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). Around 5.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail split with an optional detour leading to the shore of Holly Lake. 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 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. An early start will also buy you a little solitude on the trail especially on the weekends.The trail to Paintbrush Divide begins at the String Lake Trailhead, just north of Jenny Lake. The summit and west ridge are totally exposed and not the place to be in a thunderstorm. Pick a day full of promise and get an early start so you reach the summit of Table Mountain by noon or one o’clock. See the driving directions below the detailed trail description for information on how to reach the trailhead The trail is located on the west side of the range near Driggs, Idaho. Behind you, to the southwest, the Teton Shelf and the high peaks rimming the South Fork of Teton Canyon dominate the view. Mount Moran, Thor Peak and Mount Woodring rise beyond Paintbrush Divide. To the north/northeast are incredible views of the summits towering above Cascade Canyon, the North Fork of Cascade Canyon and Paintbrush Divide. Directly across from the summit of Table Mountain a stunning quintet of the range’s iconic peaks Teewinot Mountain, Mount Owen, Grand Teton, Middle Teton and South Teton fills the skyline.Īs you stand atop Table Mountain you can trace the route of the Continental Divide as it runs south from Table Mountain’s summit to Hurricane Pass to the high peaks above Alaska Basin to Mount Meeks and the finally the high peaks rimming the Death Canyon Shelf. The summit of Table Mountain features breathtaking views of the Range stretching from Mount Moran in the north to the summits rising above Death Canyon to the south. It is a long, strenuous but truly amazing hike to one of the best viewpoints in the Teton Range. Table Mountain is my favorite west side hike. The trails on the west side typically require more effort before revealing views of the iconic peaks but are not nearly as crowded. Fewer people know about the trails on the west side of the range in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness in Targhee National Forest, which also feature terrific views of the range’s majestic granite summits. Grand Teton National Park on the east side of the Teton Range is renowned for great hiking trails with stunning views of the Teton Range.
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