The Teton Crest Trail is a 40 mile trail crossing behind the Teton Range in Grand Tetons National Park. The point-to-point thru hike climbs over 9,000ft of elevation throughout the trail and varies between groups on how long it takes to complete (usually between 4-6 days). The trail is rated as difficult and is only recommended for experienced backpackers and hikers. Here is what you should know before backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming:
Planning to Hike the Teton Crest Trail
Before reserving permits, it is important that your trip is relatively planned out.
There are a few places of entry for the Teton Crest Trail that can impact the number of miles your total trip will be. If you are planning to hike NOBO (which I recommend whole-heartedly):
- Highway 22 to String Lake (39.5 miles with 9,000 feet elevation gain)
- Granite Canyon Trailhead to String Lake (37.5 with 8,500 feet elevation gain)
- Teton Village Gondola to String Lake (34.5 miles with 6,800 feet elevation gain)
The backcountry in Grand Teton National Park is sectioned into designated camping zones, and you must camp within that zone for the date it is reserved on your permit. This will determine how quickly or slowly you hike the trail. Your hardest climbs will likely be the first day, and heading up and out of Lake Solitude so if you need a slower pace, consider a shorter distance those two days.
Length: This trail is typically done between 4 and 6 days. Make sure to do your due diligence in planning by mapping out distances and elevation gain for your days on trail to spread the effort evenly. Additionally- have a backup plan!
Getting to Trailheads: The Teton Crest Trail is a proper thru hike in terms of trailheads. Either at the start or the end of your journey, you will need to plan on how you will get back to your vehicle. You can either find a shuttle, drop a car, or hitch a ride. Hitching is how we got to Teton Village at the start of our trek, and is fairly easy to get from Jenny Lake.
Campsites Along The Teton Crest Trail
Campsites along the Teton Crest Trail offer some of the most spectacular views in Grand Teton National Park, with each site nestled in diverse alpine landscapes. There are 11 designated camping zones along the trail, all available on a first-come, first-serve basis for parties of six or fewer once you’ve secured your permit. In addition, there are several spots outside of the National Park within the National Forest sections of the trail with really great camping spots. In these areas, you can camp anywhere on a durable surface, and be sure to look for sites that have been used previously to minimize human impact on the trail. The zones along the trail are fairly clearly marked by trail signs.
Group campsites are clearly marked along the trail, and reserved specifically for larger groups (more than six people), and it’s important to stick to your designated area to help protect the fragile ecosystems. Be sure to visit the NPS website for more information on these backcountry zones and make the most of your adventure and familiarize yourself with the backcountry camp zones.
- Granite Canyon, Open Canyon, and Upper Granite: These sections will likely be a stop if you are starting from Granite Canyon Trailhead.
- South Fork & Middle Fork : Our night 1 stop was near the Group Camp area of this trail. There are great water sources near the group camp.
- Marion Lake (G) **: An awesome group camp. I would go out of my way to stay here if I had a group permit!
- Trail near Spearhead Peak (NFS)**: This was an incredible site after Marion lake as the trail enters the NFS. It is a great backup option if you are ahead or behind schedule and offers great views of the backside of the Tetons.
- Death Canyon: This section goes down the Canyon quite a bit. I highly recommend staying on the Shelf.
- Death Canyon Shelf**: Incredible views and awesome camp areas!
- Alaska Basin/ Sunset Lake (NFS)**: One of my favorite sections of the trail. We camped at Sunset Lake but there are plenty of campsites down in the Basin as well. Plenty of sites at the Lake but it can get crowded.
- South Fork, Cascade Canyon: After one of the most scenic areas of the trail, you’ll come down into Cascade Canyon. This area is extremely busy with day hikers.
- Forth Fork, Cascade Canyon: Likely even more busy with day hikers going to Solitude Lake. I do not recommend.
- Upper Paintbrush**: The upper section of this zone is an incredible area! I would also go out of my way to camp here. Very popular stop on the descent down but do not count on many sites on the bottom section of the zone. Can be a frequent bear area.
- Lower Paintbrush: Great last stop as you are headed down the trail and lots of areas to camp. Great water access as well.
Bolded sites were stops we made along the Teton Crest Trail and the ** are areas I would highly recommend camping depending on your itinerary.
Permits for Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail
Overnight backcountry permits are required for backpacking the Teton Crest Trail and are in popular demand throughout the season.
Advance backcountry permit reservations open 8:00 a.m. MT on in early January for overnight stays May 1 – October 31. Advance reservations are only available online during this time period. Make sure to check the specific dates permits become available on recreation.gov.
From mid-May to the end of December, permits can be obtained on a first-come first-served basis at the National Park Wilderness Rangers Stations. Parties who are hoping to obtain permits this way should line up before the Station opens, as there is a good chance there will be others hoping to get permits as well.
