Grand Teton National Park is a hiker’s paradise full of majestic mountains, sparkling lakes, and abundant wildlife. Hitting the trail is a special way to feel the magic of this national park, and this article is here to help you find the best easy hikes in Grand Teton!
No matter your age, ability, or skill level, there is a fabulous hike in Grand Teton for you. The best easy hikes in Grand Teton are the Lake Creek, Taggart Lake, Hidden Falls, Lakeshore, and Leigh Lake Trails.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I think that this park is best seen from the trail, which is why I’m so excited to share the best easy hikes in Grand Teton with you. Let’s talk about your hiking options!
What are the Best Easy Hikes in Grand Teton?
Grand Teton has many easy hiking options and spectacular miles of trails. Each trail provides a unique experience to see the park’s famous mountains and alpine lakes!
If a trail is less than three miles, doesn’t gain more than 300 feet of elevation, and is somewhere I take my own small children, it’s included in this list of the best easy hiking trails in Grand Teton.
Lake Creek Trail
The Lake Creek Trail leads to the shores of Phelps Lake, a stunning lake that sits at the base of the dramatic Death Canyon. You’ll enjoy a lovely walk through the woods as you follow a creek to the lake.
Lake Creek Trail Information
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 270 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
Your hike begins at the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve, where you’ll enter the forest and follow a wide, mostly flat trail through the trees. The Lake Creek Trail is named for the creek of the same name that babbles alongside the trail for most of the way.
About halfway through your hike, you’ll step out of the forest as the landscape opens up to spectacular views of Phelps Lake and Death Canyon. There are a few small beach areas where you can relax, dip your feet in the water, and marvel at Death Canyon.
When you’re ready, you can either turn back and return the way you came or walk counter-clockwise around the lakeshore for a few steps to find the Woodland Trail. The Woodland Trail isn’t as picturesque as the Lake Creek Trail, but it is a little bit shorter and will provide different views as you make your way back to your vehicle.
Take a few moments to step inside the Rockefeller Preserve while you’re in the area to enjoy the displays and the sound room!
(ALTERNATIVE) Another easy hike in the area is the Phelps Lake Overlook. This trail takes you closer to Death Canyon to a view of Phelps Lake from above.
Location
The Lake Creek Trail begins at the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve, located along the Moose-Wilson Road on the southern end of the park. Vehicles longer than 23 feet aren’t permitted on this road.
Parking at the Preserve is tricky, so check out this itinerary for tips and tricks for getting a spot.
Taggart Lake Trail
If you are looking for beautiful views of the Grand Teton reflected in the water of a sparkling lake, then the Taggart Lake Trail is the hike for you! This easy hike provides some of the best mountain views without all of the mileage and elevation gain that is typical of most trails in this park.
Taggart Lake Trail Information
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 280 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
This trail can be a loop, but I typically just like to hike to the lake and back without the added mileage and elevation of the loop trail. As you start hiking along the Taggart Lake Trail, take a right to hike the most direct route to the lake.
You’ll travel through trees and meadows on your way to the lake, occasionally passing by a roaring creek and catching a glimpse of the Tetons. You’ll have many good opportunities to spot wildlife as you hike — I’ve seen bears and moose on this trail often, so I recommend hiking with bear spray while in Grand Teton National Park.
After hiking for about a mile, you’ll see a trail that branches off towards Bradley Lake. Stay to the left at this junction to continue on to Taggart Lake. You’ll be at the lakeshore in no time, at which point you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Tetons while sitting on the rock that juts out into the lake.
When you’re ready, head back the way you came. If you want to make your hike a loop, you can continue going counter-clockwise along the shoreline.
(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes/activities in the area include Murie Ranch or Menors Ferry.
Location
The Taggart Lake Trailhead is located 3 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station.
BEAR SAFETY 101
You may encounter both grizzly bears and black bears while hiking in Grand Teton National Park. Learn how to prevent an encounter, what to do if you see a bear, and where to get bear spray so that you can be confident on the trail!
