Teton crest trial

Hardly a bug the entire hike. Most days in the upper 70s and lows in the 40s. We got lucky the smoke haze wasn't too bad. Got first pick of permits by being at the ranger station at 5am on a Saturday morning.

I was second in line. Left one car at Jenny Lake and started at Death Canyon. Camped at last site in Death Canyon on right which had a river view and partial view of The Grand. Best views of the trip were at Hurricane pass. Camped at South Fork. Stayed at campsite on right before descending to the end of the zone. Had amazing views of mountains all around, though less trees to break wind. Went out Cascade Canyon which is pretty crowded.

Would recommend going over Paintbrush divide if you can, those views are amazing and less crowded past Lake Solitude.

This is an extraordinary hike. Should be on everyone's to-do list. A buddy and I ish years old started at the Granite Canyon Trailhead on August 7, gained about feet on Day 1 and did about 8 miles until we were about a mile shy of Marion Lake. Beautiful campsite, where we were visited by a deer who was absolutely content to walk within six feet of us and a marmot who was happy to chew on the cork of my friend's hiking poles.

That was the first and last night either of us left anything outside our tents. We were pretty wiped out when we arrived and the Basin had a lot of campers--it's reachable by day hike from Idaho. In the end, it took us some scouting but we found a nice site, on one of the several lakes. Took a nice dip in the lake. For Day 3, we took it kind of easy, hiked up over Hurricane Pass--which is just beautiful as is the whole damn hike and then down into Cascade Canyon We had lunch at the campsite, ditched our packs, and day-hiked on the Avalanche Divide Trail.

This was about 1. Most fun, however, was a side trip we took on the way down to Iceflow lake, which sits about 10, feet, just below Middle Teton. Jumped in the water, where snow is still melting into the water. Fantastic afternoon. Woke to our gorgeous view on day 4 and set out for the toughest but maybe most beautiful day of the hike. Down about feet through South Fork of Cascade Canyon. Ridiculously beautiful with waterfall after waterfall. Then up feet--first to the gorgeous am I overusing words like "beautiful" and "gorgeous"?

Lake Solitude, which ironically was perhaps the most crowded spot on the trail, as it is day-hikeable, being only 8 miles from the park center on Jenny Lake.

It was a beautiful sunny day, temps in the 70s, so we chilled at the lake for lunch before starting the arduous but worthwhile journey up to Paintbrush Divide at 10, or so, finishing our foot ascent. Coming down the other side was a short but fun challenge, descending on a trail of scree and gravel. At the end of that descent, we crossed a short snowfield and then descended Again, had a beautiful evening plunge in the lake. Day four was perhaps 10 miles in total. Next day was an easy several miles 5?

Joy of that day was that just a mile from the parking lot, we saw a black bear. He was down to our left as we walked the trail, then crossed in front of us, about yards ahead of us, and on the right of the trail stopped to munch on berries as we watched him from perhaps just 35 yards away. Incredible hike. Must do. Thanks to the Tetons for being so beautiful. An all around fantastic hike - definitely one of our all time favorites.

Getting the permit for specific camping areas was a bit of a nightmare, as some have only a few spots and they were gone a split second after the booking system opened, so be flexible and prepare to change your plans if you can't get the permit for the exact area you want. Additionally, the park doesn't operate any shuttles, so plan on leaving your car at the start or the end point of your hike.

We parked at Jenny Lake and took a cab to the trail head. At least there is a free phone next to the ranger center that you can use if you don't have reception, and a list of cab companies that specialize in ferrying hikers.

We hiked in through the Granite Canyon gondola didn't work this summer on a cloudy, rainy day and camped by the stream in the Middle Fork of the Granite Creek.

Honestly, the Granite Canyon didn't have much to offer, so if you just take the gondola, you miss out on nothing. The next day, we hiked to Alaska Basin and camped by the Sunset Lake.

It's a reasonably long stretch but the weather was mostly good, and the views were just stunning the whole way. We saw some sheep with their young on the Death Shelf, lazuli buntings near and a Barrow's goldeneye on the Marion Lake, a sage grouse near the Spearhead Peak and yellow-bellied marmots throughout.

