have been there in late May and the mint green of the aspens was colorful. Mormon Row, Oxbow Bend, Gros Ventre all good. Also, the pools have great potential for close ups and abstracts. You can see some of my images HEREHERE

We saw 2 grizzlies (one crossed the road in front of us and another was very close to the highway), many moose and buffalo).

We also plan to spend about 3 weeks photographing Western Wyoming: Red Desert, Wind River, etc.

And, you can check out our truck/camper combo.

Happy Trails.

You could see snow in that area around that time, its possible. Just be prepaired. Have a good trip. Watch out for the Bull Elk it' rutting season that time of the year.
Scott

If you plan your trip to be in the Teton area by the 3rd of 4th week of September you should have some nice colors. I would recommend the Gros Ventre area for some real nice pictures of the Tetons.