Just a few hundred yards off the road, things get a lot less crowded, and you'll have the views and the wildlife (almost) to yourself. The hikes described have an easy rating, but you'll find more challenging options later in the book.
- Cascade Canyon Trail: This hike can be short and sweet or long and rewarding. Make a day of it, or simply take a boat ride across the lake and hike to Hidden Falls, and you'll barely break a sweat.
- Signal Mountain Summit Trail: The hike to the summit of Signal Mountain is rewarding for its solitude. While everyone else drives to the top, you'll have the same views and be closer to the greenery and wildlife.
The Best Backcountry Trails
- Cascade Canyon Loop: Perhaps the most popular trail in Grand Teton, the Cascade Canyon Loop, which starts on the west side of Jenny Lake, winds northwest 9.5 miles on the Cascade Canyon Trail to Lake Solitude and the Paintbrush Divide, and then returns past Holly Lake on the 10-mile Paintbrush Canyon Trail. The payoff comes at the highest point, Paintbrush Divide, with marvelous views of Jackson Hole Valley and Leigh Lake.
