Photo of Trail Running Routes in Grand Teton National Park

The Best Trail Running Routes in Grand Teton National Park

Explore Trail Running Routes

Arguably the quintessential mecca of ski mountaineering in the US, Grand Teton National Park towers more than 7,000 feet over the quiet Jackson valley below. Classic lines litter the park's nearly 500 square miles, with the bulk of the skiing centered around the Cathedral Group, surrounding The Grand Teton.

Top 11 trail running routes in Grand Teton National Park

1

Jenny Lake Loop

Moderate
7.53 mi·
547 ft
Resting along the northeastern edge of the Grand Teton itself, Jenny Lake offers an easy lakeside run with stunning mountain views. The loop is easy to follow, never steep, and great for anyone looking for some exercise on their visit to Jackson Hole or the National Park....
2

Leigh, Bearpaw, and Trapper Lakes

Moderate
10.92 mi·
402 ft
Run along the shores of Leigh Lake, a glacial lake resting along the eastern slopes of Mount Moran, the 4th highest peak in the Tetons. One of the easier runs in the park, many suggest an early morning start to enjoy the sunrise as it illuminates the mountainside with a stunning array of colors....
3

Phelps Lake

Moderate
6.56 mi·
662 ft
Resting at the mouth of Death Canyon, this run offers an easy, yet beautiful trail run around one of the Teton's most coveted glacial lakes. Roughly 6.5 miles in length, this loop offers stunning views of Albright Peak and Prospectors Mountain as it ventures through stands of spruce, fir and lodgepole pine....
4

Two Ocean Lake

Easy
6.17 mi·
319 ft
Just a few miles north of Moran Junction, this easy ~10k run around Two Ocean Lake offers impressive views of the Teton skyline, the high peaks of Mount Mora,n and Grand Teton clearly distinguishable from the rest....
5

Phelps Lake Overlook

Hard
2.01 mi·
430 ft
This short out-and-back run is an alternative to the classic 6.5-mile [Phelps Lake](https://fatmap.com/routeid/397081/phelps-lake/@43.6468528,-110.8154771,22246.6060948,-19.4705694,0,2359.6436535,normal) Loop that begins at the LSR Preserve. Many sources even list it as one of the most popular hikes around the lake....
6

Taggart and Bradley Lakes

Easy
5.79 mi·
854 ft
Beginning at the mouth of Avalanche Canyon, this run explores two of six glacial lakes resting at the foot of the Teton Mountains. As mapped, the route first follows Taggart Lake Trail, then spurs onto Bradley Lake Trail, offering even better mountain views from a slightly higher elevation....
7

Emma Matilda and Two Ocean Pass Lakes

Hard
9.54 mi·
1,441 ft
This run is a longer alternative to the classic [Two Ocean Lake](https://fatmap.com/routeid/422934/two-ocean-lake/@43.9095665,-110.5240200,7108.3043156,-19.7370328,0,2100.1764652,normal) loop, beginning at the same trailhead and sharing much of the same path. Both Two Ocean and Emma Matilda Lake have a surface elevation near 6,900 feet, with many of the high peaks in the Teton Range towering well above the lakes at 12,000 feet....
8

Paintbrush and Cascade Canyon Loop

Hard
19.0 mi·
4,100 ft
In contrast to the easier trails along Jenny and Leigh Lakes, this epic trail run wanders through two serene canyons resting beneath the highest peaks of the Teton Mountains. Sometimes referred to as the Cathedral Group, the Grand, Middle, and South Teton peaks are visible throughout the run, as are Teewinot and Mount Owen—all standing tall above Cascade Canyon....
9

Amphitheater and Delta Lakes

Hard
10.7 mi·
3,540 ft
Nestled along the eastern slopes of the Grand Teton itself, this run explores three stunning sub-alpine lakes and offers close-up views of the dramatic mountain peaks. For hikers and backpackers, this route is often treated as two separate routes: one to Delta Lake, the other to Amphitheater Lake....
10

Death Canyon and Static Peak Shuttle

Hard
18.61 mi·
4,715 ft
Second only to the [Teton Crest Trail](https://fatmap.com/routeid/446509/teton-crest-trail/@43.6590597,-110.8142204,13568.1582459,-90,-0.0007086,2350.5135653,normal), this is one of the most epic trail runs in all of the Teton Mountains. Only possible as a shuttle, this run begins with a popular overlook of Phelps Lake, then climbs its way through Buck Mountain Pass, quickly skirting along the edge of Albright, Static, and Buck Mountain Peaks....
11

Teton Crest Trail

Hard
39.11 mi·
9,205 ft
The Teton Crest Trail is one of the most renowned trail running routes anywhere in the country. It tops the list with the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim, the Adirondack Great Range, the Presidential Traverse, and of course, the infamous Wonderland Trail....