Wyoming is stuffed with pure magnificence. From the dramatic and jagged mountains of Grand Teton Nationwide Park to the uncommon geological buildings of Yellowstone to the majestic Wind River Vary and past, Wyoming is bound to go away you awestruck.
The primary time I ever visited Wyoming was throughout a summer time journey whereas I used to be in highschool. My household deliberate a visit to Grand Teton and Yellowstone Nationwide Parks, and I used to be instantly received over by the mountain landscapes and crisp air.
I’m from the Midwest, so the mountains had been in contrast to something I had ever seen earlier than. We spent per week exploring the 2 parks, and I bear in mind considering that I wanted to return again and discover extra.
Ever since that journey, I’ve been again to Wyoming a minimum of as soon as per yr, discovering the very best Wyoming day hikes and backpacking trails throughout the state.
On this submit, you’ll be taught all the pieces it is advisable learn about the place to search out the very best hikes in Wyoming, the very best time of yr to go to, and a few suggestions that can assist you benefit from your journey.
Vital Reminder: Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and bear in mind to Go away No Hint. This implies packing out all your rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.
Be a part of our neighborhood for entry to our free member assets!
Obtain Useful Out of doors Packing Checklists & Journey Planning Guides
1. Cascade Canyon Path
- Location: Grand Teton Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Day hike
- Distance: 9.1 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 1,102 toes
- Time: 3.5 – 4 hours
- Issue: Reasonable
- Trailhead Begin: Jenny Lake Customer Middle
- Canines Allowed? No
Situated close to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton Nationwide Park, the Cascade Canyon Path takes you thru the gorgeous Cascade Canyon, a glacially-carved canyon with tall, dramatic Teton peaks towering on all sides.
The path options waterfalls and delightful views of the jagged mountains from a perspective you can not see from the park entrance.
It’s additionally very probably that you just’ll see some wildlife, together with moose and bears, so hold your eyes peeled and make sure to comply with all nationwide park guidelines on wildlife viewing.
Your journey will begin on the Jenny Lake Customer Middle. From there, you possibly can both take the Jenny Lake shuttle boat or hike across the lake through the Jenny Lake Path, which is able to add about 4.5 miles.
On the west facet of the lake, you’ll discover the doorway to the Cascade Canyon Path. You possibly can hike as far up the canyon as you want. Ultimately, the path will cut up at a fork at round mile 4.6, which is the place most day hikers flip round.
Learn Extra
Gear Up For Your Hikes
2. North Rim Path
- Location: Yellowstone Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Day hike
- Distance: 6.4 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 675 toes
- Time: 2.5
- Issue: Reasonable
- Trailhead Begin: Wapiti Lake Parking Lot
- Canines Allowed? No
Be ready for some jaw-dropping views on this hike! The North Rim Path takes you alongside the Yellowstone River the place you’ll move the Higher Falls and Decrease Falls, respectively. You’ll finish the hike at Inspiration Level, an overlook with marvelous views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Yellowstone River.
What makes the canyon so distinctive are the colourful colours shaped by hydrothermally-modified rhyolite. The hydrothermal exercise induced the rocks to melt, accelerating the erosion course of within the canyon.
My household and I accomplished a small portion of this path throughout our journey to Yellowstone. Our important focus was capturing the view at Lookout Level, one of the iconic overlooks in Yellowstone. I might have sat there for hours admiring the great thing about the canyon and waterfall!
Based on the Nationwide Park Service, the canyon is about 20 miles lengthy and greater than 1,000 toes deep. The Seven Mile Gap Path continues up the canyon previous Inspiration Level if you wish to discover additional or plan an in a single day backpacking journey (permits required).
3. Jenny Lake Path
- Location: Yellowstone Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Day hike
- Distance: 7.2 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 456 toes
- Time: 2.5
- Issue: Reasonable
- Trailhead Begin: Jenny Lake Customer Middle
- Canines Allowed? No
There’s a motive why Jenny Lake is among the most visited spots in Grand Teton Nationwide Park. It’s simply accessible and provides among the most interesting views of the Tetons.
Since this is among the hottest hikes within the park with minor elevation acquire and average mileage, I like to recommend attending to the car parking zone earlier than 10 A.M.
My household and I hiked this path on our final day in Grand Teton Nationwide Park. It was an effective way to seal off our go to as a result of we might admire the panorama of the Tetons with an exquisite view from the lake.
The lake itself is gorgeous with its tranquil, crystal-blue water. There are various locations you possibly can cease to relaxation or have a picnic on the water. We ended up stopping for a refreshing afternoon nap on the shore of the seaside on the finish of our hike.
