I’ve visited Grand Teton National Park four times and, after exploring a TON of the hikes in the park, the Cascade Canyon Trail is my go-to recommendation. The trail offers absolutely spectacular scenery, but my favorite aspect of the trail is that it offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the entire national park (which is saying a lot!).
However, hiking this trail can be a tad confusing, given there are tons of different routes for you to choose from. Here’s everything you need to know about the Cascade Canyon Trail, the best hike in Grand Teton National Park.
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About the Cascade Canyon Trail
As mentioned above, the Cascade Canyon Trail has several different route options.
However, here’s what you can expect if you start directly from the Cascade Canyon trailhead on the west side of Jenny Lake.
- Length: 9.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,122 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trail map
It’s important to note that, in order to reach the trailhead on the west side of Jenny Lake, most visitors choose to take a paid 15 minute boat ride (one-way) from its eastern shore.
If you don’t want to pay for a boat ride, you can alternatively hike part of the Jenny Lake Trail from the east side of the lake to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead.
The Jenny Lake Trail makes a full loop around the lake’s shores, so there are a couple of different options that you can take to the Cascade Canyon Trail. Here’s how much it will add to your hike, depending on which route you choose:
- Clockwise from the Jenny Lake Trailhead to Cascade Canyon trailhead: 2.4 miles, one-way (i.e., if you hiked this route both to and from the Cascade Canyon trailhead, your total mileage would 14.2 miles)
- Counter-clockwise from the Jenny Lake Trailhead to Cascade Canyon trailhead: 4.9 miles, one-way (i.e., if you hiked this route both to and from the Cascade Canyon trailhead, your total route would be 19.2 miles)
My husband, Justin, and I hiked to the Cascade Canyon trailhead clockwise from the Jenny Lake Trailhead and, once we were done with the Cascade Canyon trail, continued to hike clockwise along the north side of Jenny Lake to complete a full loop around it. It was a loooong day (with 16.7 miles total!), but we saw so much wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery along the way! Totally worth it.
How to get to the Cascade Canyon Trail
The Cascade Canyon Trail is located in the popular Jenny Lake area of Grand Teton National Park, outside of Jackson, Wyoming. So, first things first, you’ll need to get to Grand Teton!
Getting to Grand Teton National Park
Plane
Fun fact—Jackson Hole Airport is the ONLY commercial airport in the United States that’s entirely located in a national park (actually, not that far from Jenny Lake!).
Even though Jackson is a pretty teeny town, the airport is regularly serviced by several major carriers, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, with non-stop service from more than a dozen U.S. cities.
If flights to Jackson Hole are too expensive from your home airport, here’s a few other options to consider:
- Cody Airport (Cody, Wyoming): 3 hours and 30 minutes away
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (Bozeman, Montana): four hours and 15 minutes away
- Salt Lake City International Airport (Salt Lake City, Utah): five hours away
Public transportation around Jackson Hole is pretty limited, so I’d definitely suggest renting a car, especially if you’re planning on exploring the national park.
Car
Three out of the four times that I’ve visited Grand Teton, it’s been part of a larger road trip around the surrounding national parks, like Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.
Jackson is pretty driveable from a variety of cities in the western U.S., including Salt Lake City, Utah; Bozeman, Montana; and Idaho Falls, Idaho. We’ve driven to Jackson from as far away as Seattle and had an absolute blast!
Public transit
Unfortunately, there aren’t really any public transportation options that will get you to Grand Teton from surrounding cities.
Getting to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead
Getting to Jenny Lake
Once you’re in the Jackson area, you’ll generally need to drive to Jenny Lake, located inside of the Moose entrance of Grand Teton National Park.
To enter Grand Teton, you’ll need to pay a $35 entrance fee per private vehicle, which is good for up to a week. Alternatively, if you plan on visiting a few national parks within a year, I’d highly recommend picking up an annual America the Beautiful pass, which costs just $80 for US residents and gets you into all of the US National Parks and over 2,000 federally managed sites for free!
