Although the trail system of Grand Teton National Park is not completed,
numerous trails and side roads are maintained for the visitor.
Additional trails are planned, and existing secondary trails in the
newly acquired portions of the park will be developed. The more than 130
miles of trails that now exist in the park are described below.
_The Lakes Trail_ runs parallel to the mountains, following closely the
base of the range and skirting the shore of each large body of water
from Leigh Lake at the north to Phelps Lake at the south. Trails
completely encircle Leigh, String, and Jenny Lakes.
_The Teton Glacier Trail_ extends up the east slope of the Grand Teton
to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, unfolding matchless panoramas of the
surrounding country. Amphitheater Lake is the starting point for the
climb to the Teton Glacier.
_The Indian Paintbrush Canyon Trail_ starts near the outlet of Leigh
Lake and follows up the bottom of the Indian Paintbrush Canyon to
connect with the Cascade Canyon Trail by way of Lake Solitude, near the
head of the north fork of Cascade Canyon.
_The Cascade Canyon Trail_ passes through a chasm whose walls rise sheer
on either side for thousands of feet. By this trail one penetrates into
the deepest recesses of the Tetons, skirting the bases of several tall
peaks. The north fork of Cascade Canyon Trail leads to Lake Solitude and
the south fork leads to the Limestone Wall and Alaska Basin.
_The Death Canyon Trail_ traverses the full length of a canyon which in
its lower portion is of profound depth and grandeur, as awesome as its
name. It emerges above into broad sunny meadows. The trail up the north
fork of Death Canyon leads to Alaska Basin and a junction with the trail
from the south fork of Cascade Canyon. The former trail along the east
face of the wall has been destroyed by rock slides and IS NO LONGER SAFE
FOR ANY TRAVEL.
While trails are traversable during the greater part of the summer, some
of them may be blocked by snow at the beginning of the season. Those
visitors expecting to use the trails early in the summer should inquire
at park headquarters or at the Jenny Lake Museum for information
regarding their condition.
[Illustration: _The Jenny Lake Museum--Public Information Center._]