The Top Five Hiking Trails In Grand Teton National Park, According To Reviews

Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park is full of wild wonders, from one of the world's most majestic mountains to an incredible turquoise lake. While visiting this roughly 310,000-acre attraction, sightseers can witness those wonders in any number of ways. At Grand Teton, you're welcome to explore in almost any way you want to, whether that be by biking, mountain climbing, fishing, boating, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling. There are even some stellar routes you can journey along to discover why this spot ranks among the best U.S. national parks for backpacking. That said, among all available activities, some stand out as more popular than others. According to National Park Service (NPS) data, one of the most popular things to do at Grand Teton is hiking.

With more than 250 miles of trails, this wonderland of mountains, glaciers, forests, and lakes has hikes to suit nearly any traveler's interests and activity level. This wealth of options means you won't have to worry about running out of new places to peruse during a vacation to Grand Teton National Park. However, if you plan to hike here, there are some other concerns to consider. Before visiting the park, prepare by reading up on the area's best trails, their terrain conditions, and basic gear recommendations. Even doing this limited amount of research can help you avoid trip-ruining mistakes (like booking a cheap off-season trip only to find Grand Teton frozen over and shuttered).

Of course, sifting through all the available information out there can be daunting. To make the planning process a little easier, we've done the legwork for you and put together a list of the top five hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park, according to reviews. Here are the best of the best, organized from easiest to hardest.

Start your Grand Teton adventure with one of America's best scenic national park hiking trails for beginners — Taggart Lake Loop. This route and its trailhead both enjoy 4.8-star ratings on AllTrails and Google Maps, respectively. Thousands of 5-star reviews praise the trek for its spectacular scenery and wildlife-watching opportunities, but what specifically do past visitors love about the trail?

According to an AllTrails reviewer who described Taggart Lake Loop as a a "wonderful, easy hike," the trail not only showcases its namesake lake but also boasts meadows and great views of the surrounding mountains. Further emphasizing the route's beauty and accessibility, one Google reviewer shared that the loop was a "great hike for a 47 year old smoker who didn't bring enough water," adding "we saw a moose and her baby, and the lake was beautiful. Worth every mile."

Located in the southern section of the park, Taggart Lake Loop will take you on a roughly 3-mile hike with 360 feet of elevation gain. While the amount of time it'll take to complete this trek depends on your pace and how often you stop to marvel at the scenery, most hikers complete the journey in an hour or two. Along the way, look forward to landscapes covered with aspens that turn golden in the fall and get dusted with snow during winter and into spring. Open year-round, the trail can be tackled in snowy season with the help of snowshoes or skis. As you enjoy the trail's mountain, alpine lake, and forest views, keep an eye out for local wildlife. Moose and bears frequent this area, and while beautiful, they can be dangerous. Keep yourself safe by reading up on these crucial wildlife tips every nature enthusiast needs to know.

For a slightly more challenging hike, venture north of Taggart Lake to find String Lake Loop. Much like Taggart Lake Loop, this route's trailhead has a 4.8-star rating on Google Maps. On AllTrails, the hike has a 4.7-star rating. Described as "a quieter hiking spot" by one past visitor via Google Maps, this trail loops around the shallow yet sparkling waters of its eponymous lake and enjoys pristine views of pointy mountain peaks.

Even better, "the trail is well-marked, family-friendly, and suitable for kids," wrote a Google reviewer who also raved about "picnic spots where you can stop and take in the scenery." On AllTrails, a past visitor added that this "amazing easy loop hike with gorgeous views" is also ideal for swimming. Another AllTrails reviewer says String Lake Loop is a "very wooded trail – but when you can see the water or valleys, breathtaking."

Tucked in between Jenny and Leigh lakes, this route is a 3.7-mile-long roundtrip journey. While listed by the NPS as an easy hike, it does require ascending about 325 feet along the way. According to one AllTrails reviewer, it's a "moderate hill climb, but totally worth it." That uphill challenge (and some rocky areas) make String Lake Loop a touch harder to tackle than the Taggart Lake trail. Expect a full tour of this particular path to take around two hours. That said, budget more time if you want to swim, kayak, or lounge at String Lake Picnic Area. For more hiking nearby, you can also take a detour from the main loop and follow Leigh Lake Spur Trail. Before tackling this short side trip, consider asking a park ranger about conditions in the area to ensure it's safe to visit.

Next up, we have Grand Teton National Park's premier Jenny Lake Loop Trail, home to canyons, mountains, and waterfalls. Highlighted in a Business Insider article about 10 of the most beautiful places in the US, Jenny Lake is a hotspot for more than just hiking. The area also hosts a historic district, visitor center, general store, and ranger station. Given all those attractions, it's no wonder Jenny Lake is the park's most visited spot. For an iconic intro to the region, follow its beloved loop trail, which currently boasts a 4.8-star rating on AllTrails. The voyage begins at Jenny Lake Trailhead, which flaunts an even higher rating of 4.9 stars on Google Maps.

