The Tetons never cease to amaze! Each and every return visit we discover new hikes and new photo ops! The town of Jackson Hole is full of amazing food, lodging and shopping – not to be missed! The wildlife spotting at The Tetons is amazing – we spotted black bear cubs, longhorn sheep, prairie dog, elk, elk with velvet antlers, moose and calf, red fox, mule deer, and marmot.

Death Canyon is similar to Cascade Canyon and Paintbrush Canyon, with its scenic views and chance to see moose and bear. However, with fewer visitors, this trail feels much quieter. We only saw a few people, making this one of our favorite hiking experiences in Grand Teton National Park. A black bear and 3 cubs were near the unpaved portion of the road leading to the trailhead. We didn’t even start all that early, with our feet hitting the trail at 8:30am (late in June).

Starting at the Death Canyon Trailhead, you will first come to the Phelps Lake Overlook, then drop down towards Phelps Lake. However, you won’t see the lake from the shore, unless you add this short detour onto the hike. Once past Phelps Lake, the trail turns to the right and heads up into the canyon. Once in Death Canyon, it becomes a moderate to strenuous hike on a rugged, rocky trail. You can turn around at the Patrol Cabin (4 miles from the trailhead) or continue all the way to the Teton Crest Trail (9.5 miles from the trailhead).