Fall is in the air, but there is still plenty of time to be outdoors and enjoy Jackson Hole. We wanted to share the best hike near Jackson Hole, but there are so many, we couldn’t choose just one!
The Summit Trail
This trail is great because it gets you up to 10,450 ft in elevation is under 15 minutes! The trailhead is accessed by riding the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram up the mountain, then the hike is all downhill from there. This moderate hike provides incredible views of the entire valley. You’ll pass the famed wintertime Corbet’s Couloir shoot. This hike will take 1-2 hours depending on if you grab the gondola to go down or hike all the way down to Teton Village.
Game Creek Trail
South of Jackson is the Game Creek Trail. Hiking is fairly easy as it starts off as an old road and then goes to singletrack about two miles from the trailhead. The trail winds through willows and pines and opens up to see the slopes above with splashes of wildflowers. You can hike 7 miles out and back or connect to the Cache Creek Trail. For the current status of the trail and reports from other hikers, check out alltrails.com.
Sleeping Indian
East of Jackson in the Gros Ventres Wilderness is a challenging 12-14 mile hike up Sleeping Indian. Locals call this peak "Sleeping Indian" because it resembles a Native American adorned in full headdress sleeping on his back, but its official name is Sheep Mountain, thanks to the bighorn sheep, which frequently graze in the area. Be ready to forge through sagebrush as you begin your hike. You may want to consider just a portion of this trail and hike to Blue Minor Lake.
Paintbrush Canyon - Cascade Canyon Loop
This is a long day-hike in Grand Teton National Park. Roundtrip, it’s 19.7 miles so you can decide how far you want to go. Late August or early September is the best time to go on this hike. The highest elevation on this hike is 10,700 feet and for most of the year, there is snow on the north-facing slopes. The trail takes you past several mountain lakes; String Lake, Leigh Lake, Holly Lake, and Lake Solitude. For more information on where to find the trailhead and specifics on the trail, visit tetonhkingtrails.com.
Before you lace up those hiking boots, check out these safety tips and what to pack for hiking in the area. Have a great hike!
