Mountain View Turnout Wedding + Elopement Guide - Grand Teton National Park
Hey, I’m Danielle! I’m a wedding and elopement photographer in Jackson, WY and literally live in Grand Teton National Park. I’ve seen all of the wedding ceremony sites at every time of day and in every season, which is the kind of experience you want in someone who will be helping plan your timeline and taking your wedding photos.
If having a photographer with some serious local expertise and skill behind the camera sounds like something you want on your very important wedding day, check out my Grand Teton wedding and elopement packages.
Below is a quick run down on the details of the Mountain View Turnout wedding and elopement ceremony site.
Interested in booking the Mountain View Turnout for your wedding but not sure where to start? I put together a comprehensive guide for my clients that includes planning essentials like a step-by-step permitting guide, marriage license information, and my personal suggestions for time of day, where to stay, and more.
Below, I’ll get into:
Mountain View Turnout in the evening
Mountain View Turnout 101
If approaching from Jackson, WY, Mountain View Turnout is on the inner park road just past the turnoffs for String Lake and Leigh Lake. It is a flat, sagebrushy area that is much closer to the mountains themselves than any of the other wedding ceremony sites in Grand Teton National Park.
Couples usually end up with Mountain View Turnout for the elopement ceremonies because they missed the permits for more popular ceremony locations like Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row. These offer closer proximity to both Jackson and some of the more popular viewpoints like Blacktail Pond Overlook. That being said, Mountain View Turnout is an amazing wedding site if you want to actually be close to the mountains and don’t care about man-made structures like you’ll see at Mormon Row. Plus, it’s a great launching point for more adventurous activities in the Tetons.
Location
Mountain View Turnout is roughly a 40-minute drive from Jackson, making it one of the more remote ceremony locations in relation to the town. It can take even longer sometimes, because there are a lot of S-L-O-W visitors driving on the Inner Park Road. Despite its distance, it could still be a great choice, though you should weigh the convenience against other, more centrally located options like Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row.
Mountain View Turnout would be a nice location for anyone staying at Jenny Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge, or Colter Bay.
Cost
Eloping or having a micro-wedding at Mountain View Turnout is significantly more budget-friendly than traditional venues in the area. Couples can secure a spot via a $200 permit fee through the Grand Teton National Park, which is so much cheaper than the cost of a traditional venue in Jackson (they can cost over $20,000!!).
Permits
Permits can be found on the Grand Teton Weddings & Ceremonies page. Permit applications open on December 16th, 2024. Do not submit your application before then - the park will not accept them and you will not receive a refund.
Site-Specific Ceremonies
Ceremony sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the popularity of the Colter Bay Swim Area, only one wedding or elopement is allowed per day. To secure your desired date, you must apply for the permit early because it’s one of the first locations to book up. Last minute elopements here are not likely but it’s worth checking with NPS for cancellations.
Applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled event, but earlier is better given Grand Teton National Park’s popularity for weddings. Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row (South), Mountain View Turnout, Glacier View Turnout, and Snake River Overlook can accommodate up to 25 guests, while Mormon Row (North) and Colter Bay Swim Beach have a capacity for up to 40 guests.
Remember: ‘guests’ includes the photographer, officiant, videographer, and guests. So you actually should have your photographer booked before you choose your venue, or at least before you submit your permit if you’re having a wedding in Grand Teton National Park.
Site-specific ceremonies can only be held in the park from May 10th to October 20th. You still need a permit after that, but you can only get a Small Dispersed Ceremony permit and are limited to 12 guests.
These permits do not apply to the two distinct chapels in the park (Chapel of the Transfiguration and Chapel of the Sacred Heart) or the lodges - all of these locations have their own websites and fees.
Small Dispersed Weddings
Small dispersed wedding permits are available for smaller gatherings of up to 12 guests, including the officiant. These ceremonies are permitted in any park area except reserved ceremony sites, certain paved trails (around Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, String Lake), Lawrence S. Rockefeller Preserve, park partner facilities, park cemeteries, and areas near chapels.
Small dispersed weddings can be held in the park all year.
