Grand Teton National Park is an alpine wonderland, with seemingly endless glacial lakes, abundant wildlife, and its infamous jagged mountain range that towers above the Jackson Hole valley. The best way to explore the park is undoubtedly on foot—and luckily, it boasts a whopping 240 miles of trails that meander through its stunning scenery. Here are the 9 best hikes in Grand Teton National Park, so you can experience this spectacular landscape for yourself.
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How to get to Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is located outside of the small town of Jackson in Western Wyoming.
Although the town is fairly remote, it’s surprisingly easy to get here—in fact, it’s the only national park that has a major commercial airport inside of it, with flights operated by American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United flying into and out of the Jackson Hole Airport. Alternatively, for the best chance of scoring cheaper airfare, you can fly into the Salt Lake City International Airport, rent a car, and drive four and a half hours north to Jackson.
To get into Grand Teton National Park, there’s an entrance fee of $35 per vehicle or $20 per person per week—or, alternatively, you can get in for FREE, with your America the Beautiful card, an annual pass you can purchase for $80 that gets you unlimited access to all of the U.S. National Parks and over 2,000 federally managed lands.
This park is POPULAR—in fact, it’s the eighth most visited in the U.S. National Park system. Accordingly, to have the best time in the park—and the best chance of getting a parking spot, be sure to show up to trailheads as early as possible, especially during busier times, like the weekends during the summer.
Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park
With that, let’s talk trails!
1. Moose Ponds Hike
Distance
3.2 miles
Elevation gain
150 feet
Difficulty
Easy
Best months to hike Moose Pond Trail
The trail is usually snow-free from June through October. However, if you’re hoping to spot some moose, your best bet is to come in August and September. Alternatively, hit the trail in the last few weeks of September through the beginning of October to catch the aspen groves surrounding the trail turn a spectacular shade of gold.
Trail map
The Moose Ponds hike is one of the most family-friendly Grand Teton National Park trails and offers incredible wildlife-spotting opportunities.
This three mile loop skirts around the southern shores of the second largest—and most famous—lake, Jenny Lake. This area is an excellent spot to see one of the park’s most famed residents, the moose. Even if you’re not lucky enough to spot an antlered friend, you’ll still be treated to views of the Teton Mountain Range and the glimmering waters of Jenny Lake.
The trail starts just beyond the Jenny Lake shuttle boat dock. Right away, hikers are greeted with views of the lake’s calm turquoise waters backed by jagged glacier-filled mountain peaks. As you climb up a gentle incline, you’ll eventually reach a clearing where you can first spot Moose Ponds, a trio of ponds to the south that are rich in the foods and nutrients that moose seem to LOVE. If you really want to spot one of these majestic creatures, be sure to start early in the morning, when wildlife tends to be the most active.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of drinking in the views, continue on to Lupine Meadows. This expansive sagebrush habitat is perfect for catching a glimpse of even more wildlife. Just remember to stay aware of your surroundings and keep a safe distance from large animals, like bears and moose.
Throughout the spring and early summer, the trail bursts with colorful wildflowers. Alternatively, Grand Teton is one of the best national parks to visit in October, thanks to the plentiful aspen groves that turn gold—and the Moose Ponds Trail is an excellent spot to enjoy this fall spectacle.
Recommended by Erin from The Simple Salty Life
2. String Lake Trail
Distance
3.7 miles
Elevation gain
252 feet
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months to hike the String Lake Trail
The best months to hike the String Lake Trail are June through early October. My husband, Justin and I hiked this trail in July and it was so nice to jump into the refreshingly chilly water on a hot summer day. This is also one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park to enjoy the changing aspens in autumn.
Trail map
This trail follows along the shoreline of the beautiful String Lake, which has crystal clear, emerald-colored water and stunning views of the surrounding jagged mountain peaks.
The hike starts at the String Lake Trailhead, just north of Jenny Lake. String Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the park for stand-up paddle boarders and kayakers, so if you want to grab a parking spot, be sure to get here early.
Given this is a loop trail, you can hike it in either direction, but we’d suggest counter-clockwise, as it provides the best views of the Cathedral Group, a cluster of mountains with shockingly jagged peaks.
Hiking in this direction, the trail starts off fairly flat and weaves through a pine and aspen forest, with plenty of clearings to enjoy the views of the lake. Be sure to keep an eye out for ripe berries on the surrounding huckleberry bushes and for wildlife along the shoreline—it’s not uncommon to see moose or mule deer here.