Check for your desired backpacking dates above on Outdoor Status or sign up to receive a push alert to your phone if your desired dates become available. This tracker is for a 5 day itinerary
Animal Awareness
I’ll be honest—despite being a frequent backpacker and hiker in bear country, Grizzly Bears scare the hell out of me. And in the Tetons, you’re not just dealing with black bears, but grizzlies too. So, taking the right precautions isn’t optional, it’s crucial. This means storing everything with a scent—food or non-food—in a bear canister. Carry bear spray somewhere easily accessible, like on your backpack strap, and eat your meals away from your sleeping area. Bears that get used to humans quickly associate us with food, and unfortunately, that often leads to them being put down by the Park Service. The best way to protect bears (and yourself) is to avoid interactions entirely. Take the time to read up on what to do if you run into a bear on the trail.
And let’s not forget about Moose. They might seem chill, but these massive animals are no joke. My one and only Moose encounter on trail was back in 2018 on the Jenny Lake Trail when I was solo road-tripping through the Tetons. I found myself between a rocky outcrop with no way out and a mama Moose guarding her newborn calf. Moose can be incredibly territorial, especially when they’ve got babies around. If you spot one on the trail, give it a wide berth and step aside as quickly as you can.
Whether it’s bears or moose, staying safe means respecting the wildlife and doing everything you can to minimize your impact.
Trail Information
↟ During the heat of the summer, mosquitos are prevalent! Make sure you bring adequate equipment, and mosquito repellent. I have an entire blog post dedicated to my favorite products that you can read here. We luckily did not have too bad of an issue during our late summer/early fall timing.
↟ When traveling NOBO, there is definitely a specific area you will hit where the re-introduction to civilization will hit. Specifically, this was our day 3 when we hit the Cascade Canyon area. This trail is very popular for day hikers going up to Hurricane Pass or Lake Solitude. I recommend hitting this area earlier or later in the day because the amount of people definitely slowed us down on trail.
↟ Photographers! This trail is a freaking gold mine in terms of awe-factor. My favorite areas for landscape photography were the Hurricane Pass and Alaska Basin areas. I highly recommend a wide lens for this trail as Hurricane Pass gets fairly close to the backside of the Grand, and needs a wide lens to do it justice.
↟ The campsites along this trail are chosen beforehand and are marked clearly. Make sure to choose a campsite at least 200 feet away from lakes, streams, or trails. It is very important to do this in order to protect fragile ecosystems.
↟ Campfires are not allowed in any mountain camping areas.
↟ Recreate Responsibly, and Leave No Trace. Stay on trail, don’t cut switchbacks, pack out your TP and trash, and be a good nature-loving individual.
Trail Report
Trip Dates: August 29th- September 1st, 2023 (4 days, 3 nights)
Total Mileage: 35 miles
Trail Type: Point-to-Point Thru Hike
Trailhead: Teton Village
Day 1: After parking the truck at Jenny Lake, we rummaged through our bags to ensure our next several days on the trail would go smoothly. We stuffed food for the next four days into our bear canister, slathered sunscreen on our legs and faces, and strapped bear spray to the waist belts of our packs. Once inside the Wilderness Ranger Station, we picked up our permits for backpacking the Teton Crest Trail and the Ranger briefed us on trail conditions and water sources for late August, reminding us of the bear precautions we’d need to follow in the coming days.
With our permits safely stowed, we grabbed a piece of cardboard and a marker to write “TETON VILLAGE,” hoping to score a hitch. Luck was on our side as we received two rides to our destination. The first was from a kind gentleman who owns the nearby Jenny Lake Lodge and often picks up TCTers heading to the trailhead. He dropped us off on Moose Wilson Road, where we were quickly picked up by a family from South Africa embarking on their own American road trip across national parks. They filled us in on their adventures, and we shared our plans for the next few days in the backcountry. After saying our goodbyes in the Village parking lot, we set off toward our first stop: Middle Fork.
Our first day was fairly mellow, but I found myself wishing we could push further into the next zone since we arrived at camp early in the afternoon. After passing the group camp in this zone, we quickly found a spot on the outskirts, hoping it would set us up for an early start past Marion Lake the following day.
As we set up our tent, we quickly realized we had made a major blunder before even heading out to Wyoming. Our ultralight Z-Packs Duplex tent, which Reid had used on the PCT, had been sitting in storage for two years after we upgraded to a Big Agnes tent. Unfortunately, the coastal climate had corroded the zippers to the point where they wouldn’t budge. We spent nearly two hours scraping at the corrosion with twigs and rocks before we finally managed to force open one side of the tent. For the next three days, we would hold the tent door up with safety pins and our packs. Not the ideal start to our adventure…
Day 2: As we kicked off Day 2, the beauty of the alpine zone in the Grand Tetons hit me immediately. We moved quickly past Marion Lake in the morning, making our way into a patch of National Forest land, with the jagged peaks of the Grand rising in the distance. Along the 10 miles of our day, small streams from the lingering snowmelt crisscrossed our path, and wildflowers erupted from the ground in vibrant clusters, adding bursts of color to the late summer landscape.