Some of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park start at Jenny Lake, so its parking lot fills up early, especially in the spring and the fall. We arrived around 7:30 AM on the day that we hiked around Cascade Canyon and had to park alongside Teton Park Road, which added an extra half mile to our hike.
So, if you want to snag a parking spot in the parking lot itself, I’d aim to arrive at 6:30 AM or earlier (really!).
If you don’t want to fart around with a rental car or a chaotic parking lot, it’s worth mentioning that there are a handful of hotels in the national park, like Jackson Lake Lodge or Colter Bay Village, that offer a complimentary shuttle service that stops at Jenny Lake.
From Jenny Lake to the Cascade Canyon trailhead
As mentioned above, from the parking lot, you have two options to reach the Cascade Canyon trailhead, which is located on the opposite side of Jenny Lake:
- Taking the Jenny Lake shuttle
- Hiking along the Jenny Lake trail
Taking the Jenny Lake shuttle
Jenny Lake Boating operates shuttles across Jenny Lake, which departs about every 15 minutes from May 15 through September 30.
Tickets are $20 roundtrip and $15 one-way for adults and $15 roundtrip and $12 one-way for children.
They’re purchased at the east boat dock (there are TONS of signs pointing you in the right direction!) and cannot be reserved in advance. The line for the boat rides can get crazy long—when we visited, you had to wait for about an hour and a half for one of the shuttle boats. So, again, getting here bright and early is definitely recommended!
The ferry will drop you off on the western side of the lake, right at the Cascade Canyon trailhead.
When you’re done hiking Cascade Canyon, you’ll head back to the dock on the western side of the lake and wait in line to catch a shuttle boat back to the east side across the lake.
Hiking along the Jenny Lake trail
If you want more of a challenge or don’t want to pay for a shuttle boat, you can alternatively hike a part of the Jenny Lake trail one or both ways to the trailhead.
Hiking clockwise along the Jenny Lake Trail (and doubling back the same way, once you’re done with Cascade Canyon) is the shortest route, adding an additional 4.8 miles total to your trail.
Even though it made for a long day hike, Justin and I REALLY enjoyed walking along the Jenny Lake Trail to Cascade Canyon. We didn’t have to wait in a long line for a boat shuttle, we barely passed anyone as we were hiking on it, and we enjoyed all of the unique perspectives of Jenny Lake and the lush forest that surrounds it along the way.
I’d suggest hiking from the parking lot clockwise along the Jenny Lake trail to Cascade Canyon trailhead, completing the hike, and then taking a boat shuttle back to the parking lot, so you can get to try a little bit of everything!
Pssst… if you’re really set on seeing wildlife, I’d suggest adding on the Moose Pond Trail onto the Jenny Lake Trail, which, as you might guess, is a great place to spot moose!
You’ll see signs where to turn off the Jenny Lake Trail about 0.8 miles into the hike (if you’re doing it clockwise), as well as 0.9 miles in, where it rejoins the trail . Doing the full Moose Pond loop adds an extra two miles onto your total distance, but if you just want to hike past the ponds, which is the best place to spot moose, you can just take the offshoot at 0.9 miles in and hike a little under a mile to the ponds and back.
What to expect along the Cascade Canyon Trail
One of my favorite things about the Cascade Canyon Trail is that it’s a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure.
There are several points of interest along the trail, so if you only have one or two days in Grand Teton National Park and feel short on time, you have plenty of options of stopping and turning back, if you don’t want to do the full thing.
Trailhead to Hidden Falls
Once you get to the Cascade Canyon trailhead, be prepared for absolute chaos. There are SO many people getting off the Jenny Lake shuttle, milling about, or starting their hike. It thins out a LOT once you pass Inspiration Point, about a mile into the trail. So don’t be scared off yet!
To start your hike, follow signs for Hidden Falls, which is a stunning 100 foot waterfall that’s located just off the Cascade Canyon Trail.
The trail climbs steeply through a dense forest, crossing Cascade Creek on a wooden bridge and then following along its southern bank.
