Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton hikes at a glance

These 12 hikes cover the range from short family walks to full-day mountain routes. Distances, elevation gain, difficulty and times come from NPS trail pages unless noted. The Delta Lake figures come from Hiking Project because NPS does not publish numbers for that unofficial route.

Seasons are approximate. NPS says valley trails are generally snow-free by mid-June, while mountain trails and passes may hold snow until late July.

Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and the Jenny Lake Loop

Jenny Lake is the busiest trail area in the park. Park at South Jenny Lake off Teton Park Road. NPS advises arriving before 9 a.m. in summer, and if you park on the shoulder, pull fully off the road.

The boat shuttle crosses the lake to the west shore dock, and from there Hidden Falls is 0.5 mile away. Inspiration Point is another steep half mile up. With the boat, Hidden Falls is a 1-mile round trip with 300 feet of gain, and Inspiration Point is 1.8 miles with 550 feet. Without the boat, you walk the South Jenny Lake trail around the shore, which makes Hidden Falls 4.9 miles round trip and Inspiration Point 5.7 miles.

The shuttle is run by a park concessioner, and tickets are sold only at the east shore dock, with no reservations. NPS lists the 2026 season as May 15 (depending on ice) to September 30, with boats about every 10 to 15 minutes. NPS's dock page lists $20 round trip for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for children 2 to 11. Confirm current prices before you go.

The full Jenny Lake Loop is 7.1 miles with 1,040 feet of gain. It's a good choice in fall after the boats stop, and it has a short spur to an overlook at Moose Ponds, where moose and beaver are often seen.

• Hazard: the last steps up to Inspiration Point have no railing or handholds.
• No pets on any of these trails.
• Jenny Lake Visitor Center is open through October 12, 2026.

Cascade Canyon, Lake Solitude and the Paintbrush loop

Past Inspiration Point, the trail climbs about 500 more feet and then levels out into Cascade Canyon. Moose and bears are common there. With the boat, the Forks of Cascade Canyon is a 9.4-mile round trip with 1,480 feet of gain. Without the boat it is 13.3 miles. You can turn back at any point and still have a good hike.

From the forks, the north branch climbs to Lake Solitude, which sits below the peaks. With the boat that is 14.4 miles round trip and 2,670 feet of gain, and NPS allows 9 to 13 hours. Without the boat it is 18.3 miles.

The Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop starts at String Lake. It goes up Paintbrush Canyon, over Paintbrush Divide at 10,700 feet, past Lake Solitude and down Cascade Canyon. NPS lists 19.9 miles and 4,480 feet of gain and rates it very strenuous. The divide often holds snow until mid-July, and NPS says not to cross it without snow experience and proper gear. Ask at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station about conditions before you start.

Easier lake hikes: String Lake, Taggart Lake, Phelps Lake and Colter Bay

String Lake Loop (3.7 miles, 540 feet) starts at the String and Leigh Lakes Trailhead, reached from the North Jenny Lake junction. The east shore is fairly flat. The west side climbs to a ridge with views of Mount St. John and Rockchuck Peak. From the same trailhead, a 1.8-mile round trip with 110 feet of gain leads to the shore of Leigh Lake.

Taggart Lake is different in 2026. The usual 3-mile route from the north side of the Taggart Lake Trailhead is closed for the whole season while the trailhead is rebuilt. The lake can be reached only from the south via Beaver Creek. The park's construction page gives this as 4.8 miles round trip with 460 feet of gain, though another figure on the same page is longer, so confirm at a visitor center. The trailhead redevelopment runs into 2027.

Phelps Lake Loop (6.4 miles, 1,060 feet) starts at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, where the parking lot holds about 50 cars. In fall 2026, Moose-Wilson Road is closed between the Preserve and Moose through November 15, so drive in from the Teton Village end. Separately, the road's winter closure between Granite Canyon Trailhead and Death Canyon Road begins November 1.

At Colter Bay, the Heron Pond and Swan Lake Loop (3.1 miles, 320 feet) is an easy walk with Teton reflections on calm days.

Surprise, Amphitheater and Delta Lakes

Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes are the classic hard day hike from Lupine Meadows Trailhead, at the end of a dirt road about a mile off Teton Park Road. The trail switchbacks up 3,070 feet in 4.9 miles to two alpine lakes just below Disappointment Peak. The round trip is 9.8 miles. NPS warns that the altitude can affect people who aren't acclimated.

Delta Lake, the turquoise lake below the Grand Teton, is not an official trail. NPS lists it as not maintained. It leaves the Amphitheater Lake trail at an unmarked switchback about 3 miles up, then crosses downed trees and a boulder field that needs scrambling. Hiking Project lists the round trip as 7.5 miles with about 2,300 feet of gain. In summer 2026, Access Fund and park crews worked on the route to improve wayfinding and erosion control, but it is still unofficial. Go only in dry, snow-free conditions, and only if you are comfortable on rough terrain.

2026 closures and fall conditions

As of October 11, 2026, the Jenny Lake boat shuttle has ended for the season, so any hike from the west shore means walking around the lake. Rangers stop updating trail conditions from October to April, and early snow can arrive on high trails at any time.

• Taggart Lake Trailhead: open, but the north trail segment is closed all of 2026 (work continues into 2027).
• Death Canyon Road and Trailhead: closed to all use, including people on foot, from May 2026 to about June 2027. The new trailhead will be about a mile from the old one. NPS suggests Granite Canyon or the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve as other ways in.
• Moose-Wilson Road: closed between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and Moose from September 8 to November 15, 2026.
• Teton Park Road: closed to cars November 1 to April 30, between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge.
• Wildlife closures: Willow Flats is closed May 15 to July 15 each year. Check the park's closures page for others.

Hiking safety: bears, wildlife, altitude and snow

Black bears and grizzly bears live throughout the park, including along busy trails. NPS asks hikers to carry bear spray where they can reach it quickly, hike in groups of three or more, make noise and avoid hiking alone or with headphones. Keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife, including moose, which are common around Jenny Lake and String Lake.

Many trailheads sit high, and the canyon hikes climb much higher. Pace yourself, drink more water than usual, and descend if you feel sick. Weather can change quickly, so carry rain gear and a warm layer even on short hikes.

• Don't cross steep snowfields unless you have snow experience and the right equipment.
• Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
• Stock animals have the right of way on shared trails.
• Pets are not allowed on park trails.

What to bring and permits

Day hikes in Grand Teton do not need a permit or reservation. You only need the park entrance pass: $35 per vehicle for 7 days or the $70 Grand Teton annual pass. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older also pay a $100 fee unless they enter with an annual pass. Any overnight stay in the backcountry needs a backcountry permit.

• Bear spray, in a holster or chest strap and not inside your pack
• Plenty of water, or a filter for the longer canyon hikes
• Rain jacket, warm layer and hat, even in July
• Sun protection and a paper map; cell service is unreliable in the canyons
• Cash or card for the boat shuttle if you plan to ride it

Accessible trails

The Jenny Lake Discovery Trail is a paved, wheelchair-accessible path about 0.35 mile long that leads from the visitor center area to the lake shore. It's the best option for wheelchair users and strollers in the Jenny Lake area.

The east shore of String Lake and the Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail (2.2-mile loop, 100 feet of gain) are fairly level, but both have roots and rocks, so they are not fully accessible. For current details, ask at a visitor center or call the park at 307-739-3399.

More Grand Teton guides

• Camping in Grand Teton National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations and TipsEvery Grand Teton campground with 2026 seasons, fees, RV limits and hookups, plus Recreation.gov booking, backcountry permits and camping outside the park.