Guide to the Grand Teton Half Marathon in Jackson, Wyoming

What’s better than running a half marathon through peaceful pastures, blue skies, and towering, jagged mountains?  Unbeatable energy and morale, a perfectly organized and executed event, and a National Park finish line!  That’s what you will get, and more, when you run in the annual Grand Teton Half Marathon!  This guide covers everything you need to know leading up to the race, as well as all the details of the Grand Teton Half Marathon course itself.  

 

Disclosure: Below are some affiliate links-these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t make any recommendations on this page that I haven’t tested or personally used!  Enjoy this guide to running the Grand Teton Half Marathon course!

 

 

Guide to the Grand Teton Half Marathon

 

My half marathon destination “runcations” have taken me to some far corners of the country and the globe, including the Polar Circle race on the Greenland ice sheet and running on the Great Wall of China!  But as far as I have traveled to run, some of the most scenic courses are right in my own “backyard” – my country’s amazing National Parks!

 

If you are looking for some of the best half marathon courses in the United States, you don’t have to look any further than our National Parks, which host a multitude of half marathon races (plus a bunch of marathon, 10k, and 5k races too).  You can read up on some of the best National Park races here!

 

And if you are looking for an organization that specializes in National Park half marathons, you don’t have to look any further than Vacation Races!  This group flawlessly pulls off one of the most organized and upbeat running events I have participated in, on a course that is one of the most gorgeous – the Grand Teton Half Marathon in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming!

 

 

 

What to Expect from the Grand Teton Half Marathon

 

Here’s the quick facts on the Grand Teton Half Marathon:

 

• Date: the Grand Teton Half Marathon takes place annually on the 1st Saturday in June (the 5k race takes place the Friday night before)

 

• Location: Jackson, Wyoming

 

• Events: 5k and Half Marathon

 

• Terrain: Paved and some hard packed dirt road

 

• Rating: Flat

 

• Elevation: ~ 6,000 feet

 

• Elevation Gain: 584 feet

 

• Strollers, wheelchairs, baby carriers, and dogs are allowed on the Grand Teton Half Marathon course

 

• Average Temperatures: lows in the mid-30’s / highs in the upper 60’s

 

• Aid Stations: there are several stocked aid stations on the Grand Teton Half Marathon course.  You can expect to find toilets, water, energy gels, and first aid.  It is a cupless event, so either obtain a collapsible cup during registration, or bring your own hydration system.

 

• Additional Info:  The Grand Teton Half Marathon is always held on a Saturday morning.  The Friday night before, the 5k race is always held.  If you want to have even more of a fun and challenging “runcation” experience, complete both the 5k and Half Marathon races for the “Moose Double”!  You will earn an extra medal for completing this challenge.  You can find out more about the Moose Double HERE.  Or, take it up a notch and complete a Grand Quad Challenge, which is running the Grand Teton Half Marathon and 5k the 1st weekend in June, followed by neighboring Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k races the 2nd weekend of June in West Yellowstone, Montana!

 

 

 

Preparing for the Grand Teton Half Marathon

 

• The first and most obvious thing you need to do in order to prepare for the Grand Teton Half Marathon is develop and stick to a half marathon training program.  A great place to start is with an individualized half marathon training calendar.  

 

• Once you know how you are training, make sure you have all the right running gear you will need for a comfortable training regimen.  Start with a complete running gear checklist like this one!

 

• Logistics – because it is not all about training.  You will want to start making your travel and lodging plans in advance, as areas around National Parks, especially during peak summer season, tend to fill up fast. 

 

The closest airport is Jackson, Wyoming.  It is small, and may cost slightly more to fly directly into as it is not as serviced.  Another small regional airport within a couple hours is Idaho Falls, in Idaho.  The closest international airport is Billings Logan International Airport in Billings, Montana, about 200 miles away from Jackson.  

 

Lodging in Jackson will be the most convenient, but also the most expensive.  I would recommend a smaller town outside of Jackson, like Victor, Idaho, where I have personally stayed.  Lodging is more affordable and available, and it is only a 30 minute drive to Jackson.  If you do stay in Victor, be sure to check out the Victor Emporium in town for their huckleberry ice cream and gift shop!

 

 

The Grand Teton Half Marathon Complete Race Report

 

You’ve registered, trained, and made your plans.  Now, get to know the actual Grand Teton Half Marathon course and race!  

 

In the weeks and days leading up to the event, you will start to receive emails with all the information you need to know in advance. Parking, packet pickup, course details, aid stations, spectator info, etc.  Vacation Races is superb at making sure you don’t have any lingering questions on race day morning.  Because race day morning should be about anticipation, energy, and excitement, not confusion.  And this organization is big on excitement, and low on confusion!  You will get multiple emails outlining all necessary information, just in case you miss an email.  And you can check out their social media pages as well for all information, plus extras and giveaways!

 

There will be a race expo the day before the Grand Teton Half Marathon race, where you can pick up your packet, bib, race shirt, and goodies, as well as check out the vendors, gear, and goodies located on site.  Don’t forget to snap a pre-race picture with the trademark blue “Vacation Races” signs!

 

Make sure to complete everything on your “pre-race checklist” the night before, and head to bed early, because race day morning is right around the corner!

 

Make sure you know the details of parking for race day morning, as there may be multiple parking options, multiple lots, or shuttles involved.  This is a point to point course, meaning that the start and finish line are NOT in the same location.  Once you finish the race, you will be shuttled from the finish line back to the starting line in Wilson.  

