Oxbow Bend Turnout
One of the most photographed viewpoints in Grand Teton National Park, located along US-89/191/26 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. A crescent-shaped bend of the Snake River reflects Mount Moran (12,605 ft) on calm mornings, creating a mirror image of the Teton Range. The turnout is accessible and wheelchair-accessible; wildlife including moose, pelicans, and Great Blue Herons are commonly spotted.
The bend itself has a simple geology behind it: erosion and soil deposits shifted the Snake River's main channel over time, leaving behind a crescent-shaped backwater that moves slowly enough to hold a clean reflection on still mornings. On calm days, Mount Moran (12,605 ft) fills that mirror with a near-perfect image of the Teton Range — no elevation gain, no trail, just pull in and look.
The slow water draws a surprising range of wildlife. The NPS lists pelicans, Great Blue Herons, muskrats, otters, moose, trumpeter swans, beavers, and bears among the regulars. Dawn and dusk are the best windows for wildlife; midday visits during summer can be crowded with other vehicles sharing the pullout. Fall brings a different draw — the NPS describes the Mount Moran at Oxbow Bend view as a classic autumn scene, when foliage frames the reflection.
The turnout sits directly on US-89/191/26 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction, so there's no detour involved — it's a roadside stop on the route itself. The area is wheelchair-accessible. Entry requires a Grand Teton National Park pass; the America the Beautiful annual pass covers it if you're hitting more than one park on the run.
The quintessential 'stop the bike and stare' moment on the US-89/191 run through Grand Teton — no hiking required. Dawn light turns the Snake River into a mirror reflecting the Tetons. 3.1 miles east of Moran Junction; free with park pass.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
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