Middle Teton from Garnet Canyon Trail. National Park Service
13 Garnet Canyon
Description: A popular route for those climbing the big peaks, but also a nice day hike
Start: Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Total distance: 8.2 miles out and back
Best season: Mid-July through mid-Sept
Maps: Earthwalk Press Grand Teton map; National Park Service handout map
Finding the trailhead: Take US 89 north of Jackson for 11.5 miles and turn left (west) at the Moose Junction. Drive past the Moose Visitor Center and through the entrance station (about a mile after turning off the highway). Follow this paved park road for another 6.6 miles from the entrance station and turn left (west) onto a gravel road at the Lupine Meadows turnoff. Follow this road for 1.4 miles until it ends at the trailhead parking lot. From the north, drive 21.8 miles from the Jackson Lake Junction and turn right (west) at the Lupine Meadows turnoff. The trailhead has toilet facilities and a huge parking area, but this trailhead is so popular that it can be full, especially at midday. You can find a general store at the South Jenny Lake turnoff about a mile to the north. Trailhead GPS: 43.734525 / -110.741637
The Hike
Garnet Canyon is a main artery to several popular climbing routes in the park. Expect to see lots of people on the trail and a large parking lot full of vehicles at the trailhead. Still, it’s a nice day hike with limited hill climbing.
From Lupine Meadows, the first 0.5 mile of the trail goes through mature forest with nice views of Grand Teton to the right. It then climbs up a ridge to the junction with the Garnet Canyon Trail, which also goes to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. Turn right (west) and start a series of switchbacks up to another junction with the Garnet Canyon Trail. Go left (south) here and hike on a gradually ascending trail above the stream to where it ends in a large boulder field.
Middle Teton from Garnet Canyon Trail. National Park Service
You get a nice view of Middle Teton much of the way up the canyon. You can actually hike farther up the canyon, and many climbers do. In fact, you’ll probably see groups of climbers scrambling out through the boulders. From this point on, however, it is off-trail hiking. After a rest, retrace your steps to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead.
Camping: The park service allows camping in the off-trail upper reaches of the canyon. If interested, inquire about camping at the Moose Visitor Center or the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
Side trips: You can take the side trip up to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, which adds 3.6 miles to the total distance of your trip.
Miles and Directions
0.0Lupine Meadows Trailhead
1.7Junction with trail to Bradley Lake; turn right
3.0Junction with trail to Garnet Canyon; turn left
4.1End of maintained trail; turn around and retrace your steps to the trailhead
8.2Lupine Meadows Trailhead