Best Jackson Hole Hikes in the Summer

As a Visitor - or even a local - in Jackson Hole, it can be tough to decide where to hike. But also, the abundance of trails, lakes, mountains, and rivers means you can’t really go wrong! It also means it’s easy to get lost - but maybe that’s just me, haha.

Fun Hikes around Jackson Hole

Last year I did an illustration project for the Grand Teton Association, and it got me thinking about creating some more fun, simplified maps of the area. BTW, you can currently buy that artwork on travel mugs in any Park store!

Using Adobe Fresco on my iPad, I drew up a loose map of the area, pointing out some top spots that are good to hit in the summer. You could, of course, find these in any guidebook, but you can’t find a cute illustration to go with ‘em! And let’s be honest, the drawing is a better wall-hanging than a map. So let’s do a quick rundown…

1. Jackson Peak

   This is a nice hike up the rough Curtis Canyon road. You park as far as you can go and then hike to the summit on the buggy trail. Halfway up, there’s a perfect lake to take a dip. The great part about this hike is you can bring your dog and also can a full view of the Tetons from the top. I actually watched the Total Eclipse from here and it was incredible!

2. Ski Lake

   The first time I tried hiking to Ski Lake, I went the back way, got very lost, ran into a moose, and possibly had a minor panic attack. I’m a better hiker now - I think. So, park at the Phillips Trailhead and go from there. You can bring your dog on this one, too. I’m not sure why it’s named Ski Lake, although in the winter it’s very fun to ski around it.

3. JH Mountain Resort Hike

   Each summer, there is a race up to the top of JHMR, which I’ve done 3 times. It' never gets easier, but they do serve bacon instead of water 3/4 of the way up which is hilarious. I would suggest walking instead of running though, up the wildflower trail, and straight to Piste for a drink on the deck. I used to host watercolor workshops up here and the views are amazing. Then, you can ride the Gondola down - so fun!

4. Phelps Lake

   The road from Teton Village to Moose is only open in the summer, so it’s the time to take advantage of that! Phelps Lake is about halfway down that road and one of the shorter hikes to get to, as long as you can get close parking. You can hike around the lake and back into Death Canyon, or around to the jumping rock, or just set up a picnic on the edge.

5. Cascade Canyon

   For a full day hike, Cascade Canyon is the perfect way to get in all the goods: Great Teton views, a lake, a ferry across the lake, an inspirational viewpoint, and probably cool animals through the National Park canyon! For this, you should park at Jenny Lake and take the ferry across, because that’s way cooler than walking, and explore Inspiration Point on the other side. You can walk as far into Cascade Canyon as you want, it’s long and flat, and if you want a lake destination you should decide on that beforehand so you know how much food and water to bring! Or…you could camp at a site down the canyon and make it a 2 dayer!

If you can’t tell, my map is not to scale - hikes are longer than they appear! :) Hopefully you’ll get to try out one of them soon. As always, remember to follow the rules of the trails, take your trash with you, keep distance from the wildlife…and jump in the lakes!