Best Grand Teton Hike: How To Reach Lake Solitude

Maybe you are wondering, “What is the best Grand Teton hike?” Well, there are quite a few hikes to choose from while visiting Grand Teton National Park, but we think the best one is the hike through Cascade Canyon up to Lake Solitude. Plus, you can complete this one as a day hike.

This trail really has it all! A scenic boat ride across Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, an outstanding view from Inspiration Point, moose sightings, snow (maybe), an alpine lake, and more!

This hike is part of our epic 10-Day itinerary in Grand Teton/Yellowstone National Parks. Go on, keep reading for more details!

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Need to Know Info

• Get to Grand Teton National Park early! Aim for before or around 8 a.m. to snag a parking spot. We showed up around that time each day and never had trouble finding parking. As a bonus, the morning sun lights up the Tetons beautifully from behind you as you enter the park. It really is breathtaking. 😍
• Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of most parks. Buying early will save you some time.
• It’s best to visit the Grand Tetons during late June, July, or August. During these warmer months, you can hit the trails, and everything should be mostly snow-free along the trails in the higher elevations. Key word there…”should”.

Best Grand Teton Hike: Cascade Canyon & Lake Solitude – 14 miles – strenuous, 2,200 ft. gain

To get to the trailhead, drive to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center just off Teton Park Road. From here, you have a few options to get to the other side of the lake. You can hike about 2 miles to the Cascade Canyon Trailhead, or you can take the Jenny Lake Shuttle.

To shave off some time and 4 miles (total) off this epic hike, we recommend taking the Jenny Lake Shuttle. Trust us, you will really want to be sitting on that boat after this hike! That being said, head to the Jenny Lake Shuttle dock and head across Jenny Lake to start the trek through Cascade Canyon.

Boat Dock to Hidden Falls

Once your boat shuttle arrives at the western dock, head to Hidden Falls. From here, it’s a steep half mile or so up the trail to Hidden Falls. There are multiple trails in this area, so just follow the signs to the Cascade Canyon Trail to reach Hidden Falls.

Hidden Falls is a VERY busy and popular location in the Tetons, so you likely won’t have the place to yourself, but it’s still a beautiful location and worth the quick stop. The falls are hidden, and you won’t see them until you are about 100 yards away. The waterfall is breathtaking!

🛥️ Do you only want to hike to Hidden Falls and back? We’ve got you covered. Check out our post here on Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls!

Inspiration Point

Continue the hike, ascending up the switchbacks to Inspiration Point, which provides a view above Jenny Lake and out into the Jackson Hole Valley. There are great views here of Cascade Canyon and the Teton Range. Finally, continue along the trail toward Lake Solitude.

Cascade Canyon Trail

From Inspiration Point, the trail really mellows out as you hike deeper into the dense woods along Cascade Creek. This is a great place to spot some wildlife. As we hiked this portion of the trail, we eventually reached a traffic jam of people, and that can only mean one thing. Wildlife!

In this case, it was a bull moose grazing right along the trail. Remember to keep your distance from wild animals as you hike and give them plenty of space. We ended up having to climb up some rocks to get past the moose, but it was so awesome to see one.

After hiking for about 3.5 miles or so, you’ll reach a fork in the trail. At this point, you have reached the turn-off for Lake Solitude. After this point, the trail will steepen as you gain elevation on your way to the lake. This is a nice place to turn around if you are looking for a shorter hike.

🌲 Don’t want to hike? Leave the planning and logistics to someone else. Check out the fun options from Viator!

Hike to Lake Solitude

From the Junction, take the North Fork Cascade Canyon Trail to reach Lake Solitude. It’s about 2.75 miles from this point. As you continue the hike, you may notice that the trees get smaller, and eventually the views will open up.

Eventually, you’ll hike out of the forest. While you are crossing the large talus fields here, be on the lookout for marmots. You’ll likely hear them before you see them! Eventually, you’ll reach Lake Solitude, where amazing scenery awaits!

Or maybe not….?

➡️ Looking for much easier hiking? Check out the String Lake and Leigh Lake hikes!

Snow in June?!

