Berry Creek–Owl Creek Loop

This is a 20.1-mile loop from Glade Creek Trailhead, linking Glade Creek, Berry Creek, the Owl-Berry Cutoff and Owl Creek. Follow Glade Creek south to the Berry Creek junction, turn west to the cutoff, then take it south to Owl Creek and return east to Glade Creek. The way back follows the Glade Creek access to the trailhead, retracing part of the approach. Count that shared stretch twice; it is included in the full distance. Allow about nine hours and a full day.

The first stretch crosses the 1988 Huck Fire footprint before moving into mixed conifer forest and the greener creek drainage. A small footbridge comes about 1.5 miles in, followed by small stream crossings that can leave boots wet earlier in the season. Farther on, the trail opens into a meadow where the Snake River widens into Jackson Lake. Osprey, eagles and sandhill cranes are often visible there, and Columbia monkshood blooms along the creek later in the season.

Berry Creek and Owl Creek lead through Grand Teton’s remote northern canyons. This is a demanding day for its distance and the amount of route-finding, not a quick walk to a single viewpoint. Trails here are hard to navigate, bear activity is high, and the route includes unbridged stream crossings that can become difficult and dangerous during spring runoff. Bring a map and compass or a reliable GPS track and be ready to turn around if a crossing is unsafe.

The small trailhead parking area is on the south side of Grassy Lake Road between the fifth and sixth campsites; the sign is set back from the road. Grassy Lake Road is seasonally closed until early June, so check that it has opened before an early-season trip. Pets are not allowed on park trails or in the backcountry. A backcountry permit is required for overnight camping in the northern canyons.