After cutting off that hellacious segment, however, we enjoyed a much more peaceful hike as we finished the last couple miles along Jenny Lake’s northwest shore. While Cascade Canyon is swarming with hikers, especially below the forks, Paintbrush Canyon offers a remote wilderness setting. While it was probably only about a mile where the trail got painfully busy, it felt like an eternity. Needless to say, we opted to take a fork to the left and return directly to String Lake without visiting the overcrowded hotspots. Many visitors take the 12-minute boat shuttle across Jenny Lake to make the easy, two-mile round-trip walk to the falls and overlook.
The two landmarks – a viewpoint overlooking Jenny Lake and a 100-foot cascade – are two of the most popular spots in the Tetons. Tetons from the trail to Paintbrush Divide. That last short portion of trail along Cascade Creek is home to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. Teton Crest Backpacking Trail in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - Breathtaking views of towering granite. I was not at all comfortable with the throngs on people on that last section of trail, and we hastened our already quick pace just to get away from everyone. So much so, that for the first time in four months of hiking, we were forced to put on our masks. Unexpectedly, after a really beautiful, tranquil hike, the approach to Jenny Lake became appalling crowded. While we chose to continue up Paintbrush Canyon, a quick detour past the lakeshore wouldn’t have added any extra mileage to the route (as noted on trail map). The resulting trail damage now poses safety hazards to hikers who. The eastern slope is comprised of scree (a general term for a loose rock field) and over time, water flow from melting snow and yearly visitor use has eroded and shifted the trail. Around 5.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail split with an optional detour leading to the shore of Holly Lake. Paintbrush Divide is the highest point along the Teton Crest Trail at 10,700 feet in elevation. The forest quickly thinned as the trail climbed more steeply through the canyon, gaining 3,200 vertical feet over the next 4.5 miles. Hiking this direction allowed us to ascend the steeper section of trail first, and to enjoy continuous views of Grand Teton and the Cathedral Group as we descended through Cascade Canyon on the return.įor the first 3.5 miles, the trail climbed gently through the forests along the shore of String Lake to Paintbrush Canyon, offering a quick glimpse of Leigh Lake. The Paintbrush Canyon - Cascade Canyon Loop is a very strenuous 19.9 mi (32 km) loop hike with 4,480 ft (1,365 m) elevation gain and an average slope of 9.
The trail can be hiked in either direction, and we ultimately opted to hike counterclockwise. Parking is fairly limited, so we’d recommend getting there early to secure a spot.
Those planning to complete the Paintbrush-Cascade Loop should stop by the Jenny Lake Ranger Station to speak with a ranger about conditions on Paintbrush Divide, as the divide often holds snow until mid-July and can be dangerous if. The trail to Paintbrush Divide begins at the String Lake Trailhead, just north of Jenny Lake. The trail does continue from Lake Solitude however, passing over Paintbrush Divide and down Paintbrush Canyon.
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