Hidden Falls Trail
The hike to Hidden Falls takes you on an exciting adventure across Jenny Lake and up to a roaring 100-foot waterfall! Hidden Falls is one of the best easy hikes in Grand Teton because it’s short, it provides picturesque views of the mountains, and you get the added fun of riding a boat across the lake to see a beautiful waterfall.
Hidden Falls Trail Information
Distance: 1.1 miles roundtrip with the shuttle boat (5.2 miles without)
Elevation: 185 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
To take the shortened, family-friendly version of this trail, you’ll need to catch the Jenny Lake boat shuttle. Taking the boat shaves off about 4 miles of this trail, so it makes a big difference in how much hiking you’ll have to do to get to the waterfall.
When you disembark the Jenny Lake shuttle, you’ll follow the signs to Hidden Falls. Even though this is one of the most popular hikes and is usually extremely crowded, be on the lookout for bears while you hike. They frequent the area due to the abundance of huckleberry bushes available to them during the summer!
After a short hike, you’ll reach the base of Hidden Falls. If you’d like to continue along the trail, I highly suggest hiking the additional half-mile up the Inspiration Point Trail — or going even further into Cascade Canyon along the Cascade Canyon Trail for incredible Teton views.
(ALTERNATIVE) The park’s multi-use path can be accessed from here at South Jenny Lake. You can walk, run, or bike your way through the valley with views of the mountains.
Location
The Hidden Falls Trailhead is located at South Jenny Lake, about 9 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station.
Lakeshore Trail
The Lakeshore Trail is a flat and peaceful walk along the shores of Jackson Lake, with the Tetons towering in the distance. This is a great area for wildlife spotting and taking photos of the dramatic Mount Moran.
Lakeshore Trail Information
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 85 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
This trail follows the shoreline of Jackson Lake as it loops around a couple of small “islands” that jut out into the water. You’ll get lovely views of the lake, marina, and mountains while hiking among the trees.
You can make this trail as short as you want, depending on how far you want to walk — just turn around when you’re ready (there’s no real destination). The Colter Bay Swim Beach is just a short distance from the Lakeshore Trail, so be sure to bring your swimsuit if you want to take a dip in the chilly water while you’re here!
(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include Lunch Tree Hill and Heron Pond.
Location
The Lakeshore Trail is located behind the Colter Bay Visitor Center in the northern area of the park.
Leigh Lake Trail
Leigh Lake sits at the base of Mount Moran and provides a quieter experience among the mountains than its neighbor, String Lake. This easy trail travels along String Lake with its towering Teton views, past a few good swimming spots, and to the Leigh Lake shoreline, where you can canoe, paddleboard, or swim in solitude!
Leigh Lake Trail Information
Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 40 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
The Leigh Lake Trail is mostly flat and easy as it follows the shoreline of String and Leigh Lakes. This trail can be a lot longer than 1.8 miles if you want to hike further around Leigh Lake, but it’s not necessary unless you plan on doing some backcountry camping.
For a unique experience, you can put your canoe into String Lake, paddle to the very northern part of the lake, and get out and carry (portage) it 0.1 miles to Leigh Lake, where you can then enjoy the pristine waters and views without the crowds. This is a fun way to experience Leigh Lake with very little hiking required!
Otherwise, your hike begins near the bathrooms at the Leigh Lake Trailhead. As you hike along the String Lake shoreline, you’ll pass by several fantastic swimming spots before reaching Leigh Lake. The views from the Leigh Lake portage are stunning, as well as the views as you follow the shoreline a little further.
(ALTERNATIVE) If you’re looking for a challenge, this trail will take you to the Paintbrush Canyon Trail, where you can hike to Holly Lake or the Paintbrush Divide.
Location
The Leigh Lake Trail begins at the Leigh Lake Trailhead in the North Jenny Lake area of the park. You’ll drive like you’re going to String Lake and follow the road all the way to the dead-end.
Traffic and crowding in Grand Teton can be terrible.
Did you know that it’s common to get stuck in traffic for an hour or more just trying to enter the park or get parking at trailheads?
Are you hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people?
