Forks of Cascade Canyon

Forks of Cascade Canyon is a long out-and-back from the West Shore Boat Dock at Jenny Lake, following Cascade Creek to the junction of the North and South forks. The shuttle-boat version is 9.4 miles round trip with about 1,480 feet of elevation gain; allow five to nine hours for the hike, with seven hours a sensible day plan. The canyon walk is the payoff: you get deep into the Tetons without climbing onto a high pass. The boat shortens the walk around Jenny Lake, but it also makes your return dependent on the shuttle. If you walk the South Jenny Lake Loop Trail to the same route instead, the full out-and-back is 13.3 miles with more climbing. You can also turn around earlier; the canyon is worthwhile well before the forks.

From the dock, the path crosses a bridge and follows the creek toward the canyon mouth. A short side trail reaches Hidden Falls if you want to add that stop. The main route then climbs stone steps and crosses bridges toward Inspiration Point. The last set of steps is exposed and has no rail or handholds; the footing is rocky, and that section can be a real obstacle if heights make you uneasy. It is fine to stop at the falls or point instead of committing to the full canyon walk.

After the point, the grade eases, but the trail keeps gaining height as it works deeper into the canyon. Expect crushed rock and dirt, small stream crossings, rock-slide traverses, and plenty of short ups and downs. It is easier walking than the stairway, not flat walking: the long distance and high elevation make this a substantial day. Start with enough time and energy left for the return to the dock.

Cascade Canyon is a glacially carved U-shaped valley between Teewinot and Mount Saint John. Cascade Creek stays close to the trail, and the Cathedral Group—Teewinot, Grand Teton, and Mount Owen—rises above the canyon. Boulders and small ponds break up the forested stretches, while rock slides open broad views across the valley. At Inspiration Point, look east over Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole; farther in, turn back toward the peaks. For a useful photo, include a stretch of rocky path beneath the mountains so the foreground shows how the trail fits into the scale of the canyon.

The North and South forks meet in a forested junction beside rushing water. This is the endpoint for this hike. Beyond it, the North Fork continues toward Lake Solitude and the South Fork leads toward Hurricane Pass and Alaska Basin; either choice turns the day into a different, longer outing. For this hike, turn around at the junction rather than taking either branch. The out-and-back shape makes an earlier turnaround straightforward if time, weather, or energy says so.

Moose may be near the willows along the creek, and pikas or marmots may be visible around boulder fields; sightings are never guaranteed. Bears also use this canyon. Stay alert, make noise, carry bear spray, hike in a group of three or more when possible, and give bears at least 100 yards. Dogs are not allowed on park trails. Snow can linger into early or mid-summer, so check trail conditions before setting out and do not cross steep snow without the experience and equipment for it. South Jenny Lake is the parking and boat departure point; its lot fills in mid-summer, so arriving before 9 a.m. improves your chance of finding a space. The boat landing on the west shore is the mapped start of the 9.4-mile version.