After about 0.4 miles, you’ll make a 0.1 mile detour off trail to stop at the base of Hidden Falls, the most popular waterfall in Grand Teton.
It tends to get SUPER crowded here, but there’s lots of different viewpoints and benches to rest on, both in the shade and out in the sun. As a bonus, if you happen to be visiting on a particularly hot day, you’ll usually get a nice cool mist from the falls!
Hidden Falls to Inspiration Point
From Hidden Falls, return to the main trail and continue uphill, following signs to Inspiration Point.
You’ll cross back over Cascade Creek and, after a short climb through the forest, reach a section of stairs that are carved into the side of a rugged cliffside.
The stairs are quite steep and slick after decades and decades of use, plus there are super steep drop-offs as you climb higher and higher. So, be super careful on this section, especially if you’re hiking with any little kids or in inclement weather.
Once you find a safe area, be sure to turn around and take in the views of the Cathedral group of the Tetons. In my opinion, it’s one of the best views in the park!
As you climb higher and higher, the views of Jenny Lake, off to your right-hand side, keep getting better and better.
About 0.9 miles into your hike, you’ll reach Inspiration Point, a viewpoint that offers panaromic vistas over the lake and, beyond, the Jackson Hole Valley. This is a popular stopping point for many day hikers, but, even if you plan on continuing on to Cascade Canyon, there’s tons of good places here to sit down, catch your breath, and take in the spectacular views of Jenny Lake below.
Inspiration Point to Cascade Canyon
From Inspiration Point, the trail peels away from Jenny Lake and into a glacier-carved valley, surrounded on both sides by the rugged peaks of the Tetons.
As you hike further away from Inspiration Point, the incline will mellow and the crowds will thin out considerably. After about 1.7 miles into the trail (there’s a viewpoint marked here on AllTrails, but I honestly didn’t notice anything particularly notable about this spot), it seemed like the vast majority of day hikers turned around, so it largely felt like we had the trail to ourselves!
From Inspiration Point, the trail follows along Cascade Creek through the valley for another 3.7 miles.
Towards the beginning of the valley, the forest is rather dense, with limited views of the surrounding landscape.
But, as you hike further back, the trees open up more and more, providing stunning views of the clear turquoise waters flowing through Cascade Creek and, above, the peaks of Grand Teton, Mount Owen, and some of the tallest mountains in the Teton range. For example, my favorite viewpoint along the trail is at 2.3 miles in, where there’s a clearing in the forest that offers sweeping views of the beautiful rushing waters of the creek, framed by the Tetons in the background.
However, I’d DEFINITELY recommend hiking past this point, as the farther you go into the valley, the better chance you have of seeing wildlife. We spotted a mama moose and her calf about 3.4 miles into the trail, plus another mama and baby duo AND a juvenile black bear about 4.9 miles in.
It was so special to be able to sit back and watch these majestic creatures in their own environment, with the bear scratching his claws against tree bark and the moose happily munching on shrubs. We even got to watch one of the calves drink milk from his mama!
Of course, wildlife is wild, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll see any animals along the trail. But, from our experience and from chatting with rangers, the back portion of Cascade Canyon is absolutely one of the best places in the park to spot animals!
To be honest, the trail ends rather unceremoniously. There’s no viewpoint here and, instead, the trail forks into the North Cascade Canyon and South Cascade Canyon Trails. Still, as mentioned above, it’s totally worth hiking the full trail, in my opinion!
If you’re up for more of a challenge, you can consider continuing on the North Cascade Canyon Trail to Lake Solitude, which would add an additional five miles and 1,100 feet of elevation gain to your hike. It definitely would be a LONG day hike, but Lake Solitude offers some of the most stunning views in the park and, again, this area is an incredible place to spot wildlife!
Be sure to bring a swimsuit and a towel so that you can take a very chilly dip at the top!
Regardless of where you decide to end your Cascade Canyon Trail, you’ll retrace your steps back to either the Jenny Lake trailhead or the west dock for the boat shuttles.
