Grand Teton Pathway

Grand Teton Pathway is a 20.5-mile paved route from Jackson to South Jenny Lake. It is one way, not a loop. The path follows US 26/89/191 north to Moose, then Teton Park Road. Walking the whole route takes about seven hours at a steady pace with stops, so arrange a ride at the far end before setting out. Walking back makes it a 41-mile day.

Most of the route is smooth pavement with gentle grades. The steepest grades stay below five percent, with a gradual climb north of the Jackson National Fish Hatchery. The long distance is the challenge here. Much of the path runs beside a road, so expect a valley travel corridor rather than a secluded backcountry trail. For a shorter outing, start at one of the pathway hubs and turn around or arrange a ride between hubs.

From Jackson, the route crosses open sagebrush steppe with the Teton Range rising above the valley. At Moose it turns north on Teton Park Road and continues toward the South Jenny Lake shoreline. This is a useful way to cover a long stretch of the park on foot or by bike, with an open view of the mountains for much of the way.

Pathway hubs with parking and bike racks are spaced at Gros Ventre Roundabout, Blacktail Butte, Dornan's, Moose, Taggart Lake and Jenny Lake. Visitor centers at Moose and Jenny Lake have restrooms and water. Those are useful service points, but don't count on water or facilities along every stretch.

The pathway grew from a road-safety campaign after 13-year-old Gabriella Axelrad was killed while biking on the roadway in 1999. The Moose-to-Jenny Lake section opened in 2009, followed by the rest of the route in 2012. A memorial sign honors Gabriella, and Senator Craig Thomas helped secure federal funding for the pathway.

About three miles from the southern end, an art-lined tunnel gives pathway users a safe passage under the highway toward the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which is a separate stop. The route crosses open habitat where elk, moose, pronghorn, bison and eagles may be seen; sightings aren't guaranteed.