Pssst… if you're familiar with the Leave No Trace principles (which you should!), you know that you should not remove any kind of plant, wildlife, or basically anything else from the great outdoors to avoid causing any kind of negative impacts to the environment. However, each national park takes a different approach whether you can harvest its berries for personal consumption and Grand Teton has publicly stated that visitors are allowed to forage berries for personal consumption—just don’t overdo it!
Most of the trail’s elevation gain is concentrated right after you pass a wooden bridge over the Leigh Lake Outlet, about 1.7 miles into the park, and you’ll spend the rest of the trail gently descending back down again.
If you’re visiting during the summertime, remember to bring along a swimsuit and towel—this was definitely our favorite swimming hole in Grand Teton!
3. Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Loop
Distance
6.0 miles
Elevation gain
761 feet
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months to hike the Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Loop
The best months to hike this trail is from June through September, when it will be mostly free of snow, ice, and mud.
Trail map
This family-friendly loop trail takes you along the shores of not one, but TWO beautiful alpine lakes.
It departs from the Taggart Lake trailhead, located about two miles north of the Moose entrance of the park. You can hike the loop either clockwise or counter-clockwise, but we’d recommend going counter-clockwise for the best views of the lakes and the surrounding mountains.
Assuming you hike in this direction, you’ll hike up a gradual incline until you get to the eastern shores of Bradley Lake. While this is actually the smallest of the six glacially-fed lakes that sit in the shadows of the Teton Range, it definitely shouldn’t be overlooked, with stunning vistas of the Teton Mountains, stretching up to almost 13,000 feet high.
From here, the trail slopes gently downwards as you descend towards Taggart Lake, passing a long stretch of huckleberry bushes. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled here for some mid-hike snacks—and for huckleberry-loving bears that might be hanging out nearby.
You’ll eventually reach Taggart Lake and follow along its eastern shore for almost half a mile. There’s actually a nice little beach area towards the end of this portion of the trail that has plenty of large rocks and boulders to sit on and drink in the views of the lake and the surrounding Tetons. We had a nice picnic lunch here and would totally recommend you do the same!
From here, the trail loops back through a pine tree forest, gently descending back to the trailhead.
This trail is approachable for most hikers (we definitely saw hikers of all ages on it!). However, if you’re looking for something shorter or a more gentle trail, consider trying the easy Taggart Lake Loop instead, which shaves off the portion of the trail that goes to Taggart Lake, and with it, about one and a half miles of hiking and a hundred feet in elevation gain.
4. Hidden Falls Trail
Distance
4.9 miles
Elevation gain
590 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months to hike the Hidden Falls Trail
The best months to hike this trail are May through October—just keep in mind that the summer months are BUSY!
Trail map
Hidden Falls is a family-friendly trail that’s doable for hikers of all skill levels.
To reach the trailhead, you can either park in the lot for Jenny Lake and take the boat shuttle across its waters (see ticket information here), which cuts the trail down to less than one mile round-trip. This is an excellent option for hikers with mobility issues or those hiking with small children. Alternatively, you can follow the Jenny Lake Trail around its southwestern shores to the Cascade Canyon trail, which would add about four miles round trip to the hike.
Whether you take the shuttle or decide to hike, you’ll park in the Jenny Lake Visitor Center lot. This tends to fill up early, especially during the busy summers, so get here early if you want to snag a spot!
The first mile of the trail is fairly flat, with it becoming steeper during the latter half. However, you’ll have stunning peekaboo views of Jenny Lake through the dense tree coverage and, at the end, you’ll reach Hidden Falls, which cascades 230 feet to a rocky plunge pool below.
One of the best things about this waterfall is that it flows throughout the hiking season—while it’s at its strongest during the peak runoff season, snowmelt keeps the waterfall forceful through late summer.
This is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton National Park, so be prepared to share the trail with others! You should also come prepared with sun protection, like sunscreen and a hat, given that a decent amount of the trail is exposed to the sun.
Recommended by Meggie of Parks Family Travel
5. Inspiration Point Trail
Distance
1.8 Miles
Elevation gain
419 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Best Months to Hike the Inspiration Point Trail
The best months to hike the Inspiration Point Trail is from Mid-May through September, when the Jenny Lake shuttle boat is running.
Trail map
The Inspiration Point hike is an approachable trail for all skill levels and is a must-do on any Grand Teton itinerary.
The Inspiration Point Trail is actually an extension of the Hidden Falls Trail discussed above. Accordingly, you can reach the trailhead the same way as Hidden Falls—either via the boat shuttle or by taking a longer route along the Jenny Lake Trail.
