Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National ParkThis is the view of Cascade Canyon from a turnout on the one way road along Jenny Lake.
Photo below © E J Peiker http://www.ejphoto.com/grand_teton_page.htm
The hike up into Cascade Canyon is probably the most popular in Grand Teton National Park, sometimes crowded, but not if you get up earlier and walk a little farther than most of the hikers.
We've seen moose, deer, a pine marten, a weasel, marmots, pikas, river otters, golden-mantled ground squirrels, tree squirrels, Steller jays, tanagers, sparrows, water ouzels, butterflies and more.
As you go up in elevation you'll find different spring/summer flowerings. Moose, Wyoming is at 6,454 feet elevation. Just as the snow melts earlier at a lower elevation, the same flowers that bloom in Moose will be blooming about a day later for every 100 feet in elevation you climb.
A long spring or early summer hike up Cascade Canyon will not only give you great views back down to the flatlands, closer-up views of the snow-topped range and all those cascades tumbling down the cliff walls, but also days earlier peak wildflower bloom than on the flats.
You can catch the (fee) shuttle boat across Jenny Lake (6,783 feet elevation) (late spring to early fall) and save 2 miles of hiking, but you have to wait for the first boat run. (Check when the last shuttle boat return run will be and plan your hike accordingly or plan to wak farther. Schedule 2009 "departs every 15 mins (weather permitting) June 1 - July 5 8am - 6pm, July 6 - Aug. 15 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 16 - Sept. 7 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 - 30 10 a.m. to 4 p.m."
2009 cost roundtrip adult $10 /child $5. Jenny Lake boating lightning policy 2007
360 degree view from the south end of Jenny Lake:
http://www.virtualjacksonhole.com/SceneViewer.aspx?VRLN=jenny_lake_boat_launch
You can do a short hike to Hidden Falls and the Inspiration Point viewpoint that looks down to the lake (The Rangers sometimes lead hikes there, 2 1/2 hours, 2 miles, with some moderate uphills, usually limited to 25 people) or for a farther hike it's 4.5 miles to the trail junction and another 2.7 miles and a 1,000 foot plus climb to Lake Solitude at 9,024 feet elevation. This part of the trail may have snow until the first part of July. If you get a permit this can be a backpack all the way up Paintbrush Divide and looping back down to String and Jenny Lakes.
Below are pictures of the raised relief map at the Moose and Jenny Lake visitor centers showing the area from Taggart Lake to Jackson lake and a closeup of (L to R) Jenny Lake (6,783 feet elevation), Leigh Lake and Cascade and Paintbrush Canyons. The red arrow points to the Jenny Lake visitor center and shuttle boat dock location.
 
and below, a landstat image of the area from Jenny Lake to String and Leigh lakes:
Most people only do the short walk to Hidden Falls, so the crowds disappear as you go farther.
Below, Hidden Falls in June and September:
 
After the fall the trail becomes increasingly steep, leading to several viewpoints with wide views across Jenny Lake. The first viewpoint has almost as good of a view as the last, so consider at least going that far if the remaining steeper trail would bother you.
Below, a shuttle boat takes off from the dock below a viewpoint.
Below, the last long switchback to Inspiration Point:
If you planned ahead and brought enough water, lunch and Day hike gear you could continue into the canyon.
There is water only steps away here and there in the canyon, but it is only safe to drink if you brought a water purifier.
There are no restrooms or pit toilets along the trail. You should be prepared to "urinate at least 200 feet from streams and lakes. To prevent contamination of waterways, bury feces in a hole 6-8 inches deep at least 200 feet from streams and lakes. Pack out" (do not bury or burn) "used toilet paper," etc.
After some hiking near the creek, the trail opens up with a first view of the peaks. Can you see the hiker midway along the trail in this section?
 
On the right, about a half mile along the flatish section of trail above the first canyon switchbacks, Storm Point draws climbers. The first part of the southwest ridge route, known as Guide's Wall, draws more climbers than most other one day climbs. Climbing experience required. Without experience, but with with binoculars, you can spot and watch climbers along a lot of the canyon when you hear their voices reflecting off the walls.
The park service warns that you should stay 300 feet from big mammals like moose, elk or bison. (The flowers in the foreground are columbine.)
The bull didn't give us a classic pose for a picture during the half an hour we watched him. With your own binoculars you can see animals up close.
Friends hiking the day before also photographed a bull moose from a safe distance. You can always enlarge part of the photo. (Photo below by Wendy Sato).
 
As luck may have it, you can wait and watch for hours and the Bull Moose with the huge antlers will stay napping.
But minutes later, another person in your group could find this scene Sylvia Gallegos photographed:
2007:
 
Stop for awhile and look for Pikas and Marmots in the talus (rockslide) slopes. Below a baby pika huddles close to mom. (Photo by Wendy Sato).
 
All along this trail you will find wildflowers.
 
At Cascade Canyon wildflowers you'll find pictures of Penstemon, Silky Phacelia, Western Serviceberry, Cascade Mountain Ash and Columbine in June and fall colors of Asters, Mountian Ash and Aspen in September.
Below, a NPS photo of the source of some of the cascades, Schoolroom Glacier at the head of the south fork of Cascade Canyon:
and NPS photos of Lake Solitude and the view to southeast from above Lake Solitude:
 
Enhance your hike by reading:
Day hike gear
GORP and hiking snacks
Thunderstorm and lightning safety
At altitude
animal sign comparisons
Hiking Advice has hot weather hiking advice, hiking logistics and the answer to the question: When is the best time of day to cross a mountain stream?
See also Grand Tetons sightseeing.
You can see a topographical map of Cascade Canyon at:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=14&x=161&y=1513&z=12&w=1&qs=%7cgrand+teton%7c%7c
and a corresponding aerial photo at:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=14&x=161&y=1513&z=12&w=1&qs=%7cgrand+teton%7c%7c
Grizzlies are rare in the Grand Tetons. We will probably not see any on our trips, but we should be careful nevertheless.
your safety in grizzly bear territory tells you what to do if
you see a bear in the distance or a bear charges you and has info about Bear Pepper Sprays.
Camping solutions for women has tips for and answers typical questions from first-time women campers,
including the question: Can menstruating women camp or backpack around bears?
Bears has links to general info about bears, then practicalities of camping and backpacking around bears, (food storage, what to do if you see a bear) mostly geared towards our trips around black bears in California.
The Grand Teton Online Ranger Station, with climbing, mountain pass, canyon and trail route conditions is at: http://www.tetonclimbingpass.blogspot.com/
Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park photos
photo below by Quang-Tuan Luong/terragalleria.com, all rights reserved.
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