The hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park range from easy nature walks on generally level surfaces to strenuous and oftentimes steep climbs over high mountain passes. Located south of Yellowstone National Park in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park has 200 miles (320 km) of trails. [1] High mountain passes such as Paintbrush Divide, Hurricane Pass and Static Peak Divide are more than 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above the trail starting points and may remain snow-covered until mid-summer, requiring the use of an ice axe and possibly crampons to negotiate in late spring and early summer.
Leigh Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The glacially formed lake is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) wide and 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long from north to south. Situated just southeast of Mount Moran, the lake is at the terminus of both Paintbrush and Leigh Canyons. The lake can be accessed from the Leigh Lake Trail which follows the eastern shores of String Lake a distance of one mile (1.6 km) and is an easy hike over level terrain. The Leigh Lake Ranger Patrol Cabin is located on the northeast shore of the lake and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Granite Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley. The canyon lies between Rendezvous Mountain to the south and Mount Hunt to the north. The trailhead for the canyon is on the Moose–Wilson Road about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Teton Village. One of the most popular hikes from the trailhead is to Marion Lake by way of the Granite Canyon Trail which traverses the length of the canyon. Another popular hike involves riding the aerial tram located at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, and then descending back to Teton Village by way of Granite Canyon. The descent from the summit of Rendezvous Peak back to Teton Village is an often steep one with an altitude loss of 4,100 feet (1,200 m). The historic Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin is situated near the entrance to the canyon and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Paintbrush Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago. The canyon lies between Rockchuck Peak and Mount Saint John to the south and Mount Woodring to the north. Leigh Lake is at the base of the canyon to the east and the alpine Holly Lake is located mid canyon. Popular with hikers, the canyon is part of a popular circuit hike of 19.2 miles (30.9 km) which is rated as very strenuous and includes a total elevation change of 3,845 feet (1,172 m) due to the ascent to Paintbrush Divide 10,720 feet (3,270 m). Views from Paintbrush Divide include Lake Solitude and of Mount Moran to the north and the Cathedral Group including Grand Teton to the south. An ice axe may be necessary for hikes in the early summer. The Paintbrush Canyon Trail is part of the Teton Crest Trail, which spans the southern section of the Teton Range from Teton Pass along Wyoming Highway 22 to String Lake, a total distance of 39 miles (63 km).
The canyons of the Teton Range lie almost entirely within Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Ranging from 9 miles (14 km) to less than 1 mile (1.6 km) in length and up to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) deep, the canyons were carved primarily by glaciers over the past 250,000 years. The canyons in the Teton Range descend in altitude generally west to east and many have lakes at their outlets. The lakes were created by terminal moraines left behind by the now retreated glaciers. A few of the canyons have small glaciers that were created mostly during the Little Ice Age (1550-1850). Fast retreating Schoolroom Glacier is a tiny glacier located at the head of the South Cascade Canyon. Most of the canyons have streams from which rain and snowmelt flow towards Jackson Hole valley, and due to the sometimes rapid altitude descent, waterfalls are common. The canyons offer the easiest hiking access into the Teton Range.
Holly Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. Holly Lake is situated in Paintbrush Canyon and is .70 miles (1.13 km) SSW of Mount Woodring. According to the National Park Service, the hike to Holly Lake is 12.8 miles (20.6 km) round-trip from the String Lake parking lot and involves an altitude gain of 2,840 feet (870 m). Holly Lake is along a side trail of the Paintbrush Canyon-Cascade Canyon loop. There are backcountry camping zones nearby and three specifically designated within a quarter mile of the lake.
The Teton Crest Trail is a 40-mile (64 km) long hiking trail in the U.S. state of Wyoming that extends from Phillips Pass, on the border of Bridger Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests, to String Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Backpacker Magazine calls the Trail one of the "Best Hikes Ever," with "mesmerizing and constant views of jagged peaks."
Paintbrush Divide is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated at approximately 10,720 ft (3,270 m) above sea level, the pass can be accessed from the east by way of the Paintbrush Canyon or Cascade Canyon Trails and involves a nearly 4,000 ft (1,200 m) elevation gain.
The Webb Canyon Trail is a 9.9-mile (15.9 km) long hiking trail in the far northern region of Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins near the National Park Service backcountry patrol cabin near Wilcox Point on Jackson Lake. Located in the remote northern backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, the trail is not connected to maintained trails in the southern part of the park and must be accessed from the Glade Creek trailhead in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. From Glade Creek, it is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) hike to the patrol cabin and the beginning of the Webb Canyon Trail. The trail follows Moose Creek west and after several miles, is flanked by both Owl Peak and Elk Mountain to the north and several unnamed peaks nearing 11,000 ft (3,400 m) to the south. At Moose Basin Divide the trail meets the Owl Creek Trail.
The Jenny Lake Trail is a 7.1-mile (11.4 km) long hiking trail which circles Jenny Lake located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Jenny Lake campground or can be accessed at several other trailheads. One of the most popular and easiest hikes in the park, the trail provides pedestrian access to the Cascade Canyon Trail and is overlapped by the Valley Trail along the west side of Jenny Lake.
