Grand Teton National Park

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As part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, Grand Teton provides a plethora of opportunities to explore a wide range pristine environments. Teton has many backpacking trip options for those who want to go out for multi-day trips. But let's start with some leg-stretching dayhikes, first. Every area of Teton has something to offer. . .

DAY HIKES

1. Flagg Ranch
Polecat Creek Loop Trail: 2.3 mile round-trip, 2 hour. Easy. West side of level loop follows ridge above Polecat Creek marsh, habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Rest of trail traverses mature conifer forests. Leaflets available at visitor centers.

Flagg Canyon: 5.0 mile round-trip, 3-4 hours, 40 ft. elevation change. Easy. Access is from the east side of Polecat Creek Loop Trail. Flagg Canyon Trail provides spectacular views of the Snake River as it flows through a rugged canyon of volcanic rock.

Snake River Trail: 0.5 mile round-trip, 1/2 hour. Easy. Self-guiding trail traverses riparian habitat with views of forests burned in 1988. Leaflets available at trailhead. For a longer family hike in the same area, see the Snake River Angler's Trail.

Go to trail map for Flagg Ranch area

2. Colter Bay
Lakeshore Trail: 2.0 mile round-trip, 2 hours. Easy. Level Lakeshore Trail follows east and north shoreline of Colter Bay then follows perimeter of a forested peninsula jutting into Jackson Lake, providing views of the northern part of the Teton Range.

Heron Pond & Swan Lake: 3.0 mile round-trip, 2 hours, 40 ft. elevation change. Easy. Follow mostly level trail to both ponds to see waterfowl and occasionally other wildlife. Self-guiding trail?maps available at trailhead; leaflets available at visitor centers.

Hermitage Point: 8.8 mile round-trip, 4 hours, 100 ft. elevation change. Easy. Forests, meadows, ponds and streams along trail provide wildlife habitat. Terrain is gently rolling.

Go to trail map for Colter Bay/Jackson Lake area

3. Jackson Lake Lodge
Lunchtree Hill: 0.5 mile round-trip, 1/2 hour, 80 ft. elevation change. Easy. Short trail with interpretive signs leads to top of hill overlooking Willow Flats and Teton Range.

Go to trail map for Colter Bay/Jackson Lake area

Go to trail map for Colter Bay/Jackson Lake area

4. Two Ocean Lake
Two Ocean Lake: 6.4 mile round-trip, 3 hours, 80 ft. Moderate. Trail traverses conifer forests along the south shore and aspen groves and meadows along the north shore of Two Ocean Lake.

Emma Matilda Lake: 9.1 mile round-trip, 5 hours, 440 ft. Moderate. Trail follows densely forested southern shore of Emma Matilda Lake and open forests of northern shore providing views of the Teton Range.

Two Ocean & Emma Matilda Lakes: 12.9 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 710 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Trail follows north shore of Two Ocean Lake, climbs to Grand View Point for a panoramic view, then follows south shore of Emma Matilda Lake.

Go to trail map for Two Ocean Lake area

5. Leigh Lake
Leigh Lake: 2.0 mile round-trip, 1 hour, 40 ft. elevation change.

Bearpaw Lake: 7.4 mile round-trip, 4 hours, 40 ft. elevation change. Easy. Trail follows forested shore of Leigh Lake, providing close views of Mount Moran.

Go to day hike trail map for Leigh Lake

6. String Lake
String Lake: 3.3 mile round-trip, 3 hours, 120 ft. elevation change. Easy. Trail circles String Lake, traversing the lakeshore below Rockchuck and Mt. St. John.

Paintbrush Canyon

Holly Lake: 12.4 mile round-trip, 8 hours, 2535 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Follow Paintbrush Canyon trail through seasonally abundant wildflowers.

Paintbrush-Cascade Loop: 19.2 mile round-trip, 14 hours, 3845 ft. elevation change. Very strenuous. Hike up Paintbrush Canyon, over Paintbrush Divide and down Cascade Canyon.

Go to day hike trail map for Leigh Lake area

7. Cascade Canyon
Jenny Lake Loop: 6.6 mile round-trip, 4 hours, 100 ft. elevation change. EASY. Mostly level trail skirts shoreline, with views of the Teton Range from the east shore.

Cascade Canyon: Self-guiding trail (maps available at trailhead; leaflets available at visitor centers).

Hidden Falls: 5.0 mile round-trip, 3 hours, 150 ft. elevation change; via shuttle boat (fee charged): 1.0 mile, 1 1/2 hour, 150 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Popular trail follows Jenny Lake's south shore, then climbs to view of 200-foot cascade.

