Here are some choices in the Jackson Hole area, from short and easy to more difficult. Late July is peak tourist season, and anything with an easy trail and interesting view will have some or a lot people around. Just brief summaries below, let me know if you want more detail.

1. The Wedding Tree. A popular spot for you guessed it, because of easy access and nice panoramic views of the Teton Range. The site, among big Douglas fit trees, is on a gentle ridge off of the Gros Ventre road on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Park on a turnout and walk west about 200 yards. Beyond here, the Gros Ventre road takes you east into less-traveled country rich in wildlife; you'll probably see bison on your way here. The Gros Ventre River, especially above Upper Slide lake, has beautiful meanders that are easily viewed from the road or from short strolls away from it.

2. Summit of Rendevous Mtn. The aerial tram at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort gets you here. The main Teton range is north of Rendevous. The summit ridge affords some easy hiking for various views and alpine plants that should be in peak bloom.

3. Freds Mtn. A ski lift at Grand Targhee Resort, which is 20 miles east of Driggs, Idaho gets you to the top. The views are of the west side of the main Teton Range, and in my opinion, are more photogenic than from Rendevous peak, and it is less crowded and I think cheaper. There is a trail that leads south to a saddle and then east along a steep side hill for other interesting views from a high ridge. This option may be a bit ambitous. The first photos of the Teton range (1872, wet glass plate) were taken from this ridge by William H. Jackson.

4. Taggart Lake. A mostly flat hike into a low-elevation lake at the foot of the Teton range, in Grand Teton National Park, with views up Avalanche canyon. A popular hike, but typically not hordes of people.

5. Lower Cascade canyon, Grand Teton National Park. This is a very popular canyon, but if you go early (before 8 AM), it should be very quiet. There is a boat ride across Jenny Lake that takes one to the mouth of the canyon. Hiking to Inspiration point may be tough, but if you make it there, it is worth going a little further to where the canyon flattens out and the north escarpment of the Cathedral group comes into view- one of the most stunning alpine mtn. views in North America. The boat ride saves about 2 miles of hiking, and an early ride usually takes off at 7 AM if there is a mountain guide and clients going out. The Jenny Lake - Hidden falls area is the most crowded front-country area in the park, with most people milling around between mid-morning and about 5 PM. Avoid these times and it is much more pleasant.

6. Teton Pass area. The relatively gentle mountains south of the pass (small parking area here) is accessed by a dirt road that passes a TV repeater site wihin a 1/4 mile. A side-hill and ridge walk beyond here provides view of Jackson Hole and most likely, given the time of year, peak wildflower colors. Continuing to the rim (about 1 1/2 miles) gets you to nice views of the Snake River Range

7. Ski Lake. The trail-head is about 2/3 up the Teton Pass road (Wyoming Rt 22), thus saving some uphill hiking. It is about 2 1/5 miles in to the lake, which sits in a sub-alpine cirque on the Mt. Glory massif. Mostly visited by local hikers, so may not be too crowded.

8. The Grassy Lake road (AKA reclamation Road), which traverses the low country between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, starts near Flagg Ranch and ends near Ashton, Idaho. Like the Gros Ventre road, it accesses less-travelled country, but it has less open vistas but nice forests and meadows. Easy hikes from the road, but the driving may be a little tiring and long. This area is a grizzly bear stronghold.

There are lots of uncrowded, short hike opportunities from the highways and other paved roads in Jackson Hole if you don't mind walking off trail on easy terrain and follow your own whimsy. There is a lot of wildlife in the Jackson Hole area, and you can usually see many types in the morning or early evening.

As for dangerous animals, cow moose with calves are the most common threat. Both black and grizzly bears abound; carry bear spray just in case. Mountain lions, which are common, are rarely aggressive, but are known to chase or attack sole children . Wolves are also common, but attacks on humans anywhere are extremely rare. They are curious, however, and some have come near me to check me out.