Then, without a fire to warm us up, there was nothing else to do but get in bed. before making dinner (dehydrated Pad Thai), which we inhaled as much for the heat as for the calories. When the sun disappeared behind a cliff at about 5:00, we had already piled on all of our layers. We held out until 6:00 p.m. But then the temperature-already chilly at 3:00 p.m.-quickly started dropping. I loved it at first, reading in the sun in my Crazy Creek. With camp all set up by 4:00 p.m., we settled in to relax. Campsite #1 at Lower Paintbrush Canyon Dinnertime! We already had a couple of neighbors, but the sites were spread out enough to still give us plenty of solitude. With plenty of time before sundown, we checked out all the available campsites before settling on our favorite: a large spot with a flat area for the tent and a perfect cooking rock nearby.
Just two hours later, we were surprised to find ourselves already at the edge of the Lower Paintbrush Canyon camping zone. But we were also full of first-day excitement and buoyed by the beautiful views, so we made good time.
#GRAND TETONS PAINTBRUSH DIVIDE LOOP FULL#
We were mentally prepared for a tough hike, knowing we had full packs and about a 1,000 ft. Starting off along the edge of String LakeĪfter looping around String Lake, the trail ducked into the trees and started gaining altitude at a steady, but reasonable, pace. A late start, but that was expected (and why we reserved the closest camping area for night #1). It’s a busy area with intersecting trails and lots of day hikers, and we were pulling out our maps no more than 10 minutes after leaving the car. But we found the right trail before long and set off at about 1:30 p.m. Day One: String Lake Trailhead to Lower Paintbrush CanyonĪfter finding a parking spot in the String Lake lot, we donned our packs and hit the trail-once we found the trailhead, that is.
We picked up our permits at the ranger station the day before, which meant all we had to do the next morning was drop Callie off at the boarder’s, grab a quick lunch, and head into the park! The night before our trek, we splurged on a hotel room in Jackson Hole-totally worth it, since we had been camping for the past week or so. We were (thankfully) able to reserve the backcountry passes we needed, so our route looked like this: Knowing we’d have a late start after dropping Callie off at the boarder’s, we also opted for a shorter hike on day one. We decided to tackle it counter-clockwise and give ourselves plenty of time (two nights and nearly three days). There are several ways to approach this hike. But we crossed our fingers that going in early September meant we would miss the worst of the crowds (without having to ice-ax our way across slippery mountain passes). So it’s no surprise that it’s also the most popular trail in the park for backpackers-and even ambitious day hikers. (Let’s just say you do NOT want to forget your bear spray on this one.) If you’re graced with good weather, this trail promises the best that the Tetons have to offer: dense evergreen forests, alpine lakes, towering cliffs, wildflowers, stunning vistas, and even a good chance to spot wildlife. (The red square is what’s in the close-up photo.)
Green areas are where camping is allowed (but only on designated sites and with a permit).Īnd here’s where the trail is situated within the park.
#GRAND TETONS PAINTBRUSH DIVIDE LOOP FREE#
This is the route, as outlined on the free map that the park provides. vista offering a sweeping 360-degree view of the Tetons’ signature rocky peaks.
In between, the trail reaches its pinnacle at the Paintbrush Divide: a 10,700 ft. This popular trail circles through the center of the park, cutting into the mountains through Paintbrush Canyon on one side and Cascade Canyon on the other. But we simply couldn’t visit the Tetons without a little backpacking action! After researching local kennels, we decided to board Callie for a few days so we could get out in the backcountry.Īs for which trail to hike, the choice was obvious: the 19-mile Paintbrush-Cascade Canyon loop. Of course, with our adventure pup Callie in tow, our options for national park sightseeing were mostly limited to scenic drives and the occasional paved trail-because those are (generally) the only spots where you’re allowed to take dogs. A quick Google photos search will show you why I had permanent heart-eyes daydreaming about this place. Oh, Grand Teton National Park! Of all the places we dreamed about visiting on our two-month road trip, I think I was MOST excited about the Tetons. Bonus points if you can find Chris in this picture 😉
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