12 Best Easy Hikes in Grand Teton National Park (With Map)
You’ll find over 100 miles of hiking trails to explore at this stunning park. We share this list of the best easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park where you can enjoy mountain views, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife!
Use this Grand Teton National Park guide to plan the hikes you’ll take while on your vacation at this scenic park.
Here’s everything you need to know so you can add some easy Grand Teton hiking trails to your itinerary: hike length, time required, trailhead location, and full description.
Plus we share tips and guidelines for hiking at Grand Teton National Park. And you can download the free packing list including hiking gear and what to wear so you’re prepared for hitting the Grand Teton trails!
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A Photo Tour of Grand Teton National Park
Take a visual tour through Grand Teton National Park to see the stunning landscape and wildlife you’ll find in the park!
Grand Teton Hiking Tips and Guidelines
Hiking in Grand Teton National Park can be challenging due to the rugged landscape, high elevation, steep trails, and changes in Grand Teton National Park weather. It’s your responsibility to know your limits and pack the things you’ll need for the hike you take.
Use hydration packs or refillable water bottles to stay hydrated! The high elevation at Grand Teton National Park may cause breathing difficulties so pace yourself.
Tell someone where you’ll be hiking and when you expect to return
If you like to photograph Grand Teton National Park as much as we do, you’ll find an easy short hike that will take you to beautiful views of glacial lakes, pine forests, and jutting mountains!
Be sure you’re prepared with all the essentials you’ll need while hiking in Grand Teton:
Wildlife Safety Hiking in Grand Teton
Grand Teton National Park is home to variety of wild animals. While exploring the park’s hiking trails you can run into deer, elk, moose, black bears and grizzly bears.
When hiking in Grand Teton National Park, even if it’s on a short and busy trail, always be alert for wildlife.
When visiting Grand Teton National Park, ALWAYS carry and know how to use bear spray, especially if you’ll be exploring the hiking trails. It’s also good to make noise and hike in groups of three or more.
Best Time for Hiking at Grand Teton National Park
There are definite best times to visit Grand Teton National Park for setting out and hitting the trail.
Many Grand Teton hiking trails can be wet and muddy during the spring and early summer months. Valley trails are usually snow-free by mid-June. Snow may linger on higher elevation trails until late July. Make sure you have waterproof hiking shoes to handle wet trail conditions.
Be prepared for rapid weather changes – carry rain gear and extra layers.
Hiking at Grand Teton National Park in the winter requires warm clothing, insulated boots, and showshoes!
We recommend hiking in the morning when the lakes are calm in order to photograph reflections of the mountains in the water. And the sunlight on the mountains in the morning isn’t as harsh as it is during the day.
Plus it’s easier to score a parking spot at the most popular hiking trailheads in the morning!
Map of Easy Hiking Trails in Grand Teton
Use this interactive Google map of the easy hiking trails in Grand Teton to navigate around the park!
List of the best easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is known for its hiking trails. You’ll find a variety of Grand Teton day hikes that include easy, moderate, and strenuous trails.
This list includes the best easy hiking trails you’ll find at Grand Teton. Use the hike length, duration, and description to find the right hike for your interests and hiking ability. Many of these easy trails are great when hiking with kids.
1. Hidden Falls Trail
- Hike length: 1.3 miles roundtrip
- Time required: 1 to 2 hours
- Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake
The Hidden Falls trail begins at the Jenny Lake Trailhead. This popular hike at Grand Teton is considered easy if you take the 12 minute shuttle boat ride across the lake to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead. Note there is a fee for the Jenny Lake shuttle boat.
You can also hike the Jenny Lake Trail around the south end of Jenny Lake to reach Cascade Canyon, but that adds 2.4 miles each way to the total distance of this hike.
At the west shore boat dock you’ll find the Cascade Canyon Trailhead where the trail begins climbing through a conifer forest. You’ll soon cross over Cascade Canyon Creek. Around three-tenths of a mile, you’ll come to the Valley Trail, which also serves as the western portion of the loop hike around Jenny Lake.