4. Cirque of the Towers
- Location: Wind River Vary
- Path Sort: Backpacking
- Distance: 24.3 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 3,904 toes
- Time: 3 -4 days
- Issue: Difficult
- Trailhead Begin: Huge Sandy Trailhead
- Allow required? No
- Canines Allowed? Sure
The Cirque of the Towers backpacking loop is situated within the Wind River Vary, which is about 3 hours southeast of Grand Teton Nationwide Park. The route provides among the most unusual and fascinating landscapes within the Winds. Towards the center of the hike, you’ll come throughout the Cirque of the Towers, an arc of 15 dramatic peaks that loom over the path beneath.
My husband and I accomplished this backpacking path in July 2022. It was one among our favourite adventures we’ve ever been on due to the difficult terrain and the other-worldly surroundings. We accomplished the trek in three days, which was fairly difficult however doable for knowledgeable backpackers. In case you are in search of a much less strenuous itinerary, I counsel extending your journey to 4 days.
We stayed at Shadow Lake the primary night time and Huge Sandy Lake the second night time. For a better journey, you may keep close to Lonesome Lake the second night time as a substitute (word: no tenting is allowed inside 0.25 miles of Lonesome Lake).
Once you get to the highest of Texas Move, you’ll cross the Continental Divide. Your breath might be taken away by the panoramic views of the Cirque of the Towers! This vista is the spotlight of the hike, so be sure you absolutely savor it. From there, you’ll proceed towards Lonesome Lake and Jackass Move.
On the finish of the hike, cease on the Huge Sandy Lodge for a burger to reward your self on your laborious work. You deserve it, and the burger is superb.
Whereas permits aren’t required for in a single day journeys, guarantee that you’re conscious of Bridger Wilderness rules earlier than you go to. Whereas there aren’t as many bears on this a part of Wyoming in comparison with Grand Teton Nationwide Park, it’s really useful to take bear spray to be absolutely ready and guarded.
Store Counter Assault Bear Spray at:
5. Crimson Beds Path
- Location: Satan’s Tower Nationwide Monument
- Path Sort: Day Hike
- Distance: 2.8 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 442 toes
- Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Issue: Reasonable
- Trailhead Begin: Satan’s Tower Customer Middle
- Canines Allowed? No
There are few mountaineering trails inside Satan’s Tower Nationwide Monument due to its small dimension, however Crimson Beds Path is among the hottest for its distinctive views of Satan’s Tower.
This path is an extended, and barely much less crowded, different to the Satan’s Tower Path that loops nearer to the monument. I like to recommend finishing this path clockwise to keep away from a steep incline towards the top.
Based on the Nationwide Park Service, the geological historical past of Satan’s Tower is a little bit of a thriller. There are a number of theories of how the tower got here to be. Nonetheless, one factor that geologists do agree on is that the tower started as magma (lava) beneath the Earth’s floor.
Some of the intriguing options of the tower is the columns, a characteristic of igneous rocks shaped by magma or lava.
Save 30% on AllTrails+
Get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership so it can save you maps for offline use, get alerts for going off-trail, preview the hike in 3D, and extra.
6. Medication Bow Peak
- Location: Medication Bow-Routt Nationwide Forest
- Path Sort: Day Hike
- Distance: 6.7 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 1,712 ft
- Time: 6 – 7 hours
- Issue: Difficult
- Trailhead Begin: West Lake Marie Trailhead
- Canines Allowed? Sure
Should you like a great problem and rewarding views, it is a nice path for you. It takes you to the summit of the best peak within the Snowy Vary: Medication Bow Peak at 11,940 toes.
On the backside, you is likely to be rewarded with some vibrant wildflowers and lake vistas. On the high, you’ll get pleasure from outstanding views of the Snowy Vary, a piece of the Medication Bow mountains which can be part of the Rocky Mountains, which proceed into Colorado.
As you get nearer to the height, the path will get steep and it’s a little bit of a rock scramble so I counsel taking sturdy mountaineering sneakers and maybe some trekking poles.
Most hikers do the path clockwise to keep away from among the extra strenuous climbs.
7. Teton Crest Path
- Location: Grand Teton Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Backpacking
- Distance: 39.5 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 9,360 toes
- Time: 4 – 6 days
- Issue: Difficult
- Trailhead Begin: Teton Move
- Allow Required? Sure
- Canines Allowed? No
The Teton Crest Path is among the most coveted trails by backpackers throughout the US and past. The multi-day hike options wildflowers, wildlife, alpine lakes, and views of the Tetons which can be inaccessible from essentially the most populated trails within the park.
You’ll need a allow to finish this backpacking route, and the allow course of is extremely aggressive. You possibly can guide your tenting spots upfront or reserve a walk-up reservation the day earlier than your hike.
