#Paintbrush divide trail conditions full#

Skies continued to threaten, but mostly held off, and we made Granite Canyon, our first night’s camp. We took our own lunch hunkered under large spruce to wait out a thunder shower. Where we disturbed this young buck’s flower lunch: We switch backed down thru groves of trees and traversed meadows: Waffles gone, we hit the trail where we passed the parapenter launch site. Interestingly, the staff spoke Russian, English was clearly a second language: We heard about waffles served at the top of the tram, so we did the tourist thing and gave ‘em a try. Yep, we wussed out and took the Jackson Hole tram, which deposits you at 10,450’! Permit in hand, we relocated to our exit point, the String Lake parking lot, and waited for the taxi we had booked. We nearly got our perfect itinerary, too. We pulled into an almost empty, still shadowed, Moose Visitor Center lot at 7:45 AM and waited outside the main doors. Jackson Hole Tram top terminal to Granite Canyon. The new plan: get to Idaho Falls for a hotel room, food resupply, and some shut eye before a 4 AM departure for the Moose Visitor Center where we could get our permit. =8&t=13669Įveryone decided to forgo hot showers so we could hurry towards Teton National Park and TCT permit. We found the A/T Lake loop deserved its fame as the best short Sawtooth Wilderness loop. Since most of the TCT is above 10,000 feet we hiked the Sawtooth Wilderness’s Alice Lake/Toxaway Lake loop to acclimate. After passing along the base of Mount Owen, the loop exits the mouth of Cascade Canyon then follows the shores of Jenny Lake back to the trailhead.Teton Crest Trail: Mountains, Flowers, Rocks, and a Birthdayįor my wife’s 60th birthday we chose to do the Teton Crest Trail, TCT, a +/- 40 mile trail along the Teton Range’s crest from, historically, Teton Pass to Paintbrush Divide before descending Paintbrush Canyon to exit at String Lake. Surrounded by steep canyon walls on three sides, the trail winds through the basin and awards endless mountain views as you descend.

#Paintbrush divide trail conditions full#

According to the article, 'At 10,700 feet, Paintbrush Divide is one of the highest points you can reach on a maintained trail in Grand Teton National Park.' The views from the high point are impeccable, the dramatic skyline full of jagged peaks contrasting the lush, swooping canyons below.įrom here, the remainder of the run is downhill, beginning with a visit to Lake Solitude. Though the 'views of the divide from the shore area are outstanding,' according to, 'note that it can be fairly marshy around the tarn, so access may be limited depending on your timing.' Whether you keep right to the lake or stay left (mapped) along the Paintbrush Canyon Trail, both merge back together and continue to Paintbrush Divide. Bear bells and bear spray also come highly recommended.Ībout 6 miles from the trailhead, the route reaches a junction with a spur that leads to Holly Lake. In addition to an abundance of wild berries, Paintbrush Canyon 'is known for its outstanding wildflower displays, including blue columbine, Indian paintbrush, and mountain gentian.' Bears are especially common throughout the canyons, and the Forest Service suggests groups of at least three people to help deter encounters.

Plan accordingly, and don't hesitate to turn around if the weather turns sour.

Afternoon thunderstorms also pose a danger at the higher elevations and can even prove fatal if ignored.

Snow and ice are still possible even through August, and it's suggested to contact a park ranger for the latest trail conditions before attempting the run. According to, 'if you were to run into problems with weather or snow near Paintbrush Divide, this route would allow you to turn around and return to the trailhead faster.' The counter-clockwise direction probably offers the best views as the lighting changes throughout the day. This loop shares a trailhead with Leigh Lake and String Lake.