Given the hike’s popularity, we’d suggest getting here bright and early. In fact, if you choose to take the shuttle, you might want to try to get on the first boat, which leaves at 7 AM, so you’ll have a decent shot of being able to enjoy some solitude on the trail. Alternatively, late afternoon is usually fairly quiet here and actually provides better photo opportunities at Inspiration Point, as you won’t be shooting into the sun. Just be sure to check when the last shuttle leaves at the dock so you don’t miss the boat!
Whichever way you get to the trailhead, you’ll get to enjoy several spectacular features as you hike to Inspiration Point, including the massive Hidden Falls, tumbling down a rocky cliffside, and, of course, the jaw-dropping views from eponymous viewpoint overlooking Jenny Lake’s waters and the surrounding mountains.
Make sure to bring along plenty of warm layers. At 7,000 feet in elevation, it can be cold in the mornings and evenings; even in the middle of summer.
Recommended by Diane with Travels with Eli
6. Cascade Canyon Trail
Distance
9.1 miles out and back
Elevation gain
1,102 feet
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months to hike the Cascade Canyon Trail
June – October
Trail map
Want even more adventure? The Cascade Canyon Trail is yet another extension of Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, offering a bit more of a challenge and even more stunning views (including a waterfall that’s over 1,000 feet tall!).
Similar to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point Trails, you can either reach the trailhead by taking the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake or by hiking along the Jenny Lake Trail. For an alternative route, you can start the hike at String Lake, which will add a total of 3.4 miles roundtrip.
From the trailhead, the path steeply climbs up to Inspiration Point, which provides stunning views over Jenny Lake, and on to Hidden Falls, a beautiful 200-foot waterfall. From there, you’ll continue on for 1.5 miles until you enter Cascade Canyon, which follows along the rushing Cascade Creek. The trail flattens out here and you can enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the surrounding craggy cliffs.
One of the best things about this trail is that you have a decent chance of seeing wildlife here, including bear, moose, and even river otters playing in the shallows of the creek. Just remember to observe wildlife at a distance and bring along bear spray, especially if you’re visiting in the early spring or fall.
After the canyon, you’ll hike through a wooded forest and eventually spot a waterfall, falling dramatically down the canyon wall, through a break in the trees. This waterfall is a thin ribbon that drops thousands of feet from a tiny glacier at the mountaintop all the way down to Cascade Creek.
After another half a mile, you’ll come to a fork in the trail. You can either turn around and retrace your steps back to the trailhead here or, if you’re up for more of a challenge, continue on to Lake Solitude or Paintbrush Canyon.
Recommended by James from Parks Collecting
7. Phelps Lake Loop
Distance
7.0 miles
Elevation gain
725 feet
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months to hike the Phelps Lake Loop
May through September are the best months to hike the Phelps Lake Loop. The trail can get REALLY muddy, so avoid hiking it during or after rainfall.
Trail map
Begin your hike at the Woodland trailhead, located in the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve parking lot. This lot only holds about 50 or so cars, so be sure to get here early to snag a spot!
True to its name, the trail makes a loop around the entire shoreline of Phelps Lake along a mostly flat gravel path, with occasional inclines and wooden bridges over the water crossings.
While the entire trail is beautiful, its most stunning spot is when you first reach the southern shores of Phelps Lake, about 1.4 miles in if you hike the trail counter-clockwise or 5.6 miles in if you do it clockwise. There are some nice larger rocks and benches here for you to relax on, which are perfect for taking in the reflection of the surrounding mountains on the water.
Besides the lake’s famed reflections, you might also spot wildlife on the trail, including bears and moose—so stay on the lookout!
Even though Phelps Lakes is undoubtedly one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park, it’s still fairly under-the-radar and therefore, less crowded than some of the more popular hikes.
If you’re looking for a shorter hike, you can alternatively hike the Lake Creek-Woodland Trail Loop, which heads back to the trailhead once you reach the southern shores of Phelps Lake. This will shave about four miles off the trail, while still letting you catch a glimpse of the lake’s beautiful waters.
Recommended by Allison of Easy to Breezy
8. Delta Lake Trail
Distance
7.4 miles
Elevation gain
2,296 feet
Difficulty
Challenging
Best months to hike the Delta Lake Trail
The best months to hike Delta Lake are from June through October, when the trail is ice- and snow-free. Head here in June and July to enjoy the colorful wildflowers that carpet the surrounding mountain slopes.
Trail map
The Delta Lake Trail is one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park, offering stunning views over Bradley Lake, the surrounding mountains, and, of course, the eponymous lake itself, a stunning glacial pool of robin’s egg blue waters, sitting at the foot of a craggy mountain.
The hike starts at the trailhead for the Valley Trail in the Lupine Meadows parking lot. A portion of the road leading to this lot is gravel, but it’s well-maintained and passable with any passenger vehicle.
