Although the trail system of Grand Teton National Park is not completed, numerous trails and side roads are maintained for the visitor. Additional trails are planned, and existing secondary trails in the newly acquired portions of the park will be developed. The more than 130 miles of trails that now exist in the park are described below. The Lakes Trail runs parallel to the mountains, following closely the base of the range and skirting the shore of each large body of water from Leigh Lake at the north to Phelps Lake at the south. Trails completely encircle Leigh, String, and Jenny Lakes. The Teton Glacier Trail extends up the east slope of the Grand Teton to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, unfolding matchless panoramas of the surrounding country. Amphitheater Lake is the starting point for the climb to the Teton Glacier. The Indian Paintbrush Canyon Trail starts near the outlet of Leigh Lake and follows up the bottom of the Indian The Cascade Canyon Trail passes through a chasm whose walls rise sheer on either side for thousands of feet. By this trail one penetrates into the deepest recesses of the Tetons, skirting the bases of several tall peaks. The north fork of Cascade Canyon Trail leads to Lake Solitude and the south fork leads to the Limestone Wall and Alaska Basin. The Death Canyon Trail traverses the full length of a canyon which in its lower portion is of profound depth and grandeur, as awesome as its name. It emerges above into broad sunny meadows. The trail up the north fork of Death Canyon leads to Alaska Basin and a junction with the trail from the south fork of Cascade Canyon. The former trail along the east face of the wall has been destroyed by rock slides and IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ANY TRAVEL. While trails are traversable during the greater part of the summer, some of them may be blocked by snow at the beginning of the season. Those visitors expecting to use the trails early in the summer should inquire at park headquarters or at the Jenny Lake Museum for information regarding their condition. The Jenny Lake Museum—Public Information Center. |