schwabacher landing

Been here a few times and it never disappoints. Great spot for beavers, have seen them both times we have gone. Also great spot for moose, ducks and muskrats.

My wife and I have now made two visits to Grand Teton National Park, the first time in September 2011 and most recently in July 2014. During both trips we made two or three stops at Schwabacher Landing to take in the views. Each time we are rewarded with spectacular vistas of the Teton Range along with mirror-like reflections of the mountains in the water along the trail. I think this is my favorite photo op location in the park (there are many so it is hard to pick). Plus there are usually critter sightings here as well. We have not been lucky enough to see any of the big critters while at Schwabacher Landing, but there are many smaller animals and usually songbirds and ducks.When we visited in 2011, the access road down to the parking area was very rough, particularly the section from the intersection with route 89 and down the hill. Ruts and washboard made this a tough drive. When we visited in 2014 we were tickled to discover that this section of the access road had recently been paved so we had a smooth ride to the bottom of the hill. Once down on the flat section the road is again dirt and gravel, but it is level and graded so easy to traverse.There are usually always a few folks taking photos or even painting at Schwabacher Landing, but there is room for everyone. Sunrise is a great time for lighting at Schwabacher Landing.Note, there are restroom facilities at the parking area.

We ended up going to the landing for a short hike 3 times during our trip. This was by far the best place to get the classic mountain lake reflection pics of all the spots we found in the park. It is beautiful and not highly trafficked. Hiking trail is easy with the best views being within a half mile or so to the right of the parking area. We managed to even see a beaver here right past the beaver dam pond. Just very serene and beautiful.

Schwabchers Landing is a stunning place for a sunrise photo, especially if the water is still. Lots of other photographer here in the mornings but plenty of room for many more. We also saw 2 moose on the road just before the parking area. Just a beautiful place with stunning landscapes.

We went here twice, once in the early morning and another time around 11:00. First time got pictures of Mountain Bluebirds, Red Squirrel and a Sora in flight. Second time, focused on getting the many angles of reflections of the Tetons in the stream. Alas, we never got a photo of the many busy beavers.

Busy all day long, but a very popular sunrise or sunset location. Early morning moose activity in the fall and busy beavers in 3 ponds not afraid to make appearances for people!

If you want to get great sunrise shots start here in the dark and wait. After you get your shots head straight to the northern barn on Mormon Row and you can catch the first light hitting the barn then head to the southern barn because the light hits that one about a half hour after the northern barn!

We stopped at a quiet time and were warned by others who were leaving that we would need our insect repellant. They were right, and we were glad that we took their advice before walking the short distance from the parking lot to the water. We learned at the park that beavers do their work at night, so we didn't see any beavers, but we saw plenty of felled trees and two beaver dams that created a lake at the landing. I found myself fascinated by the beaver's work and by the lovely thistles. Don't forget to take photos of the mountains reflected in the water. This site is best on a sunny day to get the reflection in the water. On a densely cloudy day, the water just seems to reflect clouds.

Get here early. The good spots are taken quickly. Don't stop right after the parking spot where everybody may stay and shoot photos, but follow the path along the river further around 1/4 miles or so and you find the really good location with calm water and mirroring trees and mountains in the water, really beautiful.

The best spot to just take it all in in my opinion. You are set on a creek where the beaver have done their thing, your back is to the traffic and you can't hear it so just sit and enjoy the reflection off the water. Only noise here is the tourists.

Fills up quickly at 4:30am as people set up for sunrise photos. You can watch the pink hue change to a beautiful golden light. A must see!

Go to Oxbow Bend just east of Jackson Junction, and go to Moran Junction turn south 9.8 miles to the Snake River Overlook, the bonus shot is to keep going and take the next road to the right down to the river. Hike along the river and get the pine and aspen in your shot. Get back on the road and take the next left to get the old barn with the mountains in the background.

This spot is not known for a lot of people, but I have seen professional photographer with fancy gears here. You should visit at around sunrise time, the view takes your breath way. The road has been improved, the harder to drive part has been paved, so you should be able to get to the lower landing parking area with 2WD car. The view is great in front of the parking lot but you can hike a bit further in, when the professional photographer set up the stage for shooting.

As an amateur photographer, I've traveled the world capturing beautiful sights of wildlife and landscape. One of my favorites is Schwabacher Landing, part of the Grand Tetons National Park area. Out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, take 26 north. You'll pass by the JH airport (on your left) and continue on pass the Moose Gate entrance to the Grand Tetons. The Landing is poorly marked and you'll come upon it almost too quickly....and end up turning around to come back. If you end up at the Moran gate, you've gone too far. Turn around and go back. It's tougher to find but well worth your time and patience.Once on the asphalt turn off, it quickly degrades into a dirt road. There is an "upper" and "lower" road to the Landing area. Go to the "upper" road and park to get to the world class photo opportunities with the Grand Tetons in the backdrop and reflected in pools of glass-like water. It is about 1/4 of a mile on foot. You can wear tennis shoes or hiking boots. The path is strewn with roots and you can trip so be alert and watch where you're putting your feet.Arriving at the site, no one will have to tell you what to photograph. It's there right in front of you. If you continue on up the path, it spills out into another nice area. Beyond that, the trail curves and goes to the left where you'll see a nice rock-filled stream and other landscape shooting opportunities.Best time is at dusk and dawn. The "lower" road has a smaller parking area. It's worth going down to and gives you other photo opportunities. In August, when I was there, a mother moose and her calf were eating their way toward the lower area and a lot of thrilled people got great moose shots, as well. There is a path that lead around the area, paralleling the water. Then, it opens up into a rock strewn area and a lot of willows. I would NOT be traversing this area in June when the grizzly come out of hibernation. They're hungry and they ruthlessly scour willow stands just like this one for an elk cow who has just had a calf (to eat it). It can be a dangerous, fluid situation, so I'd avoid this area in June. July, August are less dangerous. And in August, the grizzly are one the upper slopes of the Tetons storing up on berries to fatten them up for the coming winter and hibernation.There is a very nice river at the end of this path and worth walking through the meadow next to it so long as it isn't in June. The river continues and again, photographic opportunities abound with the Tetons in the backdrop. Both the upper and lower parking lots are worthy of your time and camera. This is a wonderful place but make sure your children, especially in the upper parking area where the best photographic opportunities exist, do NOT throw rocks into the glass-like surface of the water. It makes ripples and ruins the photographic quality that most people go there to film. Be sensitive and aware about this. Everyone will be happier as a result.

Apparently the park just paved a new road down to the landing so you'll have nothing more than a short drive off the main road to a gravel parking lot. I spent an afternoon and evening there and I can't imagine a better place to experience the Tetons. I saw a mother moose and her calf, a photogenic and excited raccoon, several pretty ducks, two beavers building a dam right before my eyes, and lots of cute voles. The river makes a scenic turn and frames the mountains, which you'll have a full view of from down below, a different vantage point from the road and the crowded overlooks. At sunset/twilight the river can get very still- almost mirror like. That makes for some outstanding photos. This does not (at this point) seem to be a very popular place. Probably why the wildlife is so frequent. Take the trail to the North and you'll see a couple more beaver dams and still-as-glass ponds. Absolutely breathtaking, one of the best nights of my life.