Grand Teton National Park Easy Fall Hikes

Here’s a list of the best Grand Teton National Park easy fall hikes where you can enjoy mountain views, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife!

Grand Teton National Park in western Wyoming is a great destination for hikers of all levels.

This Grand Teton National Park guide will detail the best fall hiking trails, tips for fall hiking, what to pack, where to stay, and more!

easy fall hikes at Grand Teton National Park

Here’s everything you need to know so you can add some easy Grand Teton hiking trails to your fall itinerary: hike length, time required, trailhead location, and full description.

Use our Grand Teton National Park packing list to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for fall hiking! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!

Grand Teton packing list Optin box
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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!

Visiting Grand Teton National Park in the Fall

Grand Teton is open 24 hours, every day of the year. Early fall is still a busy time at the park, but by late fall services at Grand Teton begin to close. We recommend you always get updated information on closing dates for the roads and services from the NPS website.

Grand Teton in September : Expect daytime highs in the 50-60s and lows in the 20-30s. We recommend you pack winter gloves, insulating hat, winter coat and a fleece jacket and wear layers so you can enjoy the park from morning to night! In September all roads, Visitor Centers, lodges and marinas are open. 

Grand Teton in October: During the day the highs hover around 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows will drop all the way to the mid 20s! In October, some roads and services start to close which limits the activities you can do.

Grand Teton in November: Daytime highs are near 35 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows are in the teens! In November all services the Teton Park Road are closed to vehicles. This limits the hiking trails you can access.

There are a few areas along Highway 191 from Jackson to Moran where you can explore various areas like Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row and Cunningham Cabin.

Keep in mind the side roads like Antelope Flats, Pilgrim Creek, and Schwabacher Landing close seasonally based on conditions.

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.

Map of Easy Fall Hiking Trails in Grand Teton

Use this interactive Google map of the easy hiking trails in Grand Teton to navigate around the park!

map of easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park Easy Fall Hikes

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 for fall hiking 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.

Hidden Falls Grand Teton
Hidden Falls

1. Hidden Falls Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 1.3 miles roundtrip 
  • Time required: 1 to 2 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

hiker on the inspiration point trail at Grand Teton
Inspiration Point

2. Inspiration Point Fall Hike

  • 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
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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!

Lakeshore Trail at Grand Teton
Lakeshore Trail

3. Lakeshore Trail Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 2 miles roundtrip
  • Time required: 1-2 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Colter Bay Visitor Center
  • ACCESSIBLE in November

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!

Phelps Lake

4. Phelps Lake Overlook Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 2 miles roundtrip
  • Time required: 1-2 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Death Canyon Trailhead
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Sunrise reflection at String Lake
Sunrise reflection at String Lake

5. String & Leigh Lakes Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 3.7 mile loop trail 
  • Time required: 2-3 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: String Lake Trailhead
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Jenny Lake in the fall
Jenny Lake in the fall

6. Jenny Lake Loop Trail Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 7.5 mile loop trail 
  • Time required: 3-5 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake Trailhead
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Taggart Lake at Grand Teton
Taggart Lake

7. Taggart Lake Loop Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 3 miles roundtrip 
  • Time required: 1-2 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Taggart Lake Trailhead, 2.3 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Willow Flats at Grand Teton National Park
View from Lunch Tree Hill

9. Lunch Tree Hill Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 0.5 mile loop trail 
  • Time required: 20-45 minutes 
  • Trailhead Location: Jackson Lake Lodge
  • ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Swan Lake at Grand Teton in the fall
Swan Lake in the fall

10. Heron Pond – Swan Lake Loop Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 3.1 mile loop trail
  • Time required: 1-3 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Colter Bay
  • ACCESSIBLE in November

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 Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 2 mile roundtrip trail / 3.4 mile loop trail
  • Time required: 1-3 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Jenny Lake
  • NOT ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Christian Pond at Grand Teton National Park

12. Christian Pond Loop Fall Hike

  • Hike length: 3.5 mile loop trail 
  • Time required: 1-3 hours 
  • Trailhead Location: Jackson Lake Lodge
  • ACCESSIBLE in November

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.

Grand Teton maps and guides

AMAZON: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guides and Maps

Where to Stay in Jackson Near Grand Teton

Here’s a list of our favorite places to stay:

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