TL;DR - A little more effort can go a long way. Understanding your needs as well as your partners could allow you to take advantage of where you intersect. Also, Hidden lake overlook, Avalanche lake, and Lake Solitude are all winners.

Welcome to the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park! Bobbie and I did this trip in summer of 2025 and it never fails to impress. Adventuring with your partner means new discoveries, getting smelly together, and camp foods of many varieties. I've come to learn that my camping style is a little intense, and left to my own devices I could end up in the woods for a few weeks foraging my way back to civilization. We also learn more about how to travel in the different parks every time we visit them. The animals in each of the parks are a bonus on top of the stunning vistas and scenic trails, but well worth their own attention and effort if you have the time.

Some tips we learned: Have a plan A, B, and C. On camping trips, you are probably going to encounter weird scenarios. We had dispersed camping planned one night, but it turned out that our spot intersected in tribal land, and we didn't feel comfortable without a reservation. Having an understanding of where you could camp made all the difference. Closed areas of the park are no joke. If you are trying to get access to a well trafficked area of the park, or in our case one that is partially closed, make sure you've either obtained a backpacking permit, parking permit, or permission otherwise, OR have access to great wifi. We were unable to do Grinnel Glacier this go around, but I highly suggest it for everyone else! We did several new hikes in each of the parks, and a few that I can't miss when visiting, so check out images of each below.

Just beyond the Hidden Lake Overlook trail in Glacier National Park

The picturesque cathedral-like geology surrounding Avalanche Lake

Apgar and Lake Mcdonald look from the shore in Glacier NP

Dragons mouth spring in Yellowstone NP

Attending a Old Faithful eruption, a classic Yellowstone event

A delicious breakfast of fajita veggies, refried beans, and tofu scramble

The Trail of the Cedars is a wonderfully mossy and relaxing jaunt in Glacier

On our way to Lake Solitude, our longest day of hiking in the Tetons