As you leave the trailhead, the first mile is fairly flat, meandering through a beautiful pine tree forest. Continuing straight on the pathway, it will eventually turn into the Garnet Canyon Trail, with a series of steep switchbacks cut into the side of a mountain slope. While your thighs might be burning, you’ll at least have spectacular views of Bradley Lake below.
After you climb up six switchbacks, keep an eye out for a boot trail that leads off to the right hand-side. This is the pathway that will take you to Delta Lake.
This trail is unmaintained—meaning you won’t find any official signs for it, it won’t be marked on any National Park Service map. and it’s not cleaned up or maintained by the Park Service. Accordingly, it’s important to download the map ahead of time on AllTrails, so you can follow along and not get lost, and you should be prepared for some scrambling or route finding, in the event there’s any fallen trees or rocks along the trail.
Pssst... cell service is spotty in a lot of areas of Grand Teton National Park so I'd strongly recommend downloading offline maps on both Google and AllTrails before you head to the park. You'll need the AllTrails+ version of the app to download offline maps. Luckily, you can get a 7-day free trial, PLUS our awesome readers get a sweet 30% off discount for their first year—just use the code “Uprooted30” at check out!
From here, you’ll need to climb over some boulder fields and up Glacier Gulch, an extremely steep hill made of dirt and gravel that’s definitely challenging. I’d strongly suggest bringing hiking poles, which will offer additional stability and support on this section of the hike—when my husband, Justin, and I did this hike, we didn’t have them and I was seriously kicking myself for leaving them at home. You’ll also want a hiking pack to store/stow your poles while scrambling.
Finally, you’ll reach the shores of Delta Lake, arguably one of the most stunning lakes in Grand Teton. While this is definitely a popular destination, there’s plenty of rocks to spread out and enjoy the spectacular views of the brightly colored water and the surrounding mountains.
Given the steepness of Glacier Gulch, this trail is definitely challenging and might not be for you if you’re scared of heights. When we hiked the trail, we saw a woman that was absolutely terrified of hiking down this hill and was clinging on to her husband to help her make it down. She actually wound up falling and cutting her leg—definitely not an ideal place to get injured!
9. Teton Crest Trail
Distance
39.5 miles
Elevation gain
9,045 feet
Difficulty
Hard
Best months to hike Teton Crest Trail
The best time to hike the Teton Crest Trail is from July to early September, given the trail will be free of snow and ice and you’ll have the opportunity to see wildflowers.
Trail map
The Teton Crest Trail is one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park and arguably, one of the most scenic hikes in all of North America. Along the forty mile route, typically hiked as a four to six day backpacking trip, you’ll get to see jagged granite peaks, glittering alpine lakes, verdant canyons, abundant wildlife and remote, panoramic views.
Psssst… new to backpacking? Check out our backpacking gear list for beginners.
In order to hike the trail, you need to grab an extremely competitive permit via recreation.gov, which typically go on sale at the beginning of each year. If you aren’t lucky enough to snag one of those, the park reserves about two-thirds of its permits for walk-in hikers, which will be issued no more than one day in advance of starting your trip. Be sure to show up EARLY at a backcountry desk, like the one at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose—these walk-up permits tend to go pretty fast!
The official trail begins at the Philips Pass Trailhead, but you can cut down on mileage—and LOTS of elevation gain—by taking the aerial tram from Teton Village up to Rendezvous Peak.
As you start the trail, there’s a gentle incline as you hike through wildflower meadows, but it becomes much steeper and more challenging once you cross into the park’s boundary with exposed passes and some seriously intense climbs. This grueling trail is only suitable for more experienced hikers in good shape—and who have a good dose of grit.
While you’ll definitely work for the views, arriving at the top of Hurricane Pass, passing through Alaska Basin, and hiking down through Cascade Canyon make it all worthwhile. In addition to enjoying the spectacular vistas, you’ll also have endless opportunities to see moose, bear, pika, porcupine, and deer along the way.
There’s many backpacking itineraries that you can choose from for this trail, but just remember that you can only camp in designated sites. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from along the trail!
If you’re hiking early in the season, certain areas of the trail, like Paintbrush Divide, may still be covered in ice or snow. If you’re hiking during this timeframe, you should come prepared with microspikes and an ice axe, and know how to use them to cross safely. Bear spray, quality rain gear (like this rain jacket for men and this rain jacket for women), and sturdy hiking shoes are other essentials you’ll need to hike the Teton Crest comfortably.
Recommended by Aaren of What Do You Sea
I hope you have an amazing time checking out some of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park—I know we did! Do you have any questions about any of these trails? Let us know in the comments below!
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