If you’re taking the boat shuttle back, be sure to watch for signage as you can take a different trail down to the dock (the North Cascade Creek Trail) than the trail you took up to Hidden Falls (Boat Dock Trail). Either one will get you back to the right spot!
What to pack for the Cascade Canyon Trail
One of my favorite things about hiking is that you don’t have to bring a ton of stuff with you, but I do suggest taking a few things with you on the Cascade Canyon Trail to have a better and, more importantly, safer time.
Hiking boots
We saw LOTS of people on the trail with all kinds of crazy shoe choices, like flip flops and Chuck Taylores. Due to some of the slippery stairs and the sheer drop-offs along parts of this trail, I really wouldn’t recommend hiking it without proper hiking footwear.
We both have had Danner boots for years (here’s the kind that Justin has and here’s the pair that I have) and absolutely LOVE them. They’re waterproof, super comfortable, durable, and cute!
Water filter and refillable water bottle
The trail is mostly exposed to the sun and can be really steep in some sections, so staying hydrated is important.
There’s endless water sources along the trail, though, so, instead of packing a ton of heavy water with you at the beginning of your hike, I’d recommend just bringing along a water filter and a refillable water bottle and filter as you need it.
Sun protection
As mentioned above, a significant portion of the trail is exposed to the sun, which can be surprisingly intense at higher elevations, like the Tetons. Be sure to pack along sun protection, including sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
Bear spray
Grand Teton is home to both black and grizzly bears. Most of the time, these creatures want nothing to do with humans, but may act aggressively if they’re surprised or feel that their young is threatened.
Accordingly, it’s always a good idea to pack along bear spray, which acts as a deterrent in the event a bear acts aggressively towards you.
Pssst… you’re not allowed to fly with bear spray, even in your checked luggage. However, there’s a really neat bear spray vending machine, located right outside one of the bathrooms at the Jenny Lake trailhead, where you can rent a canister for a day. It’s pretty expensive ($10/day), so if you’re driving to the park, I’d just recommend buying your own, but if you happen to be flying in, I think this is a super cool solution!
Camera with telephoto lens
This one is totally optional, but, if you’re a photography enthusiast like us, I’d definitely recommend bringing along a nicer camera and long lens.
We have this camera and this telephoto lens and were SUPER happy that we brought them along for this hike to capture all the wildlife we saw!
Offline maps
If you can’t tell from above, there are seemingly endless intersecting trails around Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon, so, even though there’s decent signage, I still found it pretty confusing to navigate
There’s limited (i.e., no) cell service once you’re on the west side of Jenny Lake, so it’s a good idea to download a trail map on AllTrails before you head into the park.
You need to have AllTrails+, a premium membership of AllTrails, to download offline maps, but luckily, we got the hookup for our readers, with 30% off your annual subscription. All you need to do is use this link and use the promo code “UPROOTED30” at check out!
When to hike the Cascade Canyon Trail
The best time to hike the Cascade Canyon Trail is from late June through late September. This is when the trail is mostly ice- and snow-free, and you have a good chance of seeing wildflowers and wildlife along the trail.
We went in early July and it was almost perfect—beautiful sunny skies; blooming wildflowers; and SO much wildlife along the trail. However, summer is also the most crowded time in Grand Teton, so be prepared to share the trail with others during this timeframe.
I’d love to come back in late September, when the golden aspens and other fall foliage is popping. This is also supposed to be one of the best times to see wildlife in the park (plus, there’s way less crowds!).
Towards the beginning and end of the June to September window, you may encounter ice and snow along the trail, so it’s not a terrible idea to throw a pair of microspikes in your backpack to provide extra traction in slippery spots.
From November to May, the trail is generally inaccessible, due to heavy snowfall and road closures. You could theoretically cross country ski or snowmobile to the trailhead, but I really wouldn’t recommend it—you’d have to climb through incredibly deep snow and traverse a ton of incredibly dangerous avalanche chutes.
I hope you enjoy hiking the Cascade Canyon Trail—it’s, BY FAR, my favorite hike in Grand Teton National Park! Do you have any questions about this trail? Let me know in the comments below!
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