Parking
Park in the Ranch Lot at Teton Village, then take the Aerial Tram to the Rendezvous Mountain upper terminal. The tram has a separate fee. The route finishes in Teton Village; allow a short walk back to the lot.
Overview
About Granite Canyon via Aerial Tram
Why go
- The tram opens a high-ridge start without the 4,139-foot climb from the village.
- The long traverse changes from alpine views to wildflower fields, forest, and Granite Creek.
- A historic patrol cabin makes a worthwhile side trip near the canyon junction.
Heads up
- A full-day point-to-point hike with 5,520 feet of descent and 1,480 feet of climbing.
- The final resort-trail routefinding is less clear than the canyon section.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grand Teton map
Full mapElevation6,365–10,394 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
2 active Grand Teton alerts
- ClosureJackson Lake boat ramps closed; Signal launch riskMentions Jackson Lake, referenced in this guideColter Bay and Leeks boat ramps are closed; Signal Mountain Boat Ramp is open, but water is below the ramp edge and loose cobbles make launching risky.Official details
- ClosureConstruction closures and delaysConstruction is causing current road and area closures and delays across Grand Teton; use the signed Taggart Trail detour. - Moose-Wilson Road is closed between Moose and Laurance S.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Teton Tour Guide
Your drive to Granite Canyon via Aerial Tram, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Teton National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Teton audio tourMore stories near here in the app
- The Green Beneath Aspen Bark
- Granite Canyon: A Full Day to Marion Lake
- The Owl’s Listening Face
- Rockefeller Preserve: Listen Before the Lake Walk
- 118 audio storiesacross Grand Teton’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 70 trails, 121 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…We have been driving around with the audio tour and it has been informational and spot on. The whole family has been impressed. We used it for Yellowstone and Grand Teton.”
Trail guide
Hiking Granite Canyon via Aerial Tram
The full-day traverseGranite Canyon via the Aerial Tram is a 12.
Granite Canyon via the Aerial Tram is a 12.9-mile, one-way hike from Rendezvous Mountain’s 10,450-foot summit to Teton Village. The route follows the ridgeline to the South Fork, drops through Granite Canyon beside Granite Creek, then uses the Valley Trail and resort paths to reach the village. The tram ride gets you to the start; it is not part of the hiking distance. Plan a full day. The posted 7–11-hour window is broad because it sits above three different access options. The route still climbs 1,480 feet and descends 5,520 feet, so expect a lot of downhill work even after riding up.
Find the right trailAt the summit, follow the gravel service road from the tram platform.
At the summit, follow the gravel service road from the tram platform. When the main road bends left, take the rougher side road to the Rendezvous Mountain Trail sign. At the Middle Fork Cutoff, stay right for Granite Canyon; the left branch heads toward Marion Lake. At the Granite Canyon junction, take the village route. A short left-hand side trip reaches the Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin. Later, leave the canyon for the Valley Trail, then follow the Saratoga and Summit resort trails toward the village. Signs get less clear on this last stretch, and the route leaves park land for resort property.
Ridge, meadow, and creekThe top ridge opens onto Jackson Hole, Jackson Lake, the Gros Ventre Mountains, and Grand Teton.
The top ridge opens onto Jackson Hole, Jackson Lake, the Gros Ventre Mountains, and Grand Teton. It is the best place for a wide panorama before the route drops into forests and open fields bright with seasonal wildflowers. Lower down, the walk follows Granite Creek through a mix of woods and meadow. The tread gets narrow and steep in places, with steps and switchbacks. This is a long descent with enough climbing to keep the day demanding; it is not a gentle downhill stroll.
A cabin on the wayThe Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin is a worthwhile short detour near the canyon junction.
The Upper Granite Canyon Patrol Cabin is a worthwhile short detour near the canyon junction. It is thought to have been built in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps crews as part of the park’s backcountry patrol network, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin is off the through-route, so turn back to the junction to continue toward the village.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Grand Teton
172 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
195 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
32 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,816 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
614 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
738 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Teton. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
