Mormon Barn North
MORMON BARN (NORTH)
Jackson Hole, WY
Mormon Barn (North) - the historic old barns on Mormon Row are some of the most photographed barns in the country. The Mormon north barn and the T.A. Moulton Barn (South) are only about ¼ mile apart on the same road.
The north barn has a different look than the south barn and is popular with photographers. It has an old rustic western look with the Grand Tetons sitting right above the peak of the barn. There are tons and tons of ways to shoot the north barn: wide angle, from the side, way back, a compression shot, sunrise, midday, in the spring, or with snow.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The location is easy to access (except in the winter) and only a 100 yards from the parking area. After a hard rain, the dirt road is can be very muddy and sometimes impassable.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
6,653ft Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Mormon Barn (north) parking area.
From Jackson, WY - travel north on US-191 12.9 miles to Antelope Flats Rd. (road is unmarked) - which is just past mile marker 168. Turn right (east) and travel 1.6 miles to Mormon Row (dirt road). At Mormon Row, take a right and the barn is ¼ mile on the right. There is a well-maintained parking area, which can hold up to 10-15 vehicles. Overflow parking is available on the dirt road before and past the parking area.
From Yellowstone - travel south on US-191 toward Jackson. Once you get to the Moran Entrance National Park Station, travel 4 miles and then turn right (south) on US-191. From there drive 20.8 miles and take a left (east) on Antelope Flats Rd (road is unmarked). Travel 1.6 miles to Mormon Row (dirt road). From here, take a right and drive for 1/4 mile, and you will easily see the barn on your right.
Photography Tips
The shot for the Mormon Barn is fairly straightforward. However, sometimes it is challenging to find the right composition for your vision of the scene.
The primary focal points ( the rustic old barn and the stunning views of the Grand Teton) should work in harmony and not conflict. With this in mind, when positioning your composition, pay attention to the peak of the old barn and where it sets against the Teton mountain range. If you are too close to the barn, the roof of the barn sets high against the mountains. The further back from the barn, the lower the barn is against the mountain range.
At sunrise, the sky will illuminate several minutes before the mountain peaks and even more time before the barn/shrubs begins to glow. Unless you get lucky and have perfect intermittent lighting - you will have to composite your image.
IMPORTANT: the glow that illuminates the barn/shrubs/foreground will only last a few seconds - so be ready when the sun crest the horizon behind you.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 45 mm
Exposure – 1/45 th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – July 21st
Time – 6:42 am
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You can shoot the north barn any time of day; however, I prefer to shoot a few this location at sunrise. I usually stand about 75yds back (east) of the barn in the brush and wait for the sun to illuminate the barn/shrubs/foreground. Other photographers will take their picture as the sun touches the tips of the Tetons.
Best Time of Year
I believe you can capture a nice image any time of year. For me the Spring (late May/early June) is ideal, as there will most likely be snow on the Grand Tetons. Winter would also make for a great shot (with snow covering the scene).
The above shot was taken on July 21st
Lens(es) Needed
Lens focal length from 24mm - 200mm can be used in this location, all dependent on the composition you choose.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
This location is in the Grand Teton National Park. Once in the park, no additional permit is required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the traditional shot of the barn is west by northwest @ 280°.
Equipment Needed
Other than a tripod there is no need for any special photography equipment, unless you plan on doing a panoramic shot. If you arrive pre-dawn at this location in the fall, it is most likely to be cold, so be sure to bring appropriate clothes, hats, and gloves.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Depending on the time of year, you might see upward or 20-50 other photographers at sunrise.
Weather
The weather in the Spring, Summer, and Fall is wonderful in the Jackson Hole area. Early morning before sunrise can be very cold. Winter is the Jackson Hole area can be extremely cold.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and my cell service was fine in the Jackson and Jackson Hole area. However, outside of the valley cell service can be very spotty.
Lodging & Camping
There are plenty of nice lodging (1 star to 4 star hotels) in the city of Jackson, and multiple camp/RV sites in the Jackson Hole area. When I am in the area, I usually stay at either the Gros Ventre Campground or the Jenny Lake campground.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Gros Ventre Campground (3.3 miles south)
Jenny Lake Campground (11.3 miles west)
Crystal Creek Campground (15.3 miles east)
Nearby Restaurants
The city of Jackson is one of the great small towns in American and has no shortage of good to great restaurants. My personal favorite places to eat are Cafe Genevieve for both breakfast and dinner (nice place, great food, cold beer, and good service) and MacPhail's Burgers (great Angus and Bison burgers).
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Cafe Genevieve
(307) 732-1910
135 E Broadway, Jackson
Liberty Burger
(307) 200-6071
160 N Cache St Jackson
Bin22
(307) 739-9463
200 W Broadway, Jackson
Area Guides and Workshops
None