TETON RANGE: First-Timer’s Edition in an Outdoor Paradise

There isn’t a single word that can accurately describe the panoramic vistas in the Teton mountain range when they’re seen for the first time. “Epic” just doesn’t do it justice. As a travel writer, I’ve experienced my fair share of beautiful locales, and living in Texas I’m used to wide-open spaces. But nothing compares to the Teton range.

The Teton Range Experience

I was lucky enough to visit when the foliage was at its peak; the vibrant yellows and oranges contrasted with the clear blue of the cloudless sky like an oil painting, the colors so saturated they looked fake. When I left the Jackson Hole Airport in my rental pickup truck (windows down to take in the crisp, clean autumn air) it was golden hour, the late-afternoon time when the aureate sun casts a warm, soft, cinematic light on everything. Turn after turn I fought the urge to turn my eyes from the road to take in the expansive mountains that seemed to go on forever. 

Stretching 40 miles in length, 12 miles in width, the Teton Range is part of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. The elevation hits 7,000 feet, and because of the lack of foothills due to the Teton Fault, the view is dramatic, the peaks formidable. Evergreen forests blanket the hillsides and highland meadows roll along the base.

Idaho Dreamin’

As I crossed the border into Idaho, the view remained just as lovely. I pulled into Teton Springs Lodge and Spa, a luxury full-service resort nestled in the shadow of the mountains and only a mile from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. Sitting on the back deck of our luxury cabin as the sun warmed my face, I could barely believe the beauty around me; deer grazed in the field along the banks of Warm Creek, eagles soared overhead. This area is a sportsman’s paradise; the fishing and hunting is unrivaled.

Over the years I’ve trained on gun ranges in many different states and towns, but I wasn’t prepared for what Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous had in store. As I pulled up to the custom-built 10-bay range scattered with seemingly hundreds of steel targets, I was blown away by the scenery around me; I had never seen a range quite like this before. Autumn-colored rolling hills served as the backstop as far as the eyes could see. The snow-capped Tetons dominated the far horizon. Spending the day in this environment, doing something I love… there’s just nothing like it. 

My week in the Tetons was truly transformative, and I can’t believe it took me so long to finally get there, but now I know I’ve only scratched the surface of what all there is to do and see, and I can’t wait to go back.