Snake River Overlook
SNAKE RIVER OVERLOOK
Jackson Hole, WY
If you about Ansel Adams, you have most likely seen his iconic image from the Snake River overlook. The very spot he took this famous picture is right off of the main highway US-191, with one important caveat. The location is there, the S in the river is there, and the Grand Tetons are there, but the trees have grown in the past 75 years and are much taller now, blocking the view for the lower left part of the S in the Snake River.
This is still a great place to visit. Under the right conditions, you can capture your own Snake River overlook.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to the location for the classic Snake River overlook is an easy 40yd walk from the parking lot. To get the best view, you may have to stand on top of the rock fence or jump over the fence and walk down the path a short distance.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
6,912ft Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Snake River Overlook parking area.
From Jackson, WY - travel north on US-191 20.7 miles and then turn left onto the Snake River Overlook. The location of the classic overlook is just to the right of an outdoor landmark with an image of the famous Ansel Adams picture.
Photography Tips
The shot is fairly straightforward. As mentioned, you may have to stand on the rock fence or hop the fence and walk down the path a few feet.
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The Tetons run north and south, so sunrise is most likely the best time to shoot here. However, I have seen a few late afternoon shots here with a storm over the Tetons.
Best Time of Year
I believe you can capture a nice image any time of year. For me, the best time to shoot this location would be in the winter, with snow on the foreground trees and mountains. But most important, in the winter, the sun would rise in the southeast and would illuminate from the left of the image.
Lens(es) Needed
Lens focal length from 20mm - 50mm can be used in this location.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
This location is in the Grand Teton National Park. Once in the park, no additional permit is required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is west @ 250°.
Equipment Needed
Other than a tripod there is no need for any special photography equipment. If you arrive pre-dawn at this location in the fall, it is most likely to be bitter cold, so be sure to bring appropriate clothes, hats, and gloves.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
During the day, this location gets a lot of traffic from tourists. However, at sunrise and sunset, you will most likely see only a few other photographers.
Weather
The weather in the spring, summer, and fall is wonderful in the Jackson Hole area. Early morning before sunrise can be cold, and winter in the Jackson Hole area can be extremely cold.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and my cell service was fine in the Jackson and Jackson Hole area. However, outside of the valley cell service can be very spotty.
Lodging & Camping
There are plenty of nice lodging (1 star to 4 star hotels) in the city of Jackson, and multiple camp/RV sites in the Jackson Hole area. When I am in the area, I usually stay at either the Gros Ventre Campground or the Jenny Lake campground.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Gros Ventre Campground (3.3 miles south)
Jenny Lake Campground (11.3 miles west)
Crystal Creek Campground (15.3 miles east)
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Elk Country Inn
(307) 733-2364
480 W Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY
Hampton Inn Jackson Hole
(307) 733-0033
350 US-89, Jackson, WY
Nearby Restaurants
The city of Jackson is one of the great small towns in American and has no shortage of good to great restaurants. My personal favorite places to eat are Cafe Genevieve for both breakfast and dinner (nice place, great food, cold beer, and good service) and MacPhail's Burgers (great Angus and Bison burgers).
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Cafe Genevieve
(307) 732-1910
135 E Broadway, Jackson
Liberty Burger
(307) 200-6071
160 N Cache St Jackson
Bin22
(307) 739-9463
200 W Broadway, Jackson
Area Guides and Workshops
None