ENJOY FOOD
PICNIC
with a Purpose To satisfy multiple senses, pack a picnic and head out on a self-directed wildlife-watching adventure. // BY SAMANTHA SIMMA
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PRICE CHAMBERS
ildlife biologist and photographer Tenley Thompson (@jacksonholeecotours) has been sharing her passion for the animals and landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for thirteen years. “Every day is different,” she says. “Every day is an adventure, and I never know what surprises are in store when I wake up.” Make wildlife watching even more of an adventure by pairing it with a picnic.
Planning the perfect picnic takes a combination of good food, fair weather, fun people, and a great view.
Spots THE
upine Meadows: At the base of 12,326-foot-tall Teewinot, a mountain south of L Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), Lupine Meadows lives up to its name. In the summer, this area, usually dominated by sage, teems with blooming lupines—and often wildlife. “It’s rare to visit and not see mule deer, elk, moose, [or] pronghorn antelope,” Thompson says. There are several turnouts along the dirt road that leads to the trailhead you can pull into for a tailgate picnic. illow Flats Overlook: An easy pull-off for a picnic from Highway 191 in GTNP W between Colter Bay and Jackson Lake Lodge, this overlook is slightly elevated above an expanse of willows and grasses that meets the shores of Jackson Lake in the distance. “Below, it’s very common to see moose and elk,” Thompson says. While some overlooks in GTNP do have picnic tables, this is not one of them, so make sure to bring a blanket or chairs.
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ayden Valley: If you want to see bison, H the drive to Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley on the eastern side of the park’s Lower Loop is worth the effort. “See bison thundering below and bald eagles flying overhead,” Thompson says. You might also see bears or wolves here. While you’ll need a few camp chairs for this spot, there’s an official picnic area a few miles south, before Fishing Bridge. ntelope Flats: If you have the time, A drive the entire loop between the Gros Ventre Road and Antelope Flats, picking a pullout that suits your fancy for a tailgate picnic. Bison herds tend to graze on the meadows of Antelope Flats.
