By Danielle Vilaplana
From casual strolls and pleasant day hikes to dozen-mile peak-bagging missions, this comprehensive guide to hiking in Jackson has something for everyone
If you’re visiting Jackson, WY this summer, you’re in for a whole lot of hiking. Between the tall peaks, glacial canyons, and open valley (the “hole” in “Jackson Hole” if you will), Jackson and the 3.4 million acres of Grand Teton National Park and wilderness have an abundance of hiking trails. Whether you’re peak bagging or just looking for a family-friendly picnic spot beside an alpine lake, Jackson Hole’s hiking trails are sure to impress.
Before you go though, consider a few tips to make your Jackson Hole hiking experience smoother, as told by a local. First, Grand Teton has many beautiful trails but only a few trailheads, the most popular of which are Lupine Meadows, Jenny Lake, and String Lake. These parking areas will fill up very quickly (often by 9 am) and you may have to park a good distance away from the trail. If you aren’t a fan of early starts, prepare for a little extra mileage.
Second, be prepared for a range of weather conditions in the mountains. The high alpine passes will often hold snow well into July and storms can come on abruptly and without warning. Always be sure to check conditions with the Jenny Lake Ranger Station and either bring or rent all the gear you may need for a long day in the mountains.
Lastly, no matter what conditions you encounter, know that at the end of your day on the dusty trails you’ll have a comfortable basecamp to recover at The Virginian Lodge. Now let’s dig into the best hiking trails to explore this summer in Jackson, Wyoming.
The 15 Best Hikes in Jackson Hole for Every Fitness Level
Cache Creek
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out & Back
Cache Creek is a trailhead just minutes from downtown Jackson and has numerous interconnecting trails. It winds through aspen groves and pine forests alongside a clear mountain stream. The trail gradually climbs through the drainage with minimal technical difficulty and is shared with mountain bikers. The many trail branches allow for various route options and connect with Snow King Mountain trails. Because it’s not in Grand Teton National Park, it’s also one of the only trails that is pet-friendly.
Taggart Lake Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out & Back
The Taggart Lake Trail is an easy, 3-mile round trip hike with minimal elevation gain. The lake has a stunning view of the Grand Teton and its reflection in the lake, especially at sunrise when the water is calm. It’s also a beautiful spot for leaf-peeping the aspens in the fall. You’ll want to show up early, because the Taggart parking lot is known for filling up very quickly.
String Lake Loop
Distance: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Loop
String Lake is one of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park for family adventures. Many of Jackson Hole’s most popular hikes start from this trailhead. The lakes are excellent for swimming and paddle boarding and also provide access to the scenic Paintbrush and Cascade Canyons. Visitors looking for an easy hike will enjoy the 3.8-mile loop hike around String Lake’s shores, which has plenty of places to picnic, view the mountains, and cool off in the clear water. Be sure to arrive early, though—the parking lots are frequently full by 9 am.
Phelps Lake Loop
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Loop
Phelps Lake is a very popular hike in Grand Teton National Park close to Jackson and Teton Village. It’s a moderate 7-mile circuit around one of Grand Teton’s lower-elevation lakes with access to the famous “Jumping Rock.” The trail offers excellent views of Death Canyon and the lake while passing through beautiful aspen groves that are especially stunning in fall.
Jenny Lake Loop
Distance: 7.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Easy
Trail Type: Loop
Jenny Lake is a beautiful and busy destination in Grand Teton National Park. The scenic 7.5-mile loop follows the perimeter of Jenny Lake with constant views of the Tetons reflecting in the water. The trail can be shortened by taking the shuttle boat across the lake, making it adaptable for different family energy levels.
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
Distance: 5.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out & Back
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point are two stunning viewpoints up Cascade Canyon. Hidden Falls is a thundering 100-foot waterfall that’s accessed along the trail to Inspiration Point. Inspiration Point is just .5 miles further and overlooks Jenny Lake and up Cascade Canyon, and is a popular turn around point. Inspiration Point is 5.7 mile round trip (1.8 miles by shuttle boat) and has some moderately steep sections but is manageable for most visitors with decent fitness.
