One of the best moments during our Yellowstone and Grand Teton trip last summer was watching my daughter take everything in. She enjoyed exploring and going out on adventures with us each day. Seeing what new things she could discover.
There were several experiences that stuck out as absolute favorites for her, so I thought I’d share which adventures should be on your must-do list when visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks with kids. Just for reference S was 6 1/2 when we visited.
Canoeing at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park
S really wanted to go out on a canoe on Jenny Lake, however, I wasn’t so sure because I had never been in a canoe before. But it was perfect! We had so much fun, the views were amazing and the lake was peaceful. You can rent canoes and kayaks from the Boat Dock on Jenny Lake.
Junior Ranger Program
If you visit any national park with children be sure and check to see if they have the junior ranger program. The junior ranger program is activity-based learning program for children typically between ages 5-13. Once your child has completed the number of activities they return to book usually to the visitor center to receive their patch or badge and take a pledge. To learn more about the program click here.
Hiking at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park
Lakeshore Trail at Colter Bay was the perfect trail for our family. It was level and with two length options (1 or 2 miles). The trail is along Jackson Lake with many spots to dip your toes in the water, which my daughter loved. 
Seeing all the Wildlife
S loves animals, so being able to see so many different animals while exploring the park was amazing! We saw everything from bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, a moose and her calf, wolf, coyote, fox, black bear and cub, pika, yellow-bellied marmot, ground squirrel, chipmunks and a variety of birds.
Castle Geyser in Yellowstone National Park
Before visiting the park, S had learned about Castle Geyser and how the minerals in the water continue to grow the “castle”. It became her favorite geyser in the park mostly because princesses and castles go together, correct? Let your child read about or look at pictures or hear stories about the different features at the parks. They may not fall in love with Castle Geyser, but I’m sure they will find something that fascinates them too. Castle Geyser is located in the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone.
Horseback riding at Hell’s A Roarin’ in Gardiner, Montana
S loves horses and horseback riding. So, of course, we had to book a trail ride during our trip. We went with Hell’s A Roarin’ because of age restrictions with the outfitters inside the parks. I am so glad that we booked Hell’s A Roarin’ because the views were absolutely amazing! I wrote a whole post about our experience at Hell’s A Roarin’ that you can find here.
Throwing Snowballs (yes snow in mid to late June) at the Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park and at the Summit of Rendezvous Mountain
On our drive from Canyon Village to Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park, you will drive through Dunraven Pass. There is a scenic overlook that still had snow at it in mid-late June. S loves snow since we do not get any in the south and was delighted to throw snowballs. We also got to see snow at the summit of Rendezvous Mountain in the Teton Village (right outside Grand Teton). The tram ride to the top of the mountain was also a highlight.
If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, you may be interested in the following posts:
Have you visited Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park? What was your child’s favorite part?