Inspiration Point: 5.8 mile round-trip, 4 hours, 417 ft. elevation change. Via shuttle boat (fee charged): 2.2 mile round-trip, 2 1/2 hours, 417 ft. elevation change. Moderate strenuous. Follow trail to Hidden Falls, then continue up to Inspiration Point overlooking Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole.

Forks of Cascade Canyon: 13.0 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 1057 ft. elevation change. Via shuttle boat (fee charged): 9.0 mile round-trip, 5 hours, 1057 ft. elevation change. Moderate strenuous. Popular trail leads into Cascade Canyon with views of the Grand Teton, Mt. Owen and Teewinot.

Lake Solitude: 18.4 mile round-trip, 10 hours, 2252 ft. elevation change. Via shuttle boat (fee charged): 14.4 mile round-trip, 8 hours, 2252 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Follow popular Cascade Canyon trail. North Fork leads to Lake Solitude and views of the Grand Teton and Mt. Owen.

South Fork of Cascade Canyon: 23.2 mile round-trip, 12 hours, 3589 ft. elevation change. Via shuttle boat (fee charged): 19.2 mile round-trip, 11 hours, 3589 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Follow popular Cascade Canyon trail. South Fork leads to Hurricane Pass and close views of School-room Glacier.

Go to day hike map for Leigh Lake

8. Lupine Meadows
Amphitheater Lake: 9.6 mile round-trip, 8 hours, 2958 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Climb up to glacial lakes surrounded by subalpine meadows. Horses not allowed.

Garnet Canyon: 8.2 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 2160 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Trail leads to the mouth of Garnet Canyon.
Horses not allowed.

9. Taggart Lake
Self-guiding trail (leaflets available at trailhead and visitor centers.)

Taggart Lake: 3.2 mile round-trip, 2 hours, 277 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Trail traverses area burned in 1985 to reach Taggart Lake.

Bradley Lake: 4.0 mile round-trip, 3 hours, 397 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Trail climbs up through area burned in 1985, then down glacial moraine to Bradley Lake.

Taggart Lake-Beaver Creek: 4.0 mile round-trip, 3 hours, 277 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Trail traverses area burned in 1985 and climbs glacial moraines surrounding Taggart Lake.

10. Chapel of the Transfiguration
Menor's Ferry: 0.5 mile round-trip, 1/2 hour, 10 ft. elevation change. Easy. See turn-of-the- century buildings located on the scenic Snake River. Self-guiding trail?maps available at trailhead; leaflets available at visitor centers.

11. Death Canyon
Phelps Lake Overlook: 1.8 mile round-trip, 2 hours, 420 ft. elevation change. Moderate. Trail climbs glacial moraine to overlook Phelps Lake.

Phelps Lake: 4.0 mile round-trip, 4 hours, 987 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Trail first climbs to overlook, then descends to Phelps Lake. Return involves steep hike up to overlook.

Death Canyon-Static Peak Trail Junction: 7.6 mile round-trip, 6 hours, 1061 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Trail climbs up and then down to Phelps Lake, followed by a climb up into Death Canyon.

Static Peak Divide: 15.6 mile round-trip, 10 hr., 4020 ft. elevation change. Very strenuous. Numerous switchbacks climb through whitebark pine forest to impressive views of the Teton Range and Jackson Hole.

12. Granit Canyon
Marion Lake: 20.8 mile round-trip, 12 hours, 2880 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Follow Granite Creek to subalpine meadows around Marion Lake.

13. Top of the Tram
Fee charged for tram. Visitors are allowed to hike trails leading from the Tram after snow has melted sufficiently to allow safe travel.

Marion Lake: 11.8 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 1206 ft. elevation change. Moderately strenuous. Hike through alpine and subalpine terrain to Marion Lake and return to the Tram.

Granite Canyon: 12.4 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 4135 ft. elevation change (downhill). Moderate. Start at the top and hike down from alpine meadows to sagebrush, ending at Teton Village.

14. Cunnigham Cabin
Cunningham Cabin: 0.75 mile round-trip, 1 hour, 20 ft. elevation change. Easy. Follow short trail to see early Jackson Hole home-stead. Self-guiding trail?leaflets available at trailhead and at visitor centers.

15. Teton Canyon
Table Mountain: 11.0 mile round-trip, 7 hours, 4151 ft. elevation change. Strenuous. Steep trail follows Teton Creek and ends 0.5 mile below the summit. Ascend summit by scrambling up talus slope. In the Targhee National Forest.