Hiking Collection by Zachary
Teton Crest Trail — Exploring the Wild Side of the Grand Tetons
4 days
4-7 h/day
64.9km
2,610m
2,880m
The slopes of Grand Teton National Park welcome you with open arms, but you must be prepared for their alpine embrace. This is not a beginner hike. Most of the trail is above 9,000 feet of elevation, and snow lingers deep into the summer months. August and September tend to offer the best hiking. Late July and October tend to retain snowpack, particularly on the Paintbrush Divide, and may require experience with crampons and ice axes to safely traverse; in this case, alternate routes down Cascade Canyon or other trails in the park may provide equally scenic alternatives. Weather in the high mountains often brings afternoon thunderstorms, and the temperature can change rapidly.
Be aware that you are sharing the park with wildlife, including black and grizzly bears, and sections of the park can be closed seasonally for bald eagle or bighorn sheep habitat. Hanging food is not allowed in Grand Teton, but you can check out a portable bear-resistant container for free when you pick up your permit from the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center, or Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Bear boxes are also available at some campsites, and it is recommended to cook, wash pots and pans, and store odorous materials 300 feet downwind of your tent site. Water access is easy to come by in Grand Teton, and you will never be far from an alpine lake or stream from which you can filter drinking water.
Most backpackers opt to hike the TCT heading northbound; this typically means leaving your car at String Lake (the northern trailhead) and taking one of the local taxi services south to either Phillips Pass (the official start of the TCT, outside of the national park) or Teton Village (an alternate, slightly easier starting point that stays within park boundaries). If you're taking a taxi, it’s a good idea to arrange all the details of your ride before you head out for the day, since you may not have service at the trailhead. A cheaper option, if you have multiple cars, is to park at both trailheads. The trail is well-maintained, but the route the TCT follows is not marked at every junction, so it’s a good idea to bring a printed map as well as your downloaded itinerary.
There are hundreds of backcountry campsites available within the park, all of which require a $20 permit and a $7 fee per person, per night (not including the park entrance fee). Permits can be reserved ahead of time, but two-thirds are reserved for walk-ins, so be prepared to change your plans as necessary given the availability of sites. Most people complete this 40-mile traverse in 4-6 days. In this guide, I outline a four-day trek that splits your adventure into even ~10-mile segments. However, I also discuss multiple alternatives for each section of the hike, as it is very likely that your own backpacking experience will look slightly different based on the conditions in the mountains. Ultimately, when you check in at the ranger station to pick up your permit, the rangers there will have the best suggestions for your itinerary based on the trail conditions, weather, wildlife, and permit availability.
Walk-in permits must be obtained the day before you start your hike, and reserved permits must be claimed by 10:00 am the day before, or they will become available to walk-ins. For the best chance of getting a permit, arrive at the ranger station at least an hour or two before they open… Yes, this trail is popular. The rangers may be able to change your permits to different zones or sites, and you’ll have some extra flexibility in the form of three backcountry locations along the southern half of the TCT, which are outside of Grand Teton National Park. These let you camp for free, without a permit or a prior reservation. Yet despite the competition surrounding park permits, or perhaps because of it, the trail itself remains fairly remote. Millions of visitors look up at the front range of the Tetons each year, but the TCT offers a rare opportunity to experience the heart of the mountains firsthand.
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Teton Crest Trail — Grand Teton National Park
63.8km
2,620m
2,890m
Last updated: December 15, 2025
Do it yourself!
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Activities
17.2km
07:37
1,020m
560m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
12.8km
04:45
360m
290m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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15.7km
06:50
570m
870m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
19.2km
07:43
670m
1,170m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Collection Stats
Activities
4
Distance
64.9 km
Duration
26:55 h
Elevation
2,610 m
2,880 m
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