What do hikers have to say about Jenny Lake Loop? "Best trail ever for wildlife and views!" an AllTrails reviewer wrote. "Saw two moose and grizzly bear! Highly recommend!" Another review is even more glowing, calling the route "one of the best hikes in the world." As one past visitor shared via Google Maps, the trail's appeal comes from its "stunning views, peaceful forest paths, and the sparkling lake."

Coming in at number three on this list of Grand Teton National Park's top five hiking trails, Jenny Lake Loop isn't the region's easiest trail, but it's not the hardest either. The route is roughly 7.1 miles long and covers 1,040 feet of elevation gain. Terrain challenges include some narrow patches of trail, plus exposed tree roots and rocky sections. The trek can take up to five hours, but experienced hikers will likely be able to tackle it in under four hours. Do prepare for crowds, though. This beautiful trail is very popular, so if you want the best shot at finding a parking space nearby, plan to arrive before 9 a.m.

Accessible via Jenny Lake Loop or a shuttle boat, the Hidden Falls hike varies in difficulty. For a laidback outing, buy a ticket for the shuttle boat and take it across the lake for a quick and easy hike. For a more challenging experience, follow the South Jenny Lake Loop Trail. Despite its difficulty, this path enjoys an AllTrails rating of 4.8 stars based on over 11,000 reviews.

Centered around a roaring waterfall, the Hidden Falls trek is understandably one of Grand Teton National Park's most popular trails. As one Google reviewer wrote, "the falls are a beautiful sight," even if "certain spots of the trail have lots of rocks on the path." One AllTrails user who followed the route as part of a longer journey described the trail as one of their favorite hikes, saying it "was full of awe inspiring sights and wonderful sounds and smells." Curious about what kind of smells were special enough to receive a shout out in a hiking trail review? According to another user, that scent is pine trees, a fragrance "so strong, it smells like Christmas."

At 4.9 miles long, the Hidden Falls via Jenny Lake Trail is a moderately challenging hike with about 620 feet of elevation gain. The route's difficulty rating is thanks in part to areas with rocky terrain, stone steps, and exposed tree roots. Completing the hike can take one to three hours, and the seasonally available shuttle boat offers one-way fares for those who don't want to finish the last half of this out-and-back journey. Meanwhile, those willing to go the extra (half-)mile can easily extend this route with a detour to Inspiration Point. This incredible overlook will treat you to unforgettable views of Jackson Hole, Jenny Lake, and the Cathedral Group mountains.

Rounding out this guide to Grand Teton's best hiking trails is the grueling but rewarding Paintbrush Canyon – Cascade Canyon Loop. Difficult enough to get a specific shoutout on our list of U.S. national parks with the most challenging hikes, this route treats resilient and skilled wayfarers to dazzling displays of natural beauty. Some of the sights along the way include high-elevation views of mounts Moran, Owen, and Woodring, plus Grand Teton itself. This show-stopping cast of characters helps the hike earn its 4.9-star rating on AllTrails.

As one Google reviewer concisely explained, Paintbrush Canyon – Cascade Canyon Loop is a "long uphill grind that pays off several times over." A hiker on AllTrails even claims this is the "best trail in the park that offers a bit of everything." Another past visitor echoed those sentiments in a Google review, saying: "Truly, my favorite trail after daily hiking in Yellowstone and the Tetons. We saw moose, bear, marmots, and deer. The canyon is absolutely gorgeous to walk through with stunning grand rising mountains on either side."

Of course, all those memorable vistas can only be seen by those willing and able to tackle this roughly 20-mile loop trail's full 4,480 feet of elevation gain. Long enough to serve as a backpacking route, the hike can take 11-14 hours to complete (though a few fit travelers claim to have finished the journey in eight hours or less). Aside from sheer length, trail conditions like steep climbs, rocky terrain, and changing weather up the journey's difficulty level. Additionally, the NPS recommends hikers "speak with a ranger about conditions on Paintbrush Divide" before setting out, as the area "often holds snow until mid-July and can be dangerous if attempted without the proper snow equipment."

Now that you know all about the top five hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park (according to reviews), let's dive into how we decided which hikes deserved a place on this list. In order to paint as complete a picture of the park's offerings as possible within such a limited scope, research began with the goal of highlighting routes of various difficulty levels. With this in mind, NPS resources and news reports were referenced to identify some of the park's most visited trails. From there, a list of several hiking trails was whittled down by examining reviews.

Balancing the reviews of both general sightseers on Google Maps and hiking enthusiasts on AllTrails, the decision-making process wrapped up by identifying five hikes with ratings of 4.7 stars or higher. While accounting for difficult routes having fewer reviews due to the specialized skill sets required to navigate them, the total number of reviews each trail had was also considered.