About one half mile from the boat dock you’ll pass the horse trail leading up from Jenny Lake, where you’ll proceed straight ahead at this junction.
Soon after you’ll reach the short side trail that leads to Hidden Falls. Turn left here to enjoy the viewing area of this awesome waterfall that drops one hundred feet along rock steps.
Hidden Falls is one of the best day hikes at Grand Teton which means it’s a popular trail so expect crowds. We recommend you hike this trail in the early morning and early evening.
2. Inspiration Point Trail
- Hike Length: 2 miles roundtrip with the Jenny Lake shuttle / 5.8 miles roundtrip via the Jenny Lake Loop Trail
- Time Required: 2-4 hours
- Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake
To access the scenic Inspiration Point trail, follow the same directions above for Hidden Falls. After viewing the waterfall, head back to the main trail and turn left to continue to Inspiration Point.
At this point the hike climbs along a very rocky and rugged trail, with one short section that traverses a fairly steep ledge. Use caution along this stretch of the trail. The steep elevation gain is rewarded with one of the best views at Grand Teton National Park!
Due to this steep section of trail, the hike isn’t considered easy, but since it’s short and the view is so rewarding, we’ve added it to this list!
3. Lakeshore Trail
- Hike length: 2 miles roundtrip
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- Trailhead Location: Colter Bay Visitor Center
The Grand Teton Lakeshore Trail begins on the backside of the Colter Bay Visitor Center. The hike is basically two connecting loops that circle around the inner and outer portions of the wooded peninsula that forms Colter Bay.
Families with kids will find the Lakeshore Trail is one of the easiest hikes since it’s short and level.
Be on the lookout for the wildlife you may see on this scenic hike including bear, moose, elk, mule deer, beaver, muskrat, river otters, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, ospreys, great blue herons, snowshoe hares and martens.
You’ll enjoy picturesque views of the Teton mountains on this hike. The Lakeshore Trail is the perfect place to photograph Grand Teton National Park!
4. Phelps Lake Overlook Trail
- Hike length: 2 miles roundtrip
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- Trailhead Location: Death Canyon Trailhead
To access the Phelps Lake Overlook trail from Moose Junction, turn left onto Moose-Wilson Road and drive about 3 miles south to reach the turn-off for the Death Canyon Trailhead. Turn right and drive another 2 miles to the end of the road. Although the first mile of this road is paved, the last mile travels over a fairly rugged gravel road.
The park highly recommends using a 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach the trailhead. At the point where the paved road ends there’s a small parking area that allows people in 2-wheel drive vehicles to park and walk the last mile to the trailhead.
You’ll start the hike with a moderate climb through a forest that meets with the Valley Trail. Turn left onto the Valley Trail to continue towards the Phelps Lake Overlook.
In one mile you’ll arrive at the Phelps Lake Overlook that sits at an elevation of 7200 feet with stunning views!
If you’re up for a longer hike, continue along the Phelps Lake Trail another 1.4 miles to reach a small sandy beach area along the lake’s northern shore.
5. String & Leigh Lakes
- Hike length: 3.7 mile loop trail
- Time required: 2-3 hours
- Trailhead Location: String Lake Trailhead
Parking fills early in the String/Leigh Lakes area so plan to get an early start for a morning hike. Be sure you obey posted parking regulations here!
You can begin the String Lake Loop in either direction, but we recommend going counter-clockwise so you can photograph the mountains above String Lake illuminated by the early morning light.
We recommend hiking in the morning when the lakes are calm in order to photograph reflections of the mountains in the water. You’ll also have a better chance to see moose or mule deer along the trail in the morning.
Leigh Lake is a 3.7 mile roundtrip hike that’s also considered an easy trail. It begins at the Leigh Lake Trailhead.
There are only a few spots where you can reach the shoreline of Leigh Lake to see the views of the Tetons. One of the photo spots at Grand Teton is about 1.8 miles along the Leigh Lake trail. This is where we stop to enjoy the view, take photos, eat a snack, then head back.
6. Jenny Lake Loop Trail
- Hike length: 7.5 mile loop trail
- Time required: 3-5 hours
- Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake Trailhead
There is a paved path from the parking lot to the Jenny Lake boat dock to access the loop trail.
