3 hikes you have to do in Grand Teton National Park
After visiting Yellowstone, we headed to Grand Teton National Park. Driving up there, you can see the Tetons appearing in all their glory. The tallest mountain in the Teton Range gives his name to the park. The actual naming of the mountains originates from French-speaking trappers who called them ‘les trois tétons’ which translates into the three teats. Next to the mountains, there are also many lakes in Grand Teton National Park formed by glaciers.
Visiting the park for 2 days, we decided to do 1 ‘big’ hike and 2 smaller ones.
Taggart Lake – Beaver Creek Loop trail
Moderate hike
Area: Taggart Lake
Distance (roundtrip): 3.9 mi / 6.3 km
Elevation Change: 500 ft / 152 m
Estimated Hiking Time: 2 hours
This 6km hike is an easy hike starting from the Taggart Lake Trailhead and going to Taggart Lake. From here you have a beautiful view of the mountains. We added the extra of the Beaver Creek for a longer hike then the normal Taggart Lake trail (5.3km). This was a nice walk to start our exploration of the park. This is a very popular hike so be there early if you like to enjoy the peace and quiet J.
String Lake Loop trail
Easy hike
Area: String Lake
Distance (roundtrip): 3.7 mi / 6.0 km
Elevation Change: 325 ft / 99 m
Estimated Hiking Time: 2 hours
The second trail we did that day was the String Lake Loop trail. This hike is also around 6km round trip which should take you around 2 hours (if you don’t stop a lot like we do to take pictures). This was also an easy hike along the lakes. As this is also one of the easy hikes, this is very popular.
Death Canyon-Static Peak Trail Junction
Strenous hike
Area: Death Canyon
Distance (roundtrip): 7.9 mi / 12.7 km
Elevation Change: 2100 ft / 640 m
Estimated Hiking Time: 6 hours
We wanted to do one more strenuous hike in the Tetons, and we opted for this one. We only went until the patrol cabin because otherwise it would be too long. Now it was 12.7 km instead of the 26km it would take to go all the way up to Static Peak Divide. When we started the hike, it started raining (and snowing further along the trail). We were so happy with the raincoat we packed.
To reach the trailhead, a car with 4-wheel drive is recommended. But if you don’t have one, there is a small parking area at the point where the paved road ends. After a moderate climb you reach Phelps Lake Overlook, offering a stunning view over Phelps Lake (even in the rain). From there you first go back to the valley floor before climbing again. Although we didn’t encounter any bears, you should keep an eye out for them and carry bear spray with you. We stopped at the Death Canyon Patrol Cabin before making our way back to the car. And surprisingly, the sun started shining again J. From all the hikes we did during this holiday, this was one of my favorites. I liked the different scenery and the views you had while walking. The weather could be better of course but it was still a hike I recommend doing when visiting Grand Teton National Park.
And then some final pictures of the Tetons.
You can find more information about Grand Teton National Park here.
More hikes in Grand Teton National Park
Name | Difficulty | Area | Distance (roundtrip) | Elevation change | Estimated hiking time |
Polecat Creek Loop | Easy | Flagg Ranch | 2.5 mi / 4 km | 80 ft / 24 m | 1 hour |
Flagg Canyon | Easy | Flagg Ranch | 4.0 mi / 6.4 km | 150 ft / 46 m | 2 hours |
Lakeshore Trail | Easy | Colter Bay / Hermitage Point | 2.0 mi / 3.2 km | 100 ft / 30 m | 1 hour |
Heron Pond & Swan Lake Loop | Easy | Colter Bay / Hermitage Point | 3.0 mi / 4.8 km | 200 ft / 61 m | 2 hours |
Hermitage Point | Easy-Moderate | Colter Bay / Hermitage Point | 9.7 mi / 15.6 km | 700 ft / 213 m | 5 hours |
Lunch Tree Hill | Easy | Jackson Lake Lodge | 0.5 mi / 0.8 km | 80 ft / 24 m | 1/2 hour |
Christian Pond Loop | Easy | Jackson Lake Lodge | 3.3 mi / 5.3 km | 250 ft / 76 m | 2 hours |
Two Ocean Lake | Moderate | Two Ocean Lake | 6.4 mi / 10.3 km | 400 ft / 122 m | 3 hours |
Emma Matilda Lake | Moderate | Two Ocean Lake | 10.7 mi / 17.2 km | 1100 ft / 335 m | 6 hours |
Two Ocean & Emma Mathilda Lake | Moderate-Strenous | Two Ocean Lake | 13.2 mi / 21.2 km | 1400 ft / 427 m | 7 hours |
Signal Mountain | Moderate | Signal Mountain | 6.8 mi / 10.9 km | 850 ft / 260 m | 4 hours |
Leigh Lake | Easy | Leigh Lake | 1.8 mi / 2.9 km | 40 ft / 12 m | 1 hour |
Trapper Lake | Easy-Moderate | Leigh Lake | 9.2 mi / 14.8 km | 400 ft / 122 m | 5 hours |
Holly Lake | Strenous | Leigh Lake | 13.0 mi / 20.9 km | 2600 ft / 792 m | 9 hours |
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O. MY. GOD! What a breathtaking landscape. I knew America had some awesome parks, but I’m always blown away by how magnificent they are.. Hope to see them in real life one day…
If you have the chance, definitely go. Especially if you are into photography, you will have the time of your life :). I find it hard to choose my favorite because they all have something unique.
I’ll show your post to my boyfriend. Maybe I can convince him ^^
Lovely photos. I am not much of a hiker but these shots inspire to get up and get out there and explore what Grand Teton has to offer. While i am not the best hiker, I do love the idea of riding horses through the park. Reminds me of my childhood when I rode horses every summer. Thanks for the share.
Thank you. I am also not a very good hiker, especially when it is warm. But I always keep a reward in mind like a stunning view or some good food at the end of the day 😉
Gorgeous! These are the mountains near to where my mother grew up, the mountains she loved so much! I’m in Australia right now, but when I’m stateside that’s where I will go!
I wouldn’t mind growing up there 🙂 If I had something closeby like that, I will be there so often.
I grew up just over the hill in Teton Valley, Idaho. It is such a beautiful little place. Hidden from the world it is a treasure. The summers are absolutely perfect… No better place to be. The winters are the same IF you enjoy the cold weather. If you don’t….Brrr its going to be a long winter! Either way, this is such a beautiful place and I am glad you got to experience it and show it to the world!
I absolutely loved it. Would love to go back maybe in summer to do some more hikes. We only did walks with minimum chance of bear encounters 🙂 .