Grand Teton National Park weather in January
January in Grand Teton National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Grand Teton National Park · #1224 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 45/100 (tier F)
- Days
- -4°C
- Nights
- -15°C
- Wet days
- 12
- Sun
- 5.8 h
- Humidity
- 79%
- Daylight
- 9 h

Traveller notes on Grand Teton National Park in January
Grand Teton-forum threads on winter visits describe January as genuinely transformed from the summer park, deep cold and heavy accumulation the norm at this elevation. Posters call the winter version of the park quieter and starkly beautiful, wildlife-viewing drives and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing the standard activities once most summer roads and facilities close. Proper cold-weather gear is non-negotiable, temperatures capable of dropping to genuinely dangerous levels overnight regardless of how clear and calm the day looked. Nearby Jackson stays the practical base for most winter visitors, full services available there even when park facilities are limited. Posters call elk and moose sightings a real highlight, animals pushed to lower elevations and more visible against the snow than in summer's denser foliage. The record: a frigid -4C by day dropping to -15.2C at night, a notably high 77.5cm of fresh snowfall and 79 percent humidity.
Other months in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton-forum threads on a February visit describe snow levels as genuinely variable year to year, posters naming some years with surprisingly little accumulation around Jackson and the park itself. Regulars call sleigh rides into the National Elk Refuge a real highlight, several posters naming this the standout activity for a February trip. Posters call dog sled rides out of Togwotee genuinely pricey but worth it, several regulars naming this a real splurge activity for anyone wanting something beyond the standard sleigh tour. Regulars call wildlife watching genuinely the main February draw here, several threads naming this the reason many visitors come regardless of ski plans. Posters recommend real caution around Presidents Day week specifically, several regulars calling roads genuinely icy and crowds noticeably heavier during that stretch. The record: -1.6C days, -13.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 91.3mm across nearly 14 days and 78 percent humidity.
Grand Teton-forum threads on a late May visit call weather here genuinely hit or miss, posters describing good conditions for the majority of May trips while noting June generally offers better odds overall. Regulars call Cascade Canyon and Delta Lake real May options though better saved for later in the season, trail conditions there considered more reliable once more of the snowpack has cleared. Posters recommend checking specific road and trail status before planning a May itinerary, conditions here varying considerably year to year depending on the winter's snowfall. Regulars call altitude a real factor worth planning around regardless of exact dates, several posters recommending easing into activity level over the first day or two. Posters recommend real layers for the temperature swing between a sunny midday and a cold Teton morning. The record: 13C days feeling like 12C, -2.2C nights, an extraordinarily high 58.9mm across over 10 days and 55 percent humidity.
Grand Teton-forum threads on mid-to-late October describe this as genuinely strong wildlife season, posters calling the elk migration south toward the Refuge a real highlight. Regulars call the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain closed November 1st through April 30th, though the main highway stays open year-round. Posters recommend checking campground status, most tent sites closing by early or mid-October with only a couple holding on slightly later. Regulars call October weather here genuinely unpredictable, one year bringing nearly four feet of snow on the front range while another saw much milder conditions. Posters recommend real cold-weather layers regardless of forecast, mornings turning properly wintry even on an otherwise mild week. Regulars call the park still genuinely worth visiting this late in the season, thinner crowds a real upside. The record: 10.5C days feeling like 7C, -4.4C nights, 60.8mm across over 8 days and 74 percent humidity.
Grand Teton-forum threads on August temperatures describe daytime readings commonly in the mid seventies Fahrenheit, with nearby Jackson sometimes climbing into the upper eighties while higher elevations toward Teton Village stay noticeably chillier, especially after dark. Posters are direct visitors should genuinely prepare for anything, rain, a rare summer flurry, sun and cloud all possible within the same day. Regulars call mid-August through September typically dry and pleasant, a real cooling trend setting in as the month progresses. Posters recommend real layers given how much elevation shifts conditions across the park, a valley-floor forecast telling only part of the story. Regulars describe the mountain views and wildlife as worth the unpredictable conditions. Posters recommend checking a current forecast the morning of any serious hike rather than trusting a multi-day outlook. The record: 23.9C days feeling like 22C, 5.2C nights, 51 percent humidity and 12.1 hours of sun.
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Grand Teton National Park climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Grand Teton National Park in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Grand Teton National Park's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherGrand Teton National Park's best weather comes in June, July and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Grand Teton National Park in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Closure
Teton Park Road winter closure
1 Nov – 30 AprThe inner park road shuts to cars from the start of November until the end of April, and the ploughed section becomes a groomed ski and fat-bike route with the range straight ahead. Highway 26 stays open all winter. Source ↗
- Nature
Elk on the National Elk Refuge
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyWildlife seasonThousands of elk come down out of the high country to winter on the flats north of Jackson, and horse-drawn sleighs take people out among them. Bighorn sheep and the odd wolf follow the same food.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 78 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Grand Teton National Park — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Grand Teton National Park?
Grand Teton National Park in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Grand Teton National Park?
- January in Grand Teton National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Grand Teton National Park on SeasonMap's comfort score (45/100).
- What is the weather like in Grand Teton National Park in January?
- In January, Grand Teton National Park averages a daily high of -4°C and a low of -15.2°C, with about 63.5 mm of rain over roughly 12.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Grand Teton National Park in January?
- Grand Teton National Park has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in January.
- Does it snow in Grand Teton National Park in January?
- Grand Teton National Park sees roughly 77.5 cm of snowfall in January.
Within 300 km: Jackson's Elk on the National Elk Refuge around 15 Dec – 5 Apr, and Yellowstone National Park's Winter wolves in the Lamar around 20 Dec – 10 Mar.