Grand Teton Adventures: Moose, Eagles & Bear 399 Sightings

The Grand Tetons had been on our list for a return trip ever since we road-tripped to our wedding in Banff. On that drive, we’d stopped here briefly, and it left us both saying, “We need to come back and stay longer.” This time, we did just that—first basing ourselves in Alpine, Wyoming, then moving up to Colter Bay. My mom even flew into Jackson Hole to join us for a week exploring both the Tetons and Yellowstone.

Alpine: Rocks & Kindness

Our first stop was Alpine, where we wandered into a little rock shop run by a kind woman originally from Alaska. She was so warm and welcoming, and before we left, she gave us a piece of Blue Forest petrified wood. In exchange, we gave her a piece of rainbow wood from Holbrook, AZ—a tiny little rock trade that felt like a sweet traveler’s ritual.

Wildlife Wonders in the Grand Tetons

We visited in May, when the snow was still lingering but meltwater was rushing everywhere. The best part? The moose. In one single day, we counted nearly 20 moose! They were everywhere—crossing streams, browsing willows, strolling right through the park like they owned the place.

These were just some of the moose in the field!

We learned something fascinating: moose can actually suffer heat stress at just 57°F. Suddenly it made sense why we were seeing so many out and about in the cooler weather. The only thing missing was a big bull with his full rack, but honestly, after seeing that many moose, we weren’t complaining.

It wasn’t just the moose either. We caught sunsets that painted the Tetons in glowing pink, and we saw bighorn sheep, elk, and bison roaming the valleys. Without the usual summer tourist crowds, it felt like the park was ours alone.

Can't mention the Tetons without the token shot!

Colter Bay & Oxbow Bend Magic

When we moved up to Colter Bay, we found ourselves returning over and over to Oxbow Bend. Patrick was in heaven—three bald eagles, osprey, and other birds of prey all fishing in the same stretch of water. They swooped, dove, and even fought each other for food.

Patrick quickly bonded with a group of photographers there, happily talking shop while my mom and I struggled to get even one photo in focus. At one point, an eagle swooped dramatically to grab a fish. A guy nearby told my mom, “You must have gotten a great shot of that!”—but little did he know her camera wasn’t even turned on. We laughed until our sides hurt.

This shot of the eagle is one of my favorites that we've never shared (until now)!

Tour guides eventually showed up, excitedly whispering that the famous bear 399 was in the area. My mom joked about sacrificing Piper as bait to lure her out (don’t worry—it was just a joke). Sure enough, Patrick was the one who eventually spotted 399 one morning on a solo drive. Figures.

Meanwhile, my mom and I saw something I’d never witnessed in the wild: a porcupine! Not quite as Instagram-worthy as a grizzly, but still a first for me.

Hard to Leave

The Tetons have a way of getting under your skin. The jagged peaks, the wildlife, the sense that you’re standing in a postcard—it all makes it a place you never want to leave. If only it weren’t so dang expensive! Still, between the moose sightings, bird-filled sunsets, rock shop kindness, and family laughs, it was one of those stops that reminded me why we chose this life.

Links in our shop from the Tetons!

• A raven stole an egg from a nest!

• An Eagle Flying above Oxbow Bend

• A beautiful eagle shot

• One of the many sunsets from the Tetons