Looking out across the glass water of Jackson Lake, the Grand Teton juts from the Earth and dominates the other half of the lake.

There are several lakes surrounding the central mountain range that is the Teton’s. Grand Teton National Park is various in its arsenal of visuals. In east Wyoming, it is close enough to northern Colorado that it’d be a shame to pass up on visiting.

During my stay at the Colter Bay campground I rested just a couple hundred feet from Jackson Lake, a large lake with islands scattered throughout its body. It’s a vast expanse that is serene all throughout the day, but no greater than at dusk and dawn.

The layout of the landscape is built as if to be as photogenic as possible. Nearby there are trails that outline the small island-like beads which cross Jackson Lake, easily confusing me and my trail-mate, but providing a supreme sense of adventure all throughout.

The encroaching thunderstorm only added to the Teton’s beauty, with its impossible to ignore presence that made for a wonderful night, as I slept safely beneath the booms and the flashes.

Grand Teton National Park is distinct.

Everything about it is distinct from the get-go. From the moment that I neared the park the central mountains caught my eye and presented themselves.

Once in the park the lakes were clear and clean, giving a crisp air to the whole park and giving contrast to the small and large figures that bordered them.

On a hike around Jenny Lake, another body of water below Jackson Lake, the passing trees and swaths of land constructed a diverse scene, one full of consistently new.

The feel of adventure came especially as I walked across the rocky traverse that looked out across Jenny Lake or the moose spotted lying, hidden in the shrubbery not far from the path.

Paintbrush Canyon is but one of many gems that rest in the park. My first visit was but a scratch upon Grand Teton Nation Park’s surface. Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake lie upon the outskirts of the canyons and mountains that compose the innards of the park. A backpacking trip is most definitely in order.

Collegian Outdoors Blogger Troy Wilkinson can be reached online at blogs@collegian.com or on Twitter at @BluMitts.