The South
Fork of Teton Canyon is approached from the
Idaho side. This fork is very close to being
level ... it only gains 500 feet of elevation in
2.7 miles.
This is the first trail I usually hike with guests as it is
very beautiful and is so easy. This gives them
some time to become acclimated to the altitude
while enjoying some great scenery.
Devil's Stairs
Difficult
This hike is
reached from the South Fork of Teton Canyon
trail at its 2.7 mile point.
This is a
strenuous hike that gains 1,000 feet of
elevation is less than a mile. Once at the top,
you find yourself on a two mile long "shelf"
that heads east and affords great views of the
surrounding mountains.
The North Fork of Teton Canyon is approached from the
Idaho side. This fork is initially very steep and is the
trail that eventually leads to Table Mountain.
Darby Canyon is reached from the Idaho side. One takes the
road one mile south of the Spud Drive-In back to the trailhead.
Darby is noted for the so called Wind Cave.
This is a cave that goes back eight miles. In early summer there is a significant
waterfall that cascades from the mouth of the cave.
Fred's Mountain is the ski mountain for Grand Targhee Ski Resort. It is
located about ten miles from Casa Budde West. One of the "hikes"; we take involves taking the
lift to the top of Fred's Mountain. Wonderful view from up there. Some snow even in mid-July.
For those who are a bit more adventurous, we hike off the mountain, up
and over another pass and to a point that really has no name. It's elevation on the map is 9943
feet, so that's what we call it ... 9943. Spectacular view and not really
too tough of a hike. We then hike back up to the top of Fred's and take the lift back down.
This hike is the toughest
(4,000 feet of elevation gain in four miles) but
offers some of the most spectacular views you
will ever see anywhere.
Table Mountain's summit is
11,103 feet and is right behind the Grand Teton
(elevation 13,770 feet). One can view the
Snake River valley to the east and Teton Valley
to the west as well as the view looking north
and south along the Teton Range.
There is a hike we take
along String Lake and Leigh Lake that is very
flat and has spectacular views of the Tetons.
The mountains jut up from
the valley floor on the opposite side of the
lakes. If the wind is minimal, there are some
great reflections of the mountains on the lake
surfaces.
The first time I hiked this trail was with
Bruce & Betsy Canaga. That was the day we ran into the now
infamous badger.
Death Canyon
Easy
This hike is
reached from the White Grass Ranger Station
along the Moose-Wilson road.
The hike
first goes to beautiful Phelps Lake and then
climbs into Death Canyon. At the back of Death
Canyon is Fox Creek Pass.
Surprise & Amphitheatre Lakes
Difficult
This hike is
reached from the Lupine Meadows parking area.
It is a
fairly strenuous hike that arrives at the two
lakes. They are about 1 mile from each other.
The effort affords one great close-up views of
the Grand.
Paintbrush Divide
Difficult
Paintbrush is the canyon just north of Cascade Canyon. If
you are backpacking, you can go over Paintbrush Divide (10,500 feet) and drop down into the
North Fork of Cascade Canyon to Lake Solitude.
This trail is reached along the Moose-Wilson Road. The hikes consist of several
loops. One of the loops takes you to Phelps Lake.
Delta Lake
Difficult
Delta Lake is by far
one the prettiest lakes in the Teton Mountains, and
arguably the entire region. Fed entirely by Teton
Glacier, the lake is a bold and brilliant turquoise that
is tucked directly beneath the Grand Teton to the west,
dominating one of the most dramatic and amazing scenes
of a Teton peak.
Be forewarned: Delta Lake is a very challenging trail
that requires route-finding skills and a very steep
ascent up a large boulder field. This trail is not at
all for casual hikers.
Hedrick Pond Overlook
By car
Go north on Hwy 89 and just after the Teton
Point Overlook there is a gravel road marked
Lost Creek Ranch Road. Travel this road for 1.6
miles and turn left onto an unmarked dirt road.
Travel this road for 1.1 miles and turn left on
a lesser road. Go 0.5 miles and you will see a
port-a-potty and some picnic tables.
A great photo op is from the ridge with the
small Hedrick Pond in the lower right of your
view finder, the Snake River in the mid-ground
and the Tetons in the background.
Other Hikes
Location
Difficulty
Description
Ski Lake
Moderate
This hike is
reached from a trailhead along Wyoming Highway
22 on the way to Jackson. It is on the east side
of Teton Pass.
Along this
trail, you will see some very nice views of the
Snake River valley to the east. Ski Lake itself
is in a "bowl" up against a mountain.
Palisades
Creek is on the south side of the Palisades
range in Swan Valley just west of the Palisades
Lake dam.
It is a
very pretty canyon and the hike will take you to
a beautiful lake. We have seen many moose and a
few eagles while having lunch overlooking the
lake.
Coal Creek
Moderate
This hike is
reached from a trailhead along Wyoming Highway
22 on the way to Jackson. It is on the west side
of Teton Pass.
At its
highest point, it offers some nice views of the
Teton Range as viewed from the southern end of
the range.
This area is east of Grand Teton National Park. The mountains
are a beautiful shade of red and offer some nice views of the Tetons looking west.
Coyote Rock
Moderate
Located just east of
Grand Teton National Park, high above the valley of
Jackson Hole, lies a lone boulder secluded in its
recession on a hill that delivers tremendous views of
the region. This is Coyote Rock. Though the trail only
brings you two miles from the road, the feeling of
isolation and disconnection from the valley below is
easily attainable.
Cascade Corner
Moderate
This area is in the
southwestern corner of Yellowstone and therefore does
not get nearly as much traffic as the main areas of
Yellowstone.
I have only visited Cave Falls in this area but would
love to visit some of these falls in the backcountry.