Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park

The Teton Range rises 7,000 feet abruptly from the Jackson Hole valley floor — no foothills, no gradual approach, just sheer granite towers. The hiking matches the scenery: dramatic, rewarding, and diverse.

Easy Hikes

Taggart Lake (3 miles round trip)

A gentle walk through sage and forest to a glacial lake with the Tetons reflected in its surface. Perfect for families and photographers.

String Lake Loop (3.7 miles)

A flat, family-friendly loop around a pristine mountain lake. Warm enough for swimming in July–August. Connect to Leigh Lake for a longer walk.

Jenny Lake Loop (7.1 miles)

Circumnavigate the park's most popular lake with mountain views at every turn. Take the shuttle boat across to cut the distance in half.

Moderate Hikes

Cascade Canyon (9.1 miles round trip from boat shuttle)

Take the Jenny Lake boat to the west shore, then hike into a spectacular glacial canyon with cascading waterfalls, moose, and wildflowers. One of the park's finest hikes.

Delta Lake (7.4 miles round trip)

An unofficial trail to a stunning turquoise lake beneath the Grand Teton. The route is steep and requires some route-finding — not for beginners despite its popularity on social media.

Lake Solitude (14.2 miles round trip via boat shuttle)

Continue past Cascade Canyon to an alpine lake at 9,035 feet. Long but manageable for fit hikers. Snow lingers into July.

Strenuous Hikes

Paintbrush Canyon – Cascade Canyon Loop (19.2 miles)

The park's premier day hike or overnight. Cross Paintbrush Divide at 10,720 feet with stunning views. Requires a long day (10–14 hours) or backcountry camping.

Table Mountain (12 miles round trip from Teton Canyon)

Approach from the west side for a face-to-face view of the Grand Teton's west face. The Ansel Adams viewpoint. Strenuous with 4,000+ feet of gain.

Middle Teton (South Ridge, Class 3)

The most accessible Teton summit involving technical scrambling. Not a hike — requires scrambling experience, route-finding, and mountain awareness.

Recommended Gear

Based on the topics covered in this guide, here are some top-rated products to consider:

• Salomon ADV Skin 5L Race Flag Hydration Pack ($145, 0.4 lbs)
• Stoic Camp Chair ($54, 9.1 lbs)
• Helinox Chair Zero Camp Chair ($140, 1.1 lbs)
• BioLite Alpenglow 500 Lantern ($80, 0.8 lbs)
• Grayl GEOPRESS Water Purifier ($100, 1.0 lbs)
• BioLite Alpenglow 250 Lantern ($60, 0.5 lbs)

Practical Tips

• Bears and moose: Both are common. Carry bear spray. Give moose a wide berth — they are more likely to charge than bears.
• Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent June–August. Start early.
• Jenny Lake boat shuttle: $18 round trip, saves 2+ miles. First boat at 7 AM.
• Backcountry permits: Required for overnight. Apply through recreation.gov early January.
• Crowds: Jenny Lake area is extremely busy. Go early or choose Leigh Lake, Taggart Lake, or west-side approaches.