40Miles
4–5Days
9,000 ftGain
ThruType
Permits
System
Recreation.gov advance reservations + walk-up at park permit officesPeak season May 1 – Oct 31. Plan camping zones (Death Canyon Shelf, Alaska Basin, South Fork Cascade) first. Walk-up permits are issued one day before your start at Jenny Lake or Craig Thomas. Alaska Basin is on national forest land and needs no park permit.Apply or read more
Cost
$20 per permit + $7 per person per night
Bear storage
Required in the park
Season
Best
Late July – mid September. Snow lingers on Paintbrush Divide into July.
JFMAMJJASOND
PeakShoulderClosed
On trail
Water
Plentiful streams and lakes. Filter everything.
Resupply
No resupply. Most hikers start from the Jackson Hole aerial tram and end at String Lake.
Notes
Runs along the west side of the Tetons with the Grand in view most of the way. Hurricane Pass (10,372 ft) and Paintbrush Divide (about 10,700 ft) are the high points.
Elevation
6,800 ftHigh 10,700 ft
Resupply towns
Jackson (pre/post trip)
Recommended gear
Permit details checked 2026-10 · nps.gov