If you choose to complete the loop by hiking the trail around the northwest shore of Jenny Lake that leads back to the String Lake parking area. However, many hikers and backpackers like to take the boat ride across Jenny Lake and spare themselves a couple miles of hiking. Just before Inspiration Point overlooking Jenny lake, a trail to the left, not shown on some maps, will lead straight to the String Lake parking lot, bypassing the Jenny Lake boat dock and the most popular hiking destination spot in Grand Teton Park, Hidden Falls. The trail gently drops through meadows, forest, and ponds while cascading streams flow from the canyon sides, this area is a great place to spot a moose, in August, wild raspberries and thimble berries grow. Heading down through this classic glacial valley provide views of Mt Owen (12,928 ft), the Grand Teton (13,770 ft), Teewinot Mountain (12,325 ft), are inspiring. along the way to the bottom of Cascade Canyon. From Lake Solitude, you'll walk 7.2 miles, dropping 2,250 ft. The trail from Lake Solitude down to the Cascade Canyon provides beautiful views of the Grand Teton and the surrounding mountains. Lake Solitude high in the Grand Teton backcountry ofGrand Teton National Park Lake Solitude is a beautiful spot to spend some time if you have any. Lake Solitude is a small alpine lake perched in the steep-walled basin forming the upper end of Cascade Canyon. You traverse broad switchbacks to reach Lake Solitude at elevation 9035 ft. The west side of the pass the trail winds down 2.4 miles and drops 1,700 foot of elevation and can be extremely dangerous early in the year due slow melting of the snow. The views from the pass are breath taking, Mt Moran to the north, and the rock needles of Cathedral Group to the south is a sight to behold.

Paintbrush Divide, elevation 10,645 ft, is 2.4 miles above Holly Lake. Small meadows contain many wildflowers including the Indian Paintbrush the namesake for the canyon, At 1.6 miles in you will turn right on the Paintbrush Canyon Trail and begin a moderate climb of 4.6 miles where you will pass Holly Lake.Īlong the way, the spectacular views of the steep canyon walls will frame the panoramic views below of Leigh and Jackson Lakes. For that reason, it's advisable to get an early start and try to cross the open divide by noon, the top of a mountain is not a place to be in a Teton thunderstorm.įrom the parking lot take the east side of the String Lake forest trail and cross the bridge between String and Leigh Lakes. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoon for most of the summer. Higher up you’ll find the alpine country, with its talus slopes, glaciers, and globe flowers, Glacier Lilies, and Alpine Forget-me-nots, the park flower. In Cascade and Paintbrush Canyons you will see boulder fields and subalpine forests of fir, Engelmann Spruce, Limber and White Bark Pines Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, American Pikas, and Yellow-bellied Marmots may be seen in the area. After August it is easily traversed without an ice axe, trekking poles are always useful on extreme day hikes and make the small snow excursions even easier but it might not hunt to have an ice axe along if you go earlier than August. A snowfield makes the trail a bit tricky as you cross the Divide until early August. Also, it’s steeper which is more pleasant to go up than down, and gets the hard part over with while you are still fresh. It's best to go up the Paintbrush Canyon first because it allows turning around if the quicker if ice/snow at the divide is a problem. The Paintbrush Divide trail makes up the first part of a great loop hike that carries you across the Divide (10,720 feet), passing Lake Solitude as it winds back down to the Cascade Canyon. Hidden Falls Cascade Canyon grand Teton National Park

Paintbrush divide trail conditions