Prohibited locations include:
Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony locations during Friday, May 10, 2024 to Sunday, October 20, 2024
The paved trails within and surrounding the Jenny Lake Visitor Plaza at South Jenny Lake, Jenny Lake Trail, and Jenny Lake Overlook
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
String Lake developed area and trail
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Concessioner land assignments (exception for weddings sold/catered by concessioners in assigned facilities in accordance with their contract)
Park partner facilities (e.g., Murie Ranch, Teton Science School)
Within proximity of places where weddings are being managed by a chapel or concessioner (e.g., the Chapel of the Transfiguration)
Park cemeteries
If a location is behind a gate, the permittee may have walking access but not vehicle access
Areas where there is high visitation during the requested period or potential for resource damage
Park regulations prohibit the use of arbors, arches, platforms, podiums, rugs, tables, or tents. Limited seating, primarily for guests with standing difficulties, is allowed. It's important to note that rearrangement of park facilities is not permitted according to park guidelines.
Time of Year
Access to Mountain View Turnout is not accessible in winter when they close the inner park road, so the only time for ceremonies mid-May through mid-October. The fall season, particularly from mid-September to mid-October, offers stunning foliage in the Jackson Hole area, though this area doesn’t have a ton of the changing cottonwoods or aspens. But if you plan on hitting other locations near Mountain View Turnout, like Taggart Lake and Jenny Lake, fall is a great time to consider.
View of the Grand Teton, Teewinot, and Mt St. Johns from the Mountain View Turnout Wedding ceremony site in Grand Teton National Park
Pros
Impressive panoramic mountain backdrop
Fits well into various budgets
Intimate ceremony options for close friends and family or just the couple
Usually available last minute
Better access to hiking trails, if you’re the more adventurous sort
Cons
Slightly longer drive from Jackson
Limited privacy as the ceremony location is near the parking lot
Absence of the typical Grand Teton view
Access closes in winter
While Mountain View Turnout remains a nice option, alternatives like Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row, and the Wedding Tree offer more privacy, better views, and closer proximity to town. I’d suggest considering Mountain View Turnout as a backup or fallback option if other preferred locations are fully booked on your desired date.
More Jackson Hole Weddings Venues
Taggart Lake wedding venue in Grand Teton National Park.
If you’re just starting to explore wedding venues in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole, check out my guides to the other popular elopement locations in the area.
Grand Teton National Park:
Bridger Teton National Forest:
Here’s what NPS says about the Mountain View Turnout:
The Mountain View Turnout is available as a Reserved Site-Specific Wedding Ceremony Special Use Permit for groups up to 25 people between mid-May and mid-October. The inner park road is closed during the winter and early spring.
The Mountain View Turnout is available as a Small Dispersed Wedding Ceremony Special Use Permit for groups up to 12 people from May 1 to Mid-May and Mid-October to October 31st.
From November 1st to April 30th the Mountain View Turnout is not accessible by vehicles. Consideration to applications as a Small Dispersed Wedding Ceremony Special Use Permit for groups up to 12 people would be given to those who are snowshoeing/skiing or hiking/biking when the road is not snow covered to the location. Visit the Winter in Grand Teton webpage to learn more.
Location is limited to one wedding ceremony permit per day and no more than a total of 60 permits per year. Ceremony site permits are issued in the order of the date applications are received.
Details
Restroom? No
Points of interest? Views of the Teton Range.
Is the site level or rocky? Level
Is the location accessed by a paved or gravel road? Paved
Is the site closed seasonally? Inaccessible by vehicle in the winter.
How many parking spots are available? Approximately 23 parking spaces.
Is there overflow parking nearby? No
Is the parking frequently full or have availability? Generally has availability
How busy is this location? Not busy in the morning, slightly busy at midday, and not busy in the evening.
Seating? There are no benches or picnic tables at this location.
Any structures for shade or rain cover? No
Are there formal pathways? Yes, paved.
Accessibility? There are designated accessible parking spots and pathways are paved.
More Planning Resources
I’ve put a lot of thought and time into these free resources and put even consideration into my clients’ weddings and galleries. All of my clients will receive:
My unlimited attention, local expertise, and assistance while designing your wedding or elopement timeline
A plan b for the day in case the weather does not cooperate - this is so important in Grand Teton and only a local photographer is going to have the knowledge to basically create two itineraries
My client planning guide packed with Jackson Hole and Grand Teton-specific details and vendor recommendations to make planning your day as seamless as possible
An easy-access, beautifully-designed digital gallery with full print and sharing rights
If you’re considering getting married at Mountain View Turnout, I highly encourage you to reach to a photographer with a serious connection and expertise on Grand Teton National Park. It will show in the photos!
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