Stay ahead of the crowds with this Grand Teton Itinerary. You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
What are the Best Wheelchair-Friendly Trails in Grand Teton?
Unfortunately, due to the steep and rugged nature of most trails in Grand Teton, there are not many wheelchair-friendly trails. You can find more specific and detailed information on the park’s website, but here are a few notable options:
Multi-Use Pathway — this paved path travels from the town of Jackson all the way up to South Jenny Lake and is the best trail option for wheelchairs in the park! The Teton views from here are simply magical as you work your way closer and closer to the mountains. There is a large hill between the Moose Entrance and the Taggart Lake Trailhead, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when making plans to travel this trail with a wheelchair.
South Jenny Lake — there is a small network of paved pathways that travel between the buildings and down to the boat dock and lakeshore of Jenny Lake. A wheelchair-accessible viewing platform has been built to get you close to the water.
String Lake Trail — a 0.5-mile portion of the String Lake Trail (from the String Lake Trailhead to the picnic area near the Leigh Lake Trailhead) is hard-packed dirt that is wheelchair accessible. This will provide views of String Lake and the Tetons.
Colter Bay Marina — a 0.3-mile section of paved pathway can be accessed from the Colter Bay Amphitheater (right next to the visitor center). This path travels to the marina and provides views of Jackson Lake and the Teton Range.
Rockefeller Preserve — a short trail leads to a view of Lake Creek and a small waterfall.
Grand Teton Hiking Regulations
To protect this beautiful place and leave it better than you found it, please follow these regulations:
- Don’t take anything. Rocks, flowers, sticks, antlers, etc., must stay in the national park. If you find something cool, take a picture of it, but please don’t remove it.
- Stay on the trail. Please don’t make your own trail or follow trails that other people have made. This is for your own safety and to prevent soil erosion and stomping of plants.
- Don’t feed or approach the wildlife. These animals need to be able to find food on their own in order to survive the harsh winters, and they often become aggressive and transmit diseases to humans if fed. Maintain a safe distance from the park’s wildlife to avoid injury or death.
- Don’t leave food or backpacks unattended, even for a quick minute. Always keep your pack within arms reach while hiking or camping in Grand Teton to avoid unwanted wildlife encounters.
- Pets are not allowed on any park trails. See where you can take your pets if you bring them to the park.
What are the Best Longer Day Hikes in Grand Teton?
If you’re able to hike longer distances and are feeling extra adventurous, Grand Teton has so many epic longer trails that shouldn’t be missed! These trails are definitely not easy, but if you’re looking for a challenge, consider hiking to Lake Solitude, Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, Death Canyon, Paintbrush Canyon, or along the famous Teton Crest Trail.
Lake Solitude
The hike to Lake Solitude through Cascade Canyon is the park’s best-known long dayhike. You won’t have this trail to yourself, but you’ll travel deep into the Tetons with the opportunity to see moose and bears, waterfalls, and some of the best views of Grand Teton reflected in a beautiful alpine lake.
Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes
The thigh-burning trail to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes quickly takes you high into the Tetons! You’ll love the views of the Cathedral Group and nearby cliffs from these lakes.
Death Canyon
Don’t let the name scare you — the hike up Death Canyon is a spectacular way to spend a day out in the mountains.
Paintbrush Canyon
The trail up Paintbrush Canyon is another of Grand Teton’s most famous long hikes. It’s a good climb, but you’ll love the dramatic views as you make your way up to Holly Lake. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, continue steeply to the top of the Paintbrush Divide!
Teton Crest Trail
The Teton Crest Trail is a 40-mile trail through some of the best mountain scenery in the country. Need I say more??
This park has so many magnificent hikes to enjoy. I hope you enjoy these easy trails in Grand Teton National Park — happy hiking!
More Grand Teton Trip Planning Information
Grand Teton Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Grand Teton — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Grand Teton? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
The Best Things to Do In Grand Teton — activities for your whole group.
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Grand Teton — the top 12 spots.
The Ultimate Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
This post may contain affiliate links. Dirt In My Shoes gets paid a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase from these links. Thanks for your support!
Leave a Reply