You can hike Jenny Lake Loop in either direction, but we like hiking counter-clockwise in the morning to catch the light on the Tetons.
We recommend you hike this trail in the morning to avoid the crowds. Jenny Lake is a popular area in the park and it can be hard to find parking!
Most of the Jenny Lake Loop trail is close to the shoreline where you can see and photograph the mountains.
In 5.1 miles you’ll reach a junction where the trail to the right goes to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. To continue the loop, turn left and cross the footbridge over Cascade Canyon Creek.
7. Taggart Lake Loop Trail
- Hike length: 3 miles roundtrip
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- Trailhead Location: Taggart Lake Trailhead, 2.3 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station
The Taggart Lake trail is an easy, out and back hike that provides amazing views of the Teton Range.
As you start the trail, you’ll hike up an aspen-covered moraine before the trail opens up to views of the Tetons.
At the Bradley Lake trail split, stay left to access Taggart Lake. The trail then flattens out and heads to the lakeshore.
Once you reach the destination you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the alpine lake with the Teton Range behind.
9. Lunch Tree Hill Trail
- Hike length: 0.5 mile loop trail
- Time required: 20-45 minutes
- Trailhead Location: Jackson Lake Lodge
From Jackson Lake Lodge, follow the signs for the Lunch Tree Hill trail. This short, interpretive trail takes you to the top of a hill with views of Willow Flats and the Teton Range.
Willow Flats is known for wildlife sightings of elk, moose and bears! Lunch Tree Hill is one of the best hikes for unobscured views of Jackson Lake and the stunning Grand Teton range mountains.
10. Heron Pond – Swan Lake Loop Trail
- Hike length: 3.1 mile loop trail
- Time required: 1-3 hours
- Trailhead Location: Colter Bay
Access the trail to Heron Pond from Colter Bay. Continue on to Swan Lake before heading back to Colter Bay.
The easy Heron Pond-Swan Lake Loop Trail takes you through forests and wetlands to two ponds with terrific views of the Teton Range.
Both lakes are home to birds and a variety of other wildlife.
11. Moose Ponds Trail or Moose Ponds Loop Trail
- Hike length: 2 mile roundtrip trail / 3.4 mile loop trail
- Time required: 1-3 hours
- Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake
You can hike the easy out and back trail to Moose Ponds, or hike the 3 mile loop, both following the south shore of Jenny Lake. Access the trail just beyond the shuttle boat dock.
The Moose Ponds hiking trail is relatively flat for the first quarter-mile but features obstacles, such as exposed roots and rock. A short but steep hill is required to view Moose Ponds. Hiking the loop takes you into Lupine Meadows where pronghorn can be seen.
This trail got its name due to regular moose sightings in the area. Early morning is the best time to see wildlife.
12. Christian Pond Loop Trail
- Hike length: 3.5 mile loop trail
- Time required: 1-3 hours
- Trailhead Location: Jackson Lake Lodge
The Christian Pond Loop Trail starts at the horse corral at Jackson Lake Lodge. It passes under the highway and ventures through marsh habitat with dense willows so be alert for wildlife!
As you hike toward the pond, there’s a slight incline for a bit then you get the view of the small valley. You can’t hike to the pond, so just admire the view then return the way you came.
AMAZON: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guides and Maps
Plan a Grand Teton Vacation
- Visiting Grand Teton National Park
- Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park
- Photograph Grand Teton National Park
- Grand Teton National Park Activities
Where to Stay in Jackson Near Grand Teton
- Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park
- Grand Teton National Park Lodging
- Grand Teton National Park Camping
- RV Parks near Grand Teton National Park
- Glamping Near Grand Teton National Park
Here’s a list of our favorite places to stay:
- Elk Refuge Inn – this is right across from the refuge and the closes hotel to the park entrance – our favorite place to stay!
- Elk Country Inn – awesome property if you want to be in town.
- Vacation Rentals near Grand Teton – we LOVE having a kitchen to prepare our meals!
- Hotels in Jackson Hole
