Hiking_GrndTetn

Description: A gradual uphill day hike or overnighter to a gorgeous mountain lake in one of the famous canyons of the Teton Range

Start: Leigh Lake Trailhead

Total distance: 12.6 miles out and back

Difficulty: Difficult day hike; moderate overnighter

Best season: July through 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 9.7 miles from the entrance station to the Jenny Lake turnoff. Turn left (west) here and drive 0.6 mile (follow the signs and take two right turns) to the String Lake Trailhead and 0.3 mile farther, the String Lake Picnic Area. If you’re coming from the north, drive 9.9 miles from the Jackson Lake Junction and turn right (west) at the Jenny Lake turnoff. Park in the large parking lot at the picnic area, which has toilet facilities. The Leigh Lake Trailhead is in the northwest corner of the picnic area. Trailhead GPS: 43.789162 / -110.731655

The Hike

Starting this hike at the Leigh Lake Trailhead instead of the String Lake Trailhead gives you great scenery for the first 0.8 mile along the east shore of String Lake. In the morning hours when skies are more likely to be clear, you can soak in the spectacular views of the Teton Range across String Lake.

After the first 0.8 mile on a double-wide trail, take a left (west) at the junction at the north end of String Lake. The trail immediately crosses over the inlet of String Lake on a long footbridge and then goes through mature forest until you reach the Paintbrush Canyon Trail 0.7 mile later. Go right (northwest) and start a gradual ascent up Paintbrush Canyon.

As you climb, the forest thins out; the higher you go the more colorful it gets. This canyon not only has lots of Indian paintbrush but also many other species of wildflowers. Take a moment here and there to look back for a nice view of Leigh Lake and Jackson Lake.

When you reach the junction with the Holly Lake Trail, go right (north) for a fairly steep 0.5-mile climb to the little jewel of a lake in the shadow of Mount Woodring. I saw a huge black bear grazing on the slope above the lake while having lunch there.

After a good rest or overnight stay at the lake, retrace your steps back to the Paintbrush Canyon Trail and proceed to the junction with the String Lake Trail. From this junction, retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Camping: The Lower Paintbrush Canyon Camping Zone has nine indicated campsites strategically located on high points above the trail. Most of them are private (about 100 yards from the trail) but have only one tent pad (the park service plans to add more later). Some of them require a fairly long hike to water. Most are excellent campsites with a good view.

You can also camp at one of three other designated campsites. These campsites are about a quarter mile from Lake Holly at the end of a trail that crosses the outlet on rocks and goes up on a slope above the lake. Campsite 3 is the most private. None of the campsites have a good view. Water is fairly accessible from all three sites, which have two tent pads each and a shared metal food storage box.

Option: From the junction with the String Lake Trail on the return trip, you can make a loop around String Lake. Go right (south) and hike about 0.5 mile through mostly open slope, down to the west shore of String Lake, where the trail stays most of the rest of the way to the junction with the Jenny Lake Trail. Go left (east) and over the outlet of String Lake 0.2 mile later. At the end of the footbridge, go left (north) and follow the paved trail back to the String Lake Picnic Area and the Leigh Lake Trailhead. This loop adds only 0.1 mile to your trip.

Miles and Directions

0.0Leigh Lake Trailhead

0.4Horse trail comes in from the east

0.8End of String Lake and junction with trail to Holly Lake; turn left

0.9Footbridge over inlet of String Lake

1.6Paintbrush Canyon Trail; turn right

5.8Junction with Holly Lake Trail; turn right

6.3Holly Lake

12.6Leigh Lake Trailhead