Grand Teton National Park: Teton Crest Trail
Trace the crest of the Tetons on this classic 38.1-mile point-to-point in Grand Teton National Park.
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INFO For information on permits, current trail and camp conditions, and wilderness guidelines, go to nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/things2know.htm.
PERMIT A wilderness permit is required for all overnight camping in the backcountry. Reservations accepted ($20 administrative fee for permits during peak season). nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/back.htm
CONTACT Grand Teton National Park, (307) 739-3300; nps.gov/grte/
-Mapped by Michael Lanza
TO TRAILHEAD: Shuttle car: From Jackson, go north 12 miles; turn left on Teton Park Rd. In 8.5 miles, turn left on Jenny Lake Rd. In 2.5 miles, turn left on String Lake Rd. Park in .3 mile.
To trailhead: Return to Jackson and turn west on US 191 S/W Broadway. In 1.4 miles, turn right onto WY 22 W/Teton Pass Hwy. In 9.5 miles, take a sharp right onto Phillips Canyon Tr. Go .4 miles to the trailhead.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 61.3
Waypoints
TCT001
Location: 43.50925, -110.923526
Hike north from the trailhead.
TCT002
Location: 43.516222, -110.917754
Stay right at the fork, heading north.
TCT003
Location: 43.539309, -110.917068
Turn left on Phillips Canyon Trail.
TCT004
Location: 43.548222, -110.931981
At Phillips Pass, turn right and trace the crest of the ridge east, then north.
TCT005
Location: 43.563539, -110.924363
Continue north on the Teton Crest Trail.
TCT006
Location: 43.589965, -110.923204
Turn right, and climb switchbacks to a 9,085-foot saddle.
TCT007
Location: 43.592825, -110.921359
Descend to Middle Fork Granite Creek.
TCT008
Location: 43.60103, -110.921316
Continue straight at the 3-way.
TCT009
Location: 43.613457, -110.927787
Continue straight at the 3-way junction.
TCT010
Location: 43.618179, -110.929804
Continue straight at the 3-way junction, and climb out of the tiered basin.
TCT011
Location: 43.622734, -110.927603
Pass turquoise Marion Lake (and potential campsites) on a grassy bench. Ahead, watch for elk roaming through the next lonely, five-mile stretch.
TCT012
Location: 43.628651, -110.927196
Cross a small saddle at mile 15.2, and continue north for less than two miles to Fox Creek Pass.
TCT013
Location: 43.646091, -110.910094
Cross Fox Creek Pass, a meadow with sweeping northeast views of the Tetonsâ??s vaulted skyline (in July, lupine and columbine splash the scene with blue, purple, and yellow). From here, traverse north-northeast.
TCT014
Location: 43.650004, -110.905523
Death Canyon Shelf: Traverse this three-mile-long, 900-foot-wide ledge. A 500-foot-tall cliff band rises to the west and a 200-foot ledge drops into Death Canyon to the east. There are year-round springs and several campsites, all with views of the Grand Teton and other peaks. Tip: Find sites by a creek with some low trees for wind protection.
TCT015
Location: 43.654033, -110.900317
Campsite: One of the park’s most spectacular (and remote) backcountry camps.
TCT016
Location: 43.65615, -110.89845
Potential campsite
TCT017
Location: 43.657583, -110.8987
Reliable spring
TCT018
Location: 43.684074, -110.874753
Make the gentle, 200-foot climb over 9,726-foot Mt. Meek Pass (you may not even notice it), then descend into Alaska Basin.
TCT019
Location: 43.691925, -110.868187
Descend the Sheep Steps switchbacks.
TCT020
Location: 43.694891, -110.853601
Pass popular campsites at Basin Lakes in Alaska Basin, speckled with granite and a cluster of lakes.
TCT021
Location: 43.706042, -110.855699
Continue straight, heading north.
TCT022
Location: 43.709793, -110.857174
Continue north past Sunset Lake (possible tentsites on flat slabs) and cross a high plateau.
TCT023
Location: 43.728253, -110.850719
Linger at 10,372-foot Hurricane Pass for top-of-the-world views of the Grand, Middle, and South Tetons, which rise just two miles to the east. Descend past Schoolroom Glacier.
TCT024
Location: 43.731147, -110.838921
Campsites: Turn right at the 3-way junction, heading south, to grab one of the uppermost sites in South Fork Cascade.
TCT025
Location: 43.73035, -110.838817
Campsites in the upper reaches of South Fork Cascade Canyon.
TCT026
Location: 43.733669, -110.83509
Descend switchbacks into South Fork Cascade Canyon.
TCT027
Location: 43.764462, -110.816903
Turn left into North Fork Cascade Canyon. Roughly a mile later, claim one of the first established camps for neck-cramping views of the Grandâ??5,500 feet overhead.
TCT028
Location: 43.777044, -110.825443
Campsite. Get an early start the next day to beat the afternoon heat on the relentless, 2,000-plus-foot climb to Paintbrush Divide.
TCT029
Location: 43.785696, -110.83103
Potential campsite near cascades and pools
TCT030
Location: 43.791977, -110.841494
Pass Lake Solitude, set in a stone cirque.
TCT031
Location: 43.793092, -110.818105
Crest Paintbrush Divide. (Got an extra night? Camp in the upper reaches of the canyon.) Next, descend 8.3 miles past cliffsâ??striped in browns, grays, and muted redsâ??to your shuttle car.
TCT032
Location: 43.789406, -110.801325
Keep right at the 3-way.
TCT033
Location: 43.788631, -110.790768
Keep right at the junction.
TCT034
Location: 43.796453, -110.738626
Swing left.
TCT035
Location: 43.797336, -110.729098
Cross String Lake, then turn right, heading south.
TCT036
Location: 43.792457, -110.725644
Continue straight.
TCT037
Location: 43.78867, -110.730638
The route ends at the trailhead east of String Lake. Pick up your shuttle car to return to the Death Canyon trailhead.