Guided Hikes in Grand Teton? Sorry, It's Not Permitted, Here Are Your Options

Guided hiking in Grand Teton would be our most popular tour, but the National Park Service doesn’t issue permits for anyone to offer this service. Like every other tour operator, our permit limits us to short walks within a half-mile of a trailhead. But there are options:

1. If you want to do a bunch of short walks in the Grand Teton National Park, we recommend our Full Day Wildlife Safari. This tour has plenty of time to stroll around various stops, and of course all our tours are private, so you can do what you like within the rules and time. Even on short walks our guides carry bear spray.
2. We are able to offer day hiking in Yellowstone National Park. You can do this as a single day trip from Jackson or to incorporate it in one of our multi-day tours.
3. You can do a guided hike in the National Forest or private land outside the park, but generally the best hikes are inside the Park. After all, that is the one of the reasons we have National Parks to protect the most scenic landscapes we have. You can do guided alpine climbing in the park, which involves hiking into the mountain you want to climb.
4. Do your own hike. Many of our guests ask us about the great hikes in the Park. Here is our list of favorites.

Upto 7 miles round trip/450ft total elevation gain.

A perfect “flat” hike around the lake: the 450ft is the cumulative up and down. It can be shortened by taking the boat across the lake. Note to take the boat first and walk back or you could spend a long time waiting in the queue to board for the return journey.

1-2 miles round trip/20ft total elevation gain.

In winter the road to Mormon Row is closed, but there is well-packed trail up to the barns from the parking lot at the closure. Micro-spikes or some other traction might be handy and the snow gets packed down.

3.5 miles round trip/420ft total elevation gain.

One of our favorite short hikes. Great with kids. Another hike that can be extended by adding Bradley Lake to the route.

In winter, you can snowshoe out onto the lake.

6.2 miles round trip/700ft total elevation gain.

The best way to get to Hidden Falls, without having to wait in line for the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake. Trust us, in summer the line for the return trip can get long. For a fun variation, continue past Inspiration Point and take the less-crowded horse trail down to the lake.

5.6 miles round trip/1,000ft total elevation gain.

This is a fun one on a hot summer day, but bring your bear spray; the trail from the overlook to the lake is a favorite haunt for the park’s black bears. Jumping off the rock will push you out of your comfort zone. The teenagers will love this hike.

10 miles round trip from boat drop off/1,200ft total elevation gain.

This is an extension of the Inspiration Point hike. It is relatively flat once you get into the canyon.