Grand Teton National Park’s rugged terrain makes hiking in many areas challenging, but the experienced hiker looking for steep slopes and long canyons finds reward in reaching peaks with expansive vistas. The park also welcomes less-experienced hikers with easier but just as scenic hikes around lakes and along the Snake River.
Fundamentals
Grand Teton National Park in northwest Wyoming, easily recognized by its prominent peaks, connects to Yellowstone National Park on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. About 200 miles of trails dissect the park’s 484 square miles of land and water. Hiking options range from easy half-hour interpretative walks to multi-day high-elevation treks. Grand Teton National Park offers easy, moderate and strenuous hikes in 14 different areas, according to the park website.
Anyone entering the park must pay an entry fee but the permit can be used for seven days in either Grand Teton or Yellowstone national parks. In 2010, the entry fee cost $25. A $5 winter fee is only valid for Grand Teton National Park.
Easy Hiking Areas
Some of the easiest hikes can be found in the Flagg Ranch area, just outside the park's northern boundary on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. The 2.5-mile Polecat Creek Loop trail follows a ridgeline while the 4-mile Flagg Canyon trail parallels the Snake River. In the Colter Bay area of Jackson Lake, the 2-mile, nearly level Lakeshore Trail offers views of the Teton Range and the Heron Pond hike leads to two mountain ponds.
From Jackson Lake Lodge, the half-mile Lunch Tree Hill trail offers a quick walk along an interpretative path to a scenic overlook. For something longer, the 3.3-mile Christian Pond loop goes from a marshy habitat to a forested ridge and back.
Moderate Hikes
Grand Teton National Park hikers looking for something more challenging can find three moderate hikes at Two Ocean Lake. The 6.8-mile Signal Mountain hike in the Leigh Lake area climbs moderately to an overlook. The Taggart Lake area includes one loop trail and one out-and-back hike amid glacial moraines.
Strenuous Hikes
The Holly Lake hike in the Leigh Lake area climbs 2,900 feet over 13 miles. In spring, wildflowers abound in this area. The 19-mile Paintbrush-Cascade Loop climbs 4,900 feet as it links Paintbrush and Cascade canyons. The park rates this hike as very strenuous and cautions that ice axes may be necessary until August at the higher points along the trail.
The 10-mile Amphitheater Lake trail in the Lupine Meadows area takes hikers to glacial lakes while the 8.4-mile Garnet Canyon trail climbs into the canyon. Many of the park’s most strenuous hikes follow trails in Death Canyon and include steep climbs and descents. The 16.3-mile Static Peak Divide hike gains more than 5,000 feet in elevation.
Jenny Lake/Cascade Canyon
A variety of hikes for all abilities exists in the popular and sometimes crowded Jenny Lake area, including trails into Cascade Canyon with its views of mountains and rangeland. Riding the Jenny Lake ferry to the mouth of Cascade Canyon requires a separate fee, $10 for a round-trip adult fare in 2010.
Guidebooks
Booklets available at trail heads and online provide information into trail area history as well as natural features, according to the Grand Teton National Park Hiking Page website. Park rangers offer a variety of guided hikes and informational walks as well as snowshoe outings in winter, according to the park website.
Considerations
High elevation, rapidly changing weather, prolonged snow and bears can ruin a hiking experience for unprepared visitors to Grand Teton National Park. Park officials recommend spending some time at a visitor center or ranger station to learn about preparing for a hike and checking trail conditions. They also discourage hiking alone or hiking off designated trails.
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