Coming from Alaska Basin, Hurricane Pass is more of a rolling hill than an actual pass. The slope is rather gentle, the trail is easy to follow and there were no signs of snow - now I understand why the ranger who gave us permits chuckled when I asked if we needed crampons and ice-axes.

The descent from the pass is much steeper, so hiking poles are definitely a good idea if you want to take some weight off your knees, especially with the multi-day packs and bearing in mind there's still a good few miles from the pass to Jenny Lake.

The views are fantastic pretty much all the way to the Cascade Canyon fork but they kind of peter out there leaving you with a rather pleasant but not that special of a walk in the woods. Additionally, that's where you start running into a lot of day-hikers coming up the canyon from Jenny Lake, which is surprisingly annoying after the relative solitude in the previous sections.

At least we saw an elk and a moose there. By the time we got to the Jenny Lake, there were people everywhere, so we opted for taking the ferry rather than having to hike around the lake and push our way through the crowds. In summary, this is a fantastic hike - not very hard as backpacking trips go, with amazing views, and pretty well-connected to a bunch of trails that allow you to shorten or lengthen it as you wish. The start and end sections read the connector trails are not the most fun still ok though , but the Crest more than makes up for that and I really can't recommend it highly enough!

Awesome trails. We did some of Hoback Trail and all of Lower Loop. Hit Lucky Charm very cool on the way down. Top 3 hikes in my life. Endless views, wildflowers, excellent campsites. Highly recommend. Bring deet and sunscreen. Prepare for short but sudden storms. Trail is well maintained, well marked and easy to follow. We took the gondola up from the village Tram was closed.

We stayed at Marian Lake - which was beautiful, and saw deer, moose, and countless marmots. It was gorgeous, the hike was moderate, we swam in the lakes, and then hiked to Sunset Lake to spend the night.

Day 3, was up and over the pass and down to Schoolhouse glacier and through Cascade Canyon. We came out Paintbrush Canyon to String lake and swam. Flowers are blooming, but the bugs are out in full force!

The better camp sites are off the main path. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. Poles are helpful. There was tons of wildlife- moose, deer, pikas, marmots, moles, chipmunks, and snakes. We did this July , 4 days and 3 nights.. We logged We did not see any bears or moose. We did not bring an ice axe or crampons and did not need them. It was pretty warm during the days and nights were chilly but really not that bad.

We got permits the second they became available online in early January. This was a tough day and the climb after Marion Lake got a little tiring. Marion Lake is the last place to get water when heading up to the shelf. The other option is made by the brand Bear Vault.

They have two solid sizing options, the BV and BV They make the best, high-quality headlamps! Here are some of my current favorite pieces of gear that have elevated my adventures in the backcountry. Some quality grub is going to make or break your backpacking experience. No matter what, you should always carry a map and compass.

I bought this waterproof topographic map for the trail and it made planning and reviewing so much easier. This device allows me to communicate off-grid using satellites, check weather forecasts, send messages, keep a GPX file of the trail, and much more that helps me feel more secure in the backcountry.

If you are looking to buy one, I recommend buying a used one to save a ton of money. A great alternative for a satellite device is a great hiking app.

I love that you can order refills for this to keep everything uniform and compact as well. It supplies everything you need for a few days in the backcountry and weighs next to nothing! Chapstick with SPF, sunglasses, and long sleeves just in case I get too burnt are also necessary parts of my backpacking checklist for sun protection.

These are all necessary for your journey. You may be stopped by a ranger and they will ask for your permit and proof of I. While in the backcountry, you MUST pack out all of your toilet paper, and bury all food and human waste in a cathole that is at least inches deep.

I put all these items in a net baggie on the outside of my bag for the best access. This towel is extremely light, quick-drying, and compact making it perfect for backpacking and hiking. The extra-large size is perfect for wrapping yourself up in a full-size towel and it only weighs eight ounces! These are the best for backpacking because you only need one of these wipes to feel fresh and clean. I wanted to keep things as light as possible and these served me well on this trip.