 

Once you arrive, make sure to check over your bib, gear, water, snacks, etc., one final time!

 

Vacation Races events will have you in a color coded “queue” based on when you registered.  This queue is based on what you estimated your finishing time to be.  You will know your color coded queue or “corral” before race day, and it will conveniently be located on your bib as well. Don’t worry if you end up in another queue, you won’t be thrown out, it has happened to me several times.  If you want to make sure you get in line for your correct color queue and don’t run out of room, don’t get caught in the bathroom line too close to line up time!

 

Prior to the official start of the Grand Teton Half Marathon race, there will be several lively announcements, and the singing of the National Anthem.  Then, the waves will start taking off.  If you are near the back, just know that it might be 5 or 10 minutes before you actually start running, in order for each color corral to take off and space out between.

 

 

 

The Grand Teton Half Marathon Course

 

As the sun peaks over the ridgelines of the Teton Mountains, you will start the Grand Teton Half Marathon course by running through the quaint small town streets of Wilson, Wyoming and completing a brief jaunt on Highway 22.  This has almost a small town, park like setting to it, the perfect way to warm up.   This first part of the course also crosses over the iconic Snake River via a pedestrian bridge, providing some of the most stellar views early on!

 

 

 

After crossing the Snake River, the course makes its way out onto the main road again, Highway 22.  As you run along this road, you will be graced with breathtaking early morning views of the Tetons, blanketed at their base by lush green, waving pastures.  Straight out of a postcard.  You will almost forget you are running 13.1 miles because the scenery is just too idyllic and peaceful.  

 

At about the halfway mark, just over mile 6, including a brief and rewarding downhill section, the course departs Highway 22, and turns left onto Spring Gulch Road.  This is the road the course runs on for the rest of the race.  It’s quiet stillness, tranquility, and seclusion will transport you back to a simpler time of small homesteads, grazing cattle, and the unrushed lifestyle of frontier life Wyoming!  And of course, the mountains and pastures are there the whole time, sprinkled in with thousands of bright yellow blooming wildflowers and dappled sunlight!

 

 

 

The Grand Teton Half Marathon course concludes at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club, the finish line for the Grand Teton Half Marathon!

 

Enjoy a post race snack box expertly crafted by Vacation Races and their many sponsors, and don’t forget to check out the gear and goodies tents and additional fun offerings put on at the finish line!

 

 

What Else to Do When Running the Grand Teton Half Marathon

 

The great thing about running a race like the Grand Teton Half Marathon, held in a National Park, is there are a plethora of other exciting adventures to partake in before and after completing your race!  That is one of the best things about planning a destination “runcation” – discovering just what other fun things you can do outside of the actual running part! If you are planning to run the Grand Teton Half Marathon, I would highly recommend arriving a few days early and staying a day or two after, to fully enjoy all the area has to offer! And in the case of a Grand Teton Half Marathon runcation, just start with the National Park itself!  

Insider Tip:  purchase an “America the Beautiful Pass” beforehand!

 

Grand Teton National Park holds its own as a National Park just a few hours south of Yellowstone National Park, which tends to get most of the attention in the area!  But Grand Teton National Park has less visitors, and just as many epic trails and outdoor adventures to take part in.  Plus, in my personal opinion, Grand Teton National Park has a more rugged and natural feel to it.  And less traffic.

 

 

Hiking in Grand Teton National Park

 

If you want to hike in Grand Teton National Park before the Grand Teton Half Marathon, you could count that as a warm up for the race too.  And if you hike after, there are plenty of post race, cool down hikes you can complete.  Here are a few of my favorite recommended hikes in Grand Teton National Park (that won’t kill your legs whether you are hiking before or after the Grand Teton Half Marathon).  None of them will disappoint on views!

 

#1: Jenny Lake Loop Trail

Arguably the most beautiful lake hike in Grand Teton National Park.

Length: 7.2 miles roundtrip

Rating: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 456 feet

 

#2: Cascade Canyon Trail

This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, and contains some of the most majestic mountain views of the Tetons.

Length: 9.1 miles roundtrip

Rating: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 1,102 feet

 

#3: Taggart Lake Loop Trail

An easy, shorter, lake loop hike big on views!

Length: 3.8 miles roundtrip

Rating: Easy

Elevation Gain: 423 feet

 

#4: Leigh Lake Trail

This easy trail has it all – water, forests, and mountains! And probably a good chance of wildlife sightings too.

Length: 7.1 miles roundtrip

Rating: Easy

Elevation Gain: 95 feet

 

 

 

Jackson, Wyoming

 

There are a ton of fun things to do in Jackson, Wyoming itself.  This small western town is an outdoor adventure mecca, and has close, deep roots to the Tetons and the National Park nearby.  

• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
• Jackson Hole Rodeo
• Jackson Town Square
• Yellowstone National Park
• National Elk Refuge
• Granite Hot Springs
• Whitewater Rafting on the Snake River
• Teton Raptor Center
• Jackson Hole Aerial Tram
• National Museum of Wildlife Art

 

So, if you are looking for the perfect combination of impeccable organizational planning and execution, race day energy and excitement, stunning scenery that makes you forget you are running, and a destination that is worthy of exploring beyond the half marathon itself, than look no further than the Grand Teton Half Marathon!

 

 

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