Bradley and Taggart Lakes Loop
Distance: 5.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Loop
The Bradley-Taggart loop is a favorite hike passing two beautiful glacial lakes with outstanding Teton reflections—beloved by visiting photographers. The trail offers a perfect balance of forest sections, lake views, and mountain panoramas without much elevation gain.
Death Canyon to Patrol Cabin
Distance: 7.4 – 8.5 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Type: Out & Back
Death Canyon is a stunning canyon with a dramatic shelf at its head. This hike up the canyon is a moderately challenging 7.4-mile round trip that climbs through a dramatic canyon with steep walls and lush vegetation. The historic patrol cabin marks a good turnaround point with incredible views of Phelps Lake and the valley below.
Amphitheater Lake Trail
Distance: 9.6 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Type: Out & Back
Amphitheater Lake is a strenuous 9.6-mile round trip hike that starts at the Lupine Meadows trailhead and climbs over 3,000 feet through forests and meadows to reach two alpine lakes in a glacial cirque. The trail features quite a few switchbacks but hikers will be rewarded with spectacular views of Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes at the base of Disappointment Peak and the Grand Teton.
Josie’s Ridge Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Type: Out & Back
If you’re looking for a quick and strenuous hike right in town, Josie’s Ridge will certainly get your heart rate up. The 3.4-mile trail climbs a steep 1,200ft to the top of local favorite Snow King Resort and can be combined with the other trails on the mountain. If you’re looking for a hike close to Jackson but aren’t quite up for Josie’s, check out the Cache Creek trail on the other side of Snow King.
Sleeping Indian
Distance: 12-14 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Type: Out & Back
Sleeping Indian (officially Sheep Mountain) is a dramatic peak in the skyline of the Gros Ventre range. The 12-14 mile journey traverses whitebark pine forests and alpine meadows before culminating in what many consider the most spectacular Teton panorama in the region. Named for the distinctive silhouette visible in its rocky ridge above the treeline, this summit hike gains 4,000ft from the 7,000-foot trailhead and has a few technical scrambles near the peak. During peak season, you’re sure to see lupines, paintbrush, and black-eyed Susans carpeting the meadows.
Lake Solitude
Distance: 14-16 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Type: Out & Back or Loop
The hike to Lake Solitude follows a well-trafficked trail and isn’t particularly difficult, but it is a long day—the entire route is 16-miles round trip (or 14 miles if using the boat shuttle). The trail climbs through Cascade Canyon to a pristine alpine lake surrounded by towering peaks and Paintbrush Divide. In early summer, the lake will still be covered in snow but it is a refreshingly cold swim in the late summer heat. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’re likely to see moose, ermine, and maybe even bears along the way.
Static Peak Divide
Distance: 16.1 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Type: Out & Back
Static Peak Divide is a strenuous 16-mile round trip that climbs nearly 5,000 feet to reach one of the few non-technical summits in the Tetons at 11,303 feet. The trail provides breathtaking panoramic views of the entire Teton Range, Jackson Hole, and surrounding wilderness areas.
Cascade – Paintbrush Loop
Distance: 19.2 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Type: Loop
The Cascade-Paintbrush Loop is a strenuous 19-mile circuit that goes deep into the Teton’s beautiful alpine terrain. Adventurous hikers climb through two of the Teton’s most beautiful canyons, Cascade and Paintbrush, and cross the 10,700-foot Paintbrush Divide. Hikers will pass through dense forests, alpine meadows and lakes, and rocky passes; hikers will also find snow on Paintbrush Divide until July, so don’t forget the microspikes and ice axe.
South and Middle Teton
Distance: 13 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Type: Out & Back
If you’re interested in bagging big peaks that don’t require technical climbing gear, South and Middle Teton are truly some of the best hikes in Jackson Hole. Though the hike is only 13 miles, you’ll climb over 6,000ft so expect a full day of hiking. Both peaks can be accessed from the same saddle, so they’re easily attainable in one go. Middle Teton will require a helmet for the class 3 couloir scramble but South is easy class 2 and does not require any gear. In early summer, there will be snow beneath the saddle so we recommend renting an ice axe and crampons from Teton Mountaineering.
Whichever hike you choose, end your day at The Virginian Lodge to refuel at Billy’s Burgers and a well earned drink at the Saloon.