Next time, we want to bring some cards or a game for some added fun at the end of the day. I am a big physical book person, so I ended up bringing a smaller book to read on my own.

On your phone, you can download any podcast or Netflix episodes if you want to plug into your favorite shows in the backcountry. Love exploring the backcountry? Tell me about your favorite backpacking trip in the comments below!

Your email address will not be published. Some areas have bear boxes, others even have fire rings. On our GPX file, we marked every fire ring and bear box spotted in the backcountry. The topography of the trail makes it easy to hike all day in high elevations while camping in lower elevation basins and river valleys. We averaged about 18 miles a day which allowed us plenty of time to take in the surroundings. This part of Wyoming hosts a large population of grizzly bears.

Because the northern half of the trail is remote, undeveloped, and lacks bear hangs or boxes in most places, it is recommended to tree food every night. Luckily, there are plenty of trees to choose from. Carry bear spray and hike in a group if you are scared of having a bear encounter. Stunning vistas from the multitude of ridgelines and passes. Relative solitude, but expect to see a lot of other backpackers.

In late August, many streams dry up making water options a bit sketchier depending on rainfall early in the year. A few spots require stream fording particularly South Fork Teton Creek. You may need to carry and know how to use an ice ax and microspikes for self-arrest to traverse several passes until late July. Parking at trailheads can be challenging.

Inquire at the backcountry office for your best options that day. In general, July through September is the best time to hike the Teton Crest Trail, but in some years you may still be able to safely hike as late as early October.

Snowpack is a key factor for trip planning in this area, as snow can linger on passes until late in the year. Rain and snow can fall at any time of year here and freezing temperatures are possible as well. During the summer months temperatures can reach into the 80s during the day and drop down into the 30s at night. As always, be prepared and diligent in monitoring current conditions as weather can change quickly in the mountains.

Before heading out, check the National Weather Service for up-to-date conditions. While snow conditions vary from year to year, snow usually melts on trail elevations below 6, feet by mid-June. At higher elevations up to 10, feet, depending on the year, the snow progressively melts, bearing ground by the third week in July. Meek and Fox Creek passes, you may need an ice axe and knowledge of its use as late as August.

Microspikes can help add traction too. Always check in with the the Grand Teton National Park Service for the snow level and condition of the passes. We rate this hike as moderate to difficult due to two significant ascents and descents. As always, difficulty ratings depend on your experience, physical fitness, pack weight, and weather conditions. Although not a technically demanding hike, it requires careful planning for campsites and water resources.

Like any backpacking trip, you should plan accordingly, train properly, know your limitations, brush up on your skills , and dial in your gear. Doing so will make for a safe and enjoyable adventure. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips in Grand Teton National Park.

To obtain a permit, apply in advance — from the first Wednesday in January to May 15 each year. Submit your permit request using the website Recreation. Groups of 1 to 6 people may apply for any of the camping zones along the way, while groups of 7 to 12 people must camp in designated group campsites.

Zones are marked with a sign on each end and hikers with a valid permit are free to choose where they wish to camp once arriving at the zone. The park service reserves up to one-third of each camping zone see maps in advance and the remaining two-thirds are released for walk-in permits, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis one day before the start of a backcountry trip.

No walk-in permits are available for same day starts, and keep in mind that during peak backcountry season July and August , competition is stiff. We recommend having a backup plan if you choose the walk-in option. The trail can be accessed from many trailheads, but if you want do the it in full, start at the Phillips Pass Trailhead and end at the Leigh Lake Trailhead on String Lake.

If this is the option you choose, parking can be found at a couple of turnouts halfway up Teton Pass, just west of Wilson. Though extra effort, we thought it was nice to start the trail at the lower elevation because there were far fewer hikers and a higher likelihood of seeing wildlife on the ascent. In order to complete the Teton Crest Trail you'll need to find a shuttle service, drive two cars and shuttle yourself, or hitchhike.