Granite Canyon - Fox Creek Pass - Death Canyon Loop

This is a 24.2-mile loop from Granite Canyon Trailhead through Granite Canyon, Fox Creek Pass and Death Canyon, returning on the Valley Trail. It links a long canyon climb, a high-country crossing and a rocky descent into the next canyon. The route is listed as a two-night backcountry itinerary, which is the sensible plan for most people. A realistic total is about 16 hours of walking, spread over three days rather than squeezed into one.

The route starts in sagebrush, then reaches forest and Granite Creek as it climbs the north fork of Granite Canyon toward Marion Lake. This is a long, steady build into the high country, with meadows and creek beds becoming part of the walk. The name is a bit of a historical mistake: early explorers thought the upper canyon rocks were granite, but they are metamorphic metagabbro that only looks like it.

Past Marion Lake, the trail climbs toward Fox Creek Pass and crosses the Teton Crest corridor. The route high point is around 9,650 feet, so the thin air and lingering snow matter more than the mileage alone. A past midsummer walk described flower-filled creek beds and meadows, including columbine, lupine, larkspur and elephant-head. The pointed Teton skyline opens up from this high stretch; the pass is the place to stop and frame the peaks over the meadow rather than shooting only the trail underfoot.

After the pass, the loop drops into Death Canyon. Expect rocky footing among boulders, cliffs and creek crossings; it feels more rugged than the lower Valley Trail. One overnight account recorded pika, marmots, a fox and a porcupine near camp, all possible sightings rather than anything to count on. The Valley Trail then carries you back past Phelps Lake and closes the loop at Granite Canyon. It is a long finish, but gentler in grade than the high climb.

Granite Canyon Trailhead is one mile north of the Granite Entrance Station on Moose-Wilson Road. The lot is small, and that road is unsuitable for vehicles over 23.3 feet long or trailers. There is a vault toilet, benches and interpretive information at the trailhead, but no water. Fill up before you arrive. A wilderness permit is required for any overnight backcountry stay. Grand Teton prohibits pets on park trails and in the backcountry; regulations differ on the short Forest Service section around Fox Creek Pass. Mountain passes may hold snow until late July, and snowfields, stream crossings and fast-changing weather can make early-season travel slower.

If you want the Granite Creek setting without the pass or overnight logistics, the Mouth of Granite Canyon is a separate 3.2-mile one-way walk from the same trailhead. Turn around there for a 6.4-mile out-and-back with about 200 feet of gain; it does not reach Marion Lake or Fox Creek Pass.