Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole attract visitors from all over the world who want to experience the expansive beauty and wildlife that the Tetons and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have to offer. From the spectacular peaks of the Teton Range to the bears, bison, moose, elk, and more, there’s so much in this region that a lifetime isn’t enough to experience this area in full. Some photographers, writers, and biologists have given much of their careers to this region and have contributed books for all of us to enjoy and learn from. Below are some recommended titles.
Seasons of Yellowstone — Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
by Thomas D. Mangelsen
Based out of Jackson Hole, Tom Mangelsen is perhaps the most well-known photographer in the region and even has a popular gallery in downtown Jackson. “Seasons of Yellowstone” is a wildlife-focused book that offers some of Mangelsen’s best work in the region. The book is broken up into seasons as the title might suggest and is especially noteworthy for the bear photography.
Bison: Portrait of an Icon
by Audrey Hall and Chase Reynolds Ewald
Those who visit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem likely have an appreciation for bison. Audrey Hall and Chase Reynolds Ewald share their affinity for this magnificent animal through photography and written word in “Bison: Portrait of an Icon.” This book not only beautifully captures bison and their habitat, it also details some of their story in North America, and why these animals are iconic and perhaps even sacred.
The Ecological Buffalo
by Wes Olson and Johane Janelle
Many are aware of the saga that unfolded for bison in North America after the arrival of the Europeans and expansion into the West. An animal that lived in immeasurable abundance was near extinction before rebounding in the 1900s. In “The Ecological Buffalo,” Wes Olson and Johane Janelle reveal just how essential this keystone species is to ecosystems and how everything from vegetation to birds benefit from healthy populations of bison.
Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America’s Wild Places
by Ansel Adams and Andrea Stillman
Perhaps no photographer is better known for his work in National Parks than Ansel Adams, and his 1942 photo, The Tetons and Snake River, is a masterpiece from Grand Teton National Park. This book is an inspirational book of Adams’ work from National Parks throughout the United States.
American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon
by Steven Rinella
Best known for his hunting show, MeatEater, Steven Rinella broke through the hunting niche by making a hunting show with widespread appeal. He represented, what he and many would contend, what it means to be a meat eater and the process that entails from the hunt to cooking. His appreciation for and interest in animals made it more than just a hunting show, and his obsession has made him very much a wildlife historian of sorts. After drawing a bison hunting tag in Alaska, Rinella pursues these animals, both in the field but also through trying to document their history in North America. “American Buffalo” is a great book for those wanting to know about the fall and recovery of bison in the U.S. as well as why these animals are significant to this land and the nation’s history.
Bears of North America
by Stan Tekiela
Stan Tekiela is a naturalist and photographer whose 160 page book offers some of his select photos of black, brown, and polar bears alongside facts and anecdotes about these animals. At the end of the book, he includes video links about where one might be able to view bears.
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
by David Allen Sibley
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America is a comprehensive contribution from David Allen Sibley. This 450+ page book details birds one would encounter in the Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park regions and beyond. Detailed illustrations of birds and distribution maps make this book a very useful resource in the field.
50 Wildlife Hotspots: Grand Teton National Park and Surrounding Communities
by Moose Henderson
Grand Teton National Park serves photographers well by having a good number of “spots” where specific wildlife sightings can often occur. Additionally, many of these areas are known to have stunning scenery that are great for both wildlife and landscape photography. In “50 Wildlife Hotspots,” Moose Henderson breaks down some of his favorite places to photograph wildlife in the region, and even includes site specific tips that are incredibly useful.
Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone: A Mountaineering History & Guide
by Thomas Turiano
Though it’s written for mountaineers and mountaineering enthusiasts, “Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone” is a massive volume that details the characteristics, routes, and more about the significant mountains of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Much of the information is not relevant to me as an alpine, landscape, and wildlife photographer, but it remains an invaluable resource, especially when seeking landscapes and peaks to photograph.
Hiking Grand Teton National Park
by Bill Schneider
Let’s face it, summers are crowded in Grand Teton National Park. But with warmer weather, more hiking is open to visitors, and hiking is the best way to escape the more crowded areas of the region. This guide is a great resource for those interested in putting some miles in.
Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
by Regis St Louis
Like all Lonely Planet travel guides, their book on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks offers a comprehensive breakdown of hiking areas, places to potentially spot wildlife, history, and more.
— Tim Harden
Disclosure: Some of the booksellers above are in a professional relationship with Bighorn Wilderness Tours. There are also some affiliate links in this post. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship and these links, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.
