Grand Teton National Park

Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve

Set aside to ease crowding and invite quiet reflection, this roughly 1,100-acre preserve was donated by the Rockefeller family in 2001 and carries forward Laurance S. Rockefeller's conservation legacy. A small parking lot keeps visitor numbers low. The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center explains his vision through sensory exhibits: a poem by Terry Tempest Williams, audio recordings of Rockefeller, photography, video and a soundscape room. Built in 2008, it was the first building in Wyoming certified under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Rangers are often on hand to answer questions about your hike and the preserve's history. An easy trail leads to Phelps Lake, and a 7-mile loop circles its shore, while stronger hikers can continue into Granite or Death Canyon. Reach the preserve via the slow, winding Moose-Wilson Road, where bears are frequently seen.

Jenny Lake

Set at the base of the Teton Range, this lake is one of the park's busiest areas. From its east shore you look up at Teewinot Mountain, Mount St. John and into Cascade Canyon, and from the west shore you look back across the water toward Jackson Hole. Several popular trails start here. Hikers can circle the lake, climb to 100-foot Hidden Falls and the viewpoint at Inspiration Point, or continue into Cascade Canyon. A shuttle boat crosses to the west shore for a shorter walk to the falls, and scenic cruises and canoe and kayak rentals are offered. The one-way Jenny Lake Scenic Drive follows the east shore. The paved Discovery Trail gives wheelchair access to the lakeshore, rangers staff the log-cabin visitor center, the ranger station handles climbing and backcountry questions, and the campground is tent-only.

Colter Bay

Set on the shore of Jackson Lake, this lakeside hub looks across the water to Mount Moran and the northern Teton Range. Easy to moderate trails begin here: the Lakeshore Trail hugs the water, a loop visits Swan Lake and Heron Pond for birding and wildlife watching, and a longer route reaches Hermitage Point. The Colter Bay Visitor Center, a former museum above the marina, offers ranger help, permits and exhibits. It also hosts the Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program, where artists share painting, weaving, beadwork and more. Ranger-led programs and Junior Ranger activities are offered. Boaters and paddlers head onto the lake from the marina. Places to stay range from a campground in lodgepole pine forest and a full-hookup RV park to log cabins and a tent village. Bears often pass through, so stay alert.

Flagg Ranch

Set in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, this gateway lies two miles south of Yellowstone and five miles north of the park's main section, where the upper Snake River winds through meadows and open conifer forest. Headwaters Lodge & Cabins offers log-style rooms, with a separate lodge for dining, gifts and supplies. Headwaters Campground and RV Park has tent sites, full-hookup pull-through RV sites and camper cabins, and a gas station sits nearby. The Flagg Ranch Information Station, a small log cabin, has exhibits on the Rockefeller legacy. Headwaters Corral offers trail rides, and fishing and floating are available on the river. The Flagg Canyon Trail traces the Snake through its canyon, and other trails in the area include Survey Peak, Berry Creek, Owl Berry Cutoff and Hominy Peak. Primitive designated campsites line Grassy Lake Road.