During our trip here in late June, the Tetons had a very large snowpack from the prior winter. Due to this, a portion of this section of the trail was completely snow-covered, and it even started snowing as we were hiking!

Eventually, we got to a point where it was hard to follow the trail, and some areas of snow were waist-deep. We could hear water rushing nearby, but couldn’t see it, so we decided to play it safe and turn around without reaching Lake Solitude. You don’t want to fall through the snow into a creek and disappear under the snowpack. This would likely end very badly.

If you’re able to reach Lake Solitude, enjoy the scenery and stop for lunch. Lastly, head back the way you came, about 7 miles to the Jenny Lake Shuttle. We were right, huh? That shuttle ride back is sounding pretty nice right now, isn’t it? Don’t worry if you didn’t purchase a return ticket. Just board the boat and pay at the east dock when you arrive near the visitor center!

Animal Safety in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Grizzly bears, black bears, moose, elk, bison, squirrels, snakes (not venomous!), marmots, and eagles are just a few of the animals you might see.

Always carry bear spray while hiking in the Tetons. Purchase your bear spray near the park in Jackson, or rent it from somewhere if you don’t plan on keeping it. Bear spray is NOT allowed on aircraft in checked or carry-on luggage. Make sure to review the steps to take if you encounter a bear during your adventure.

Before hiking, learn how to spot the difference between grizzly and black bears and what to do if you see one. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will have an aggressive animal encounter, but always be prepared. Do NOT leave food in your car!

Safety and Weather in Grand Teton National Park

• Cell phone coverage could be spotty in certain areas of Grand Teton National Park.
• Don’t forget to bring your bug spray. Get our favorite here!
• Plan on letting a family member or friend who isn’t on the trip with you know where you’ll be each day while exploring. If you get lost, this will aid in your rescue.
• Water: Still using one-time-use plastic bottles? Let’s get more sustainable and carry a water bladder instead! It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking.
• Food: There are limited food options near the Grand Tetons. If you are looking for food here, your best bet is to travel back to Jackson Hole.
• The weather can vary depending on your location in the park. Higher elevation areas will be cooler, especially in and around the forested and shady areas of the park. You may even see snow at high elevations in the summer months. Be aware of afternoon thunderstorms and the threat of lightning from July through August. Check out the current conditions on the national park website.

Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park

Jackson Hole is the perfect spot to stay while spending 4 days in Grand Teton National Park. It’s also possible to stay a bit farther away in Victor, Idaho. Here are some of the top accommodations:

• Flat Creek Inn: This roadside motel is located directly across from the National Elk Refuge. Clean and comfortable. This is one of the closest hotels to Grand Teton National Park, situated just north of Jackson Hole. We had a great stay here during part of our trip! Book it here at Expedia or Booking.com.
• Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole: Just minutes from downtown. Rooms feature private fireplaces and views of Wyoming’s surrounding wild beauty. Pet-friendly, hot tub, and a restaurant is located on site. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.
• The Rockwell Inn: Luxury accommodations in Jackson Hole. Begin each day with a hearty breakfast. Free parking, an on-site pool and hot tub, and fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon. Reserve your room on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Cobblestone Hotel & Suites – Victor, ID: A newer hotel offering free breakfast. However, this hotel is about 1.5 hours from Grand Teton National Park. That being said, it’s possible it could be cheaper than others in Jackson Hole during the high season. We stayed here due to this exact reason. We loved it! Book your stay on Expedia or Booking.com.

Final Thoughts

If you complete this adventure to Lake Solitude, we bet you’ll agree that this is the best Grand Teton hike that you can complete in one day! Don’t get us wrong, we were super bummed that we couldn’t make it to Lake Solitude. We were SO CLOSE, but it just felt unsafe, and we didn’t want to be featured on the local news that evening. 😂

It was so much fun going from summer-like temperatures down near Jenny Lake to a complete winter wonderland on our way to Lake Solitude. I mean, I wore shorts after all, so hiking through that snow became a bit cold! Overall, you should definitely make it a point to complete this hike when visiting Grand Teton National Park.

🛏️ Wait a minute! Be sure to book your stay at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites – Victor, ID.