Hiking in Grand Teton

A flat, largely paved trail along Jackson Lake with unobstructed Teton views. One of the most accessible trails in the park — ideal for anyone who wants to be in the park without a demanding hike.

A mostly flat, kid-friendly loop from the String Lake Trailhead off the Jenny Lake Scenic Loop. It follows the shoreline with towering mountain reflections right on the water, and is a very popular spot for paddleboarding and wading.

A flat, easy shoreline walk from the String Lake area with big Mount Moran views the whole way — turn around whenever you like, so the distance is up to you (the short version to Leigh Lake's sandy shore is just ~1.8 mi). Quieter than String Lake and a lovely spot to picnic or wade.

This loop begins at the Taggart Lake Trailhead, 3 miles north of Moose, Wyoming. It provides stunning, unobstructed views of the Teton range across an alpine lake and is renowned as one of the best half-day hikes in the park. You can extend it into a longer loop that also takes in neighboring Bradley Lake.

Take the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake (no reservation needed, runs every 10–15 minutes) and hike about half a mile to Hidden Falls, then another mile up to Inspiration Point for sweeping views over the lake and valley. Prefer to earn it? Skip the boat and hike the full ~5-mile lakeshore loop. Park at the large paved South Jenny Lake lot — it's highly competitive, so arrive before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to secure a spot. The short, boat-assisted version is the family-friendly one; the last stretch to Inspiration Point is a steeper, rockier climb.

Boat shuttle: $20 adults round-trip · $17 seniors · $12 children (2–11)

A quieter loop on the park's south end, starting from the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve off Moose-Wilson Road. It circles a beautiful lake with views into Death Canyon and is home to a locally famous 30-foot jumping rock. A shorter out-and-back to the Phelps Lake Overlook is possible if you want less distance. Note: the preserve's small lot fills early and caps the number of cars.

A quieter alternative to the busy main Jenny Lake area, with close-up views of the Grand Teton, Mt. Owen, and Teewinot. The trail continues past Inspiration Point deep into the canyon along Cascade Creek — turn around whenever you like, which makes the distance flexible.

This is one of our favorite hikes — a vivid turquoise glacial lake sitting right beneath the Grand Teton. It branches off the Amphitheater Lake trail at Lupine Meadows, but the final stretch is an unofficial, unmaintained route: a steep boulder field with no signage, so it's easy to miss the turnoff (download the AllTrails map). Strenuous and a bit of a scramble, but the payoff is arguably the best view in the park. Start early and bring bear spray.

Note: not an official NPS-signed trail — the link is the park's general hiking page.

A relentless climb from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead — 3,050 ft over about 5 miles, most of it sustained switchbacks — to Amphitheater Lake at 9,698 ft, set in a granite cirque below Disappointment Peak with views of Grand Teton, Mt. Owen, Teewinot, and Middle Teton on all sides. Start early: Lupine Meadows parking fills fast and the switchbacks are brutal in midday heat. Bring bear spray.

A long, serious day through Cascade Canyon to an alpine lake surrounded by Teton peaks (14 miles with the boat shuttle, ~16 without). Well-marked, but a full commitment — best for experienced hikers in good shape. Boat shuttle: $20 adults round-trip.

One of the most demanding and rewarding routes in Grand Teton — a ~20-mile loop over Paintbrush Divide (10,700 ft). We recommend going in reverse (up Paintbrush, down Cascade). It hits Jenny Lake, Holly Lake, Paintbrush Divide, Lake Solitude, Cascade Canyon, Inspiration Point, and Hidden Falls. As a day hike it's a very strenuous 8–12 hours — for fit, experienced hikers only. Can also be done as a backpacking trip.

This is the longest hike Derek & Grace have done together — it took us about 10 hours!