The Granite Canyon Trail is a 8.2 mi (13.2 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Granite Canyon trailhead on the Moose-Wilson Road, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Teton Village and ends at the junction with the Teton Crest Trail near Marion Lake. The trail follows the length of Granite Canyon. Just over a mile before the junction with the Teton Crest Trail, the Open Canyon Trail intercepts this trail from the north. An alternative route is to take the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski lift to the top of Rendezvous Mountain and descend 3 mi (4.8 km) down the Rendezvous Mountain Trail to junction with the Granite Canyon Trail, a distance of 12 mi (19 km) and mostly downhill. There are three different camping zones in the canyon which are available by permit.
The Amphitheater Lake Trail is a 5-mile (8.0 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trailhead is at the Lupine Meadows parking area and climbs steeply more than 3,000 feet (910 m) in just over 5 miles (8.0 km) to Amphitheater Lake. At the 2-mile (3.2 km) point, the trail forks and the Garnet Canyon Trail heads south and then west into Garnet Canyon. Shortly before arriving at Amphitheater Lake, hikers pass Surprise Lake where there is a backcountry camping site available if one obtains a free permit. Amphitheater Lake is southwest of Disappointment Peak.
The Garnet Canyon Trail is a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trailhead is at the Lupine Meadows parking area and climbs steeply more than 2,500 feet (760 m) in just under 5 miles (8.0 km) into Garnet Canyon. At the 2-mile (3.2 km) point, the trail forks from the Amphitheater Lake Trail and heads south and then west into Garnet Canyon. Garnet Canyon is the most popular approach route for climbers attempting to summit not only Grand Teton but also Middle Teton, South Teton, Teepe Pillar and Disappointment Peak. Though the trail becomes unmaintained once it enters boulder fields at approximately the 9,500-foot (2,900 m) elevation point, climbers continue on to other destinations such as the Lower Saddle, a high altitude mountain pass situated between Middle and Grand Teton. The altitude gain from the Lupine Meadows trailhead to the Lower Saddle is nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m).
The Paintbrush Canyon Trail is a 9.1-mile (14.6 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Access to the Paintbrush Canyon Trail is from the String Lake trailhead. From there the trail follows the west shore of String Lake and is also known as the String Lake Trail. The Paintbrush Canyon Trail then enters Paintbrush Canyon and becomes steeper and then splits with one trail heading to Holly Lake and the other heading south then west. The trails merge west of Holly Lake and it is a steady altitude gain the last 3.9 miles (6.3 km) to Paintbrush Divide. The east approach to Paintbrush Divide is steep and may require the use of an ice axe through July. There are two camping zones within Paintbrush Canyon and one designated campsite at Holly Lake which are available with a permit. There is a popular loop trail which includes the Paintbrush Canyon Trail, Lake Solitude Trail and Cascade Canyon Trail which spans a distance of 19 mi (31 km) and has a total elevation gain of 4,900 ft (1,500 m).
The String Lake Trail is a 3.7-mile (6.0 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail circles String Lake and is also used to access the Paintbrush Canyon Trail and the Leigh Lake Trail. The String Lake trailhead is off the one-way road from North Jenny Lake Junction.
The Bradley Lake Trail is a 4-mile (6.4 km) long round-trip hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail is accessed from the Taggart Lake trailhead and provides access to Bradley Lake, with views of the lake and the Teton Range. At Bradley lake, the trail intercepts the Valley Trail which heads north towards Garnet Canyon or south to Taggart Lake. Using the Valley Trail and the Taggart Lake Trail, a loop hike starting from the Taggart Lake Trailhead is 5.9 mi (9.5 km) long.
The Taggart Lake Trail is a 3-mile (4.8 km) long round-trip hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail is accessed from the Taggart Lake trailhead and provides access to Taggart Lake, with views of the lake and the Teton Range. At Taggart Lake, the trail intercepts the Valley Trail which heads north towards Bradley Lake or south to Death Canyon. Using the Valley Trail and the Bradley Lake Trail, a loop hike starting from the Taggart Lake Trailhead is 5.9 mi (9.5 km) long.
The Cascade Canyon Trail is a 13.6-mile (21.9 km) round-trip long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
The Lake Solitude Trail is a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Forks of Cascade Canyon and follows Cascade Creek up through North Cascade Canyon to Lake Solitude. Beyond Lake Solitude, the trail becomes steep and climbs to Paintbrush Divide where it ends at the Paintbrush Canyon Trail. The only way to access the trail is by way of either the Paintbrush Canyon or Cascade Canyon Trails. Except at and above Lake Solitude, backcountry camping is allowed with a permit along the trail. At South Jenny Lake, a boat shuttle operates during the summer which shortens the hike by 4 miles (6.4 km). The Lake Solitude Trail is part of a popular 19-mile (31 km) long loop hike which runs through both Cascade and Paintbrush Canyons.
Owl Peak is in the northern Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming and is just east of Elk Mountain. The peak is located west of and across Jackson Lake from Lizard Creek Campground. Access to the peak is easiest by boat to the Berry Creek Trailhead at Wilcox Point then heading west at the Owl Creek Trail. After a 2 miles (3.2 km) hike along Berry Creek and Owl Creek trails, off trail access to the summit can be achieved after a steep ascent of an additional 2 miles (3.2 km). North of the mountain, the Tetons blend into the Yellowstone Plateau while to the south lies Webb Canyon.