Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Canyon, where the trail branches up the South Fork to the
South Fork Cascade Camping
Zone
(19 campsites). You can start the hike from Jenny Lake and spend night one at the
South Fork Camping Zone after hiking up Cascade Canyon Trail; this shaves off a day.
DAY 3: SOUTH FORK CASCADE CAMPING ZONE TO ALASKA
BASIN
3-3½ HOURS, 6.1 MILES, 1992FT ASCENT
The trail climbs up to
Avalanche Divide
junction: head right (southwest) to
Hurricane
Pass
(10,372ft), which has unsurpassed views of Grand, South and Middle Tetons. (An
excursion from the Avalanche Divide junction leads 1.6 miles to the divide, a scenic over-
look above Snowdrift Lake.) From the pass the trail descends into the Jedediah Smith
Wilderness, past Sunset Lake, into the
Basin Lakes
of the Alaska Basin, where you'll
find several popular campsites. No permits are needed here since you're outside the park,
but you must camp at least 300ft from lakes and 50ft from streams.
DAY 4: ALASKA BASIN TO MARION LAKE
4½ HOURS, 8.2 MILES
The trail crosses South Fork Teton Creek on stepping stones and switchbacks up the
Sheep Steps to the wide saddle of
Mt Meek Pass
(9718ft) to re-enter the park. The trail
dips for the next 3 miles into the stunning plateau of
Death Canyon Shelf
and camping
zone. Past the turnoff to Death Canyon, the it climbs to
Fox Creek Pass
(9560ft) and con-
tinues southwest over a vague saddle to
Marion Lake
and its designated campsites.
DAY 5: MARION LAKE TO TETON VILLAGE
5 HOURS, 9.7 MILES
The trail descends into the Upper Granite Canyon Camping Zone and continues past the
Upper Granite Canyon patrol cabin to the junction with the Valley Trail. From here con-
tinue south to the Granite Canyon Trailhead or straight on to Teton Village.
OTHER COMBINATIONS
The Teton Crest Trail can be accessed from the east by several steep canyons. Trailheads
(south to north) are: Granite Canyon, Death Canyon, Taggart Lake, Lupine Meadows,
Jenny Lake and String Lake/Leigh Lake. Hike canyon-to-canyon to make a combination
hike of any length. Options include the following:
Open Canyon to Granite Canyon
One-night 19.3-mile loop from the Granite Creek
Trailhead.