I attempted to guide a allow on-line to finish the hike this summer time, however the spots had been all booked up simply a few minutes after the reservations opened up. I didn’t wish to danger it with the walk-up allow, so I made a decision I’ll attempt once more one other yr. This hike is certainly nonetheless on the high of my bucket listing!
8. Cloud Peak
- Location: Bighorn Nationwide Forest
- Path Sort: Backpacking
- Distance: 23.1 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 5,364 toes
- Time: 2 – 3 days
- Issue: Difficult
- Trailhead Begin: West Tensleep Lake Trailhead
- Allow Required? No
- Canines Allowed? Sure
Cloud Peak is the tallest mountain within the Cloud Peak Wilderness and Bighorn Nationwide Forest, sitting at 13,171 toes above sea stage.
The path takes you to the summit and again. On the high, you’ll see gorgeous views of alpine lakes and rocky peaks. On one facet of the summit, there’s a cirque the place Cloud Peak Glacier sits, the one glacier within the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Most individuals full this backpacking journey inside 2 days. The primary 8 miles of the hike is a gradual incline, adopted by 3.5 miles of a tricky boulder climb.
9. Phelps Lake
- Location: Grand Teton Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Day hike
- Distance: 7 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 725 toes
- Time: 2.5 – 3 hrs
- Issue: Reasonable
- Trailhead Begin: Dying Canyon Trailhead
- Canines Allowed? No
Phelps Lake is a loop path that leads you across the perimeter of the lake. The path provides glorious views of the lake overlooking Dying Canyon and Prospectors Mountain.
On the north facet of the lake, there’s an overlook referred to as Phelps Lake Overlook that gives great views of Phelps Lake. In case you are feeling formidable, it’s also possible to lengthen your hike onto Dying Canyon Path the place you’ll go deeper into the canyon with mountains towering over both facet of the trail.
Bear sightings are quite common on this hike, so pack some bear spray and comply with all nationwide park guidelines on wildlife viewing.
To get essentially the most scenic expertise, I like to recommend mountaineering this path counterclockwise.
10. Delta Lake through Lupine Meadows Entry
- Location: Grand Teton Nationwide Park
- Path Sort: Day hike
- Distance: 7.4 miles
- Elevation Acquire: 2,296 toes
- Time: 4 – 5 hrs
- Issue: Difficult
- Trailhead Begin: Lupine Meadows Trailhead
- Canines Allowed? No
The path as much as Delta Lake is a strenuous out-and-back hike with a tricky boulder climb over the past half mile towards the highest. This a part of the path is unmaintained, and there’s no apparent path, however there are cairns that hikers have left in place to assist information you alongside the way in which. There additionally could also be some ice towards the highest relying on the time of yr, so convey some grippy sneakers and/or micro spikes.
Store Kahtoola MICROspikes at:
Once you get to Delta Lake, be ready to see one of many prettiest lakes in Grand Teton Nationwide Park. The surroundings on the high is 100% definitely worth the effort it takes to get there, as you’ll be trying over the serene Delta Lake with dramatic peaks within the background.
Cease right here for a picnic and savor the view. The turquoise blue water seems to be inviting, however this can be very chilly, so you could wish to maintain again from taking a full swim and simply stick your toes in.
Greatest Time of Yr to Hike in Wyoming
Usually, the months of June via September are the very best months for mountaineering in Wyoming, relying on the yearly snowpack.
For the high-elevation trails, the very best time to go to is mid-July via September as a result of the snow must be largely melted by then and it doesn’t often begin snowing once more till October.
Should you plan to go to in the course of the transition to the low season (Could and October), you’ll see a lot fewer crowds however the climate could also be extra unpredictable, as it might snow throughout these months. Make sure that you test the climate beforehand and are available ready with the right winter clothes.
Should you don’t thoughts chilly temperatures and snow, you possibly can go to Wyoming in the course of the winter to do some snowshoeing, cross-country snowboarding, or downhill snowboarding. The snow creates an added contact of magnificence to Wyoming’s mountains throughout this time of yr. Be sure to test highway closures and nationwide park providers beforehand as a result of many roads and providers might be closed in the course of the winter months.
Ideas for Climbing in Wyoming
First time in Wyoming? Listed here are a couple of tricks to make your journey extra fulfilling and protected:
Planning a highway journey to Wyoming? Take a look at these weblog posts to benefit from your go to.
What are your favourite hikes in Wyoming? Have you ever carried out any of those ones listed? Which of them are in your bucket listing? Tell us within the feedback!
Take a look at extra of Kaylee’s work at The City Outsider
Associated
