Day Hikes In Grand Teton National Park, 5th

by Robert Stone (2)

Overview

Grand Teton National Park may be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring parks of the Rocky Mountains. The craggy Teton peaks reach as high as 13,770 feet, forming a bony ridge through Wyoming along the Continental Divide. Fronting the Teton Range lies the twisting and curving Snake River, winding its way down the Jackson Hole Valley. The reflections of the Tetons gently ripple across the river's serene water.Now in its 5th edition, Day Hikes In Grand Teton National Park includes a thorough selection of 89 day hikes throughout this national park and around the town of Jackson. The hikes include easy-to-follow directions and are well organized by region, making the valley and mountain range easily accessible for everyone. The book offers many options for hiking—from exploring a short distance from the trailhead to climbing thousands of feet in elevation through canyons that lead up to fantastic vantage points. Highlights include lakeshore paths, cascading creeks, rock-walled canyons, panoramic overlooks, waterfalls, hot springs, fishermen trails, prime wildlife habitats, North America's largest landslide, and two hikes atop the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. The hikes range from well-known destinations (like Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake) to quiet, backcountry trails.The author has written extensively on Montana and Wyoming hiking trails and has personally hiked all of these trails. Companion guides include Day Hikes In Yellowstone National Park and Day Hikes In the Beartooth Mountains.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781573420693
Publisher:	Day Hike Books, Inc.
Publication date:	03/18/2014
Series:	Day Hikes Series
Edition description:	Fifth Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Since 1991, Robert Stone has been writer, photographer, and publisher of Day Hike Books. He is a Los Angeles Times Best Selling Author and an award-winning journalist of the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers, the Outdoor Writers Association of California, the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association, the Bay Area Travel Writers, and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Robert resides summers in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and winters on the California Central Coast.

Read an Excerpt

Hike 78. Rendezvous Mountain—Granite Canyon Loop. Jackson Hole Ski Resort.Hiking distance: 12.4 miles round tripHiking time: 6 hoursConfiguration: tram ride to summit, then large loopElevation loss (after tram ride): 4,1 00 feetDifficulty: strenuousExposure: exposed mountain tops and forest canyonsDogs: not allowedMaps: U.S.G.S. Rendezvous Peak & Teton Village Rendezvous Mountain Trail Map • Adventure Maps: Jackson Hole Beartooth Publishing: Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, Teton Valley National Geographic Trails Illustrated: rand Teton Nat'l. ParkThis large loop trail in the Bridger-Teton National Forest connects Rendezvous Mountain—at Jackson Hole Ski Resort—with Granite Canyon at the south end of the national park. The hike begins by taking the aerial tram from Teton Village to the top of the mountain. From the summit, the trail enters Grand Teton National Park and, for the most part, follows a downhill course. The Rendezvous Mountain Trail links the summit to Granite Canyon, looping around the upper northwest slope of Rendezvous Mountain. The trail crosses through enormous alpine meadows marbled with small streams and teaming with wildflowers before dropping into Granite Canyon, where there are great views down the rugged creek drainage. The Granite Canyon Trail descends along the cascading creek through a forest between the steep, towering canyon walls.To the trailhead:From the town square in downtown Jackson, drive 1.4 miles south on Highway 89 to Highway 22. Turn right and drive 4 miles to Wyoming Highway 390—the Moose-Wilson Road. Turn right (north) and continue 7 miles to Teton Village. Turn left and park in the parking lot by the tram a short distance ahead.The hike:Take the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain at an elevation of 10,450 feet. Exit the tram and follow the unpaved road west towards Cody Bowl, a glacial cirque. Pass a trail on the left to a posted junction on the right near Cody Bowl.Bear right on the footpath towards Marion Lake and Granite Canyon, entering Grand Teton National Park in a high alpine setting. Head down the hillside and cut back on the switchback to the left. The path curves to the right under a towering vertical cirque. Cross a drainage and ascend the mountainside while overlooking Granite Canyon. Top the ridge and descend into a pine forest and then into meadows. Cross over the South Fork Granite Creek to vast open meadows and a posted junction with the Middle Fork Cutoff Trail at 3.5 miles. The left fork leads to Teton Crest and Marion Lake. Stay to the right and descend the open, sloping meadow surrounded by mountains. Pass through pockets of evergreens into forested Granite Canyon. Cross two log footbridges over Granite Creek to the patrol cabin on the left and a posted junction at 5.2 miles. To the left also leads to Marion Lake along the Teton Crest Trail.Bear right (down canyon) on the Granite Canyon Trail, and cross a bridge over a tributary stream. Head down the south-facing wall of the canyon. Cross another bridge over a stream below a 100-foot waterfall off the north canyon wall. Continue down canyon, passing rocky beaches to a T-junction at 9.9 miles at the base of the canyon. The left fork leads to Phelps Lake.Bear right (south) and cross two bridges over Granite Creek to a junction a short distance ahead at 1 0 miles. Take the Valley Trail to the right towards Teton Village. Climb over a small ridge and drop into a valley. Traverse the hillside through aspen groves to a junction at the national park boundary. Leave the park on the right fork, staying on the Valley Trail. Pass the ski maintenance area, and follow the hiking path signs back to the tram.

Table of Contents

(1) Moose Junction area (2) Phelps Lake area: Death Canyon trailhead (3) Phelps Lake area: Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve (4) Bradley and Taggart Lakes; Lupine Meadows (5) Jenny Lake: South Jenny Lake trailhead (6) String Lake and Leigh Lake (7) Lower Jackson Lake area: Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay (8) John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway; Flagg Ranch (9) Moran Junction to Moose Junction; East side of Jackson Hole (10) Gros Ventre Range (11) Around the town of Jackson; Snow King Mountain; Gros Ventre Range (12) South of Jackson; Bridger Tetons to Gros Ventre Range (13) Teton Village and Jackson Hole Ski Resort (14) West of Jackson: Jackson to Victor, Idaho; Teton Pass Trail Network (15) Index