Teton Crest Trail

Through the high heart of the Tetons, this crest route traverses the range's alpine interior for roughly 40 miles, stringing together the shelves, basins, and passes that sit beneath the granite spires of Grand Teton National Park.

Hikers typically take three to five days and gain around 9,000 feet, crossing highlights such as Death Canyon Shelf, Alaska Basin, and 10,700-foot Paintbrush Divide, with the Grand itself looming over the walk. Many begin with a tram ride from Teton Village to shorten the initial climb.

Practical detail: a backcountry permit is required for camping and can be reserved in advance or drawn from a walk-in allotment; bear canisters are mandatory in grizzly country. Snow can block the high divides well into July.

Late July through September is the workable season, when the passes clear and wildflowers fill the basins; early snow can return by late September. Reachable from Jackson Hole, the route is regarded as one of the most scenic multi-day hikes in the American Rockies.