Before I knew it, we had crossed Death Canyon Shelf and arrived at our next stop, Alaska Basin. This area of National Forest land quickly became one of my favorites. I turned to Reid and joked, “If I were a Grand Teton bear, this is where I’d want to live.” We paused at the edge of the basin to soak in the sweeping views and refuel with some jerky and cheese. The weather was ideal, hovering in that sweet spot between too hot and too cold.
The basin itself was breathtaking—opening into a lush, green meadow as the trail wound through serene ponds and lakes before climbing up the far side. After a few more miles of steady ascent, we finally descended into Sunset Lake, our home for the night. We found a secluded spot just off the trail, then made our way down to the lake for a quick alpine dip, counting the thru-hikers rolling in to claim their campsites for the evening. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, a breeze picked up, and we retreated to our busted-door tent, ready for another night before tackling a big mileage day ahead.
Day 3: We woke before dawn, knowing we had two major passes ahead—Hurricane Pass and Paintbrush Divide—and nearly 15 miles to tackle. As we neared the edge of Alaska Basin, we kept glancing back to watch the sun rise over the Tetons, casting light on the tiny dots of backpackers at Sunset Lake as they hurried back to the trail. A few miles later, after crossing the summit and navigating the alpine terrain, we reached Hurricane Pass. There, the landscape dramatically opened into Cascade Canyon, revealing a breathtaking view of the backside of The Grand and its neighboring peaks. Of all the vistas along this trail, this one stole my heart.
With the sun climbing higher, we took shelter behind a rock pile to make a quick breakfast—coffee and oatmeal—to fuel the long miles ahead. Back on the trail, as we descended into Cascade Canyon, we noticed the number of day hikers steadily growing. By the time we reached the fork of Cascade Canyon and Lake Solitude, the crowds were thick. We found it hard to keep a steady pace, constantly overtaken by hikers only to catch up with them a few feet later, and dodging those descending from their early alpine start.
As we paused for a water and granola break, we noticed vibrant orange mushrooms dotting the trail—chanterelles, a mushroom that has evaded us many times back in Santa Cruz. They seemed to mock us with how plentiful and accessible they were, growing in bushy clusters just off the path.
Continuing our climb toward Lake Solitude, we stopped alongside a few other hikers to watch a moose napping in the grass. Rumors spread among descending hikers that a bear had been spotted near the lake. Sure enough, as we approached Lake Solitude, the tension in the air was palpable. Glancing to my left, I spotted a young black bear foraging near the water’s edge, stocking up on calories before hibernation.
We stopped at the lake for lunch, eyeing our next challenge—Paintbrush Divide. By this point, most of the day hikers had turned back, and we found ourselves flip-flopping with a group of backpackers as we ascended the rocky pass. In the distance, loud booms echoed through the canyon as trail workers sent boulders tumbling down, sounding like thunder. A storm was approaching from the distance, and as the rain started to pour, we hurried into our rain jackets and I shielded my camera lens with my rain pants trudging up the mountain through the heavy drops of rain and hail.
Since leaving the fork in the trail, we had climbed nearly 3,000 feet over four miles, finally reaching the summit of Paintbrush Divide at just over 10,000 feet. From there, we could see the last canyon we would descend, and I thanked the trail gods that our climbs were behind us. We began our descent into Upper Paintbrush Canyon, scouting for campsites with just a few miles left on our journey.
As I searched for a spot to set up camp, Reid darted in and out of the bushes. After about 20 minutes, he emerged with a grin plastered across his face, every pocket of his shorts and shirt stuffed with huge chanterelles. Emptying a gallon-sized plastic bag, he proudly filled it to the brim. Foraging, we discovered, was perfectly legal in the Tetons, and Reid was taking full advantage of the bountiful harvest with a victorious smile.
Day 4: With only a few short miles left to Jenny Lake, we savored every moment on the trail, dreaming of our first meal back in Jackson Hole. We passed only a handful of small groups of day hikers, each curious about where we had spent the night. We proudly shared that we had been on the Teton Crest Trail, completing nearly 30 miles over the past few days.
There weren’t many notable moments in this last stretch; much of it was spent reminiscing about our adventures. Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail had been on our short list for years, and it had captured my interest ever since my solo road trip in 2018, when I watched lines of thru-hikers outside the ranger station, eagerly hoping for walk-up permits. This trail is a must for any backcountry lover, offering an incredible multi-day experience. With its many forks and zones, it’s the kind of trail you want to hike again and again, each time offering a new adventure. I can’t wait for my next journey through the Tetons, which continue to hold a special place in my heart.
PIN IT!
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you buy something through those links my blog will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me to create free resources like the one you just read, so thank you for the support!
