Skip to map

Teton Crest Trail

Teton Crest Trail — the trail guide

The Teton Crest Trail is a 57.4 km trek in United States, typically walked in 3–4 days, with 2974 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (52 m of gain per km, topping out at 3271 m).

The Teton Crest Trail runs about 40 miles along the western spine of Wyoming's Teton Range, from Phillips Pass above Teton Pass north to String Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Hikers come for the wildflower shelves, alpine tarns and nonstop views of the Grand, Middle and South Teton across Cascade Canyon. It tops out on 10,700-foot Paintbrush Divide, dips into Idaho's Alaska Basin, and demands an advance backcountry permit, a bear canister and a car shuttle for its one-way line.

Quick facts

Distance57.4 km
Total ascent2974 m
Typical duration3–4 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness52 m gain per km
High point3271 m
CountryUnited States
RegionUnited States

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 2097 m · high point 3271 m · 2974 m total ascent over 57.4 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 2100 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan-3°-10°71 mm
Feb-2°-10°83 mm
Mar3°-7°65 mm
Apr6°-4°64 mm
May11°0°58 mm
Jun20°5°44 mm
Jul25°10°21 mm
Aug24°10°32 mm
Sep19°6°54 mm
Oct10°0°61 mm
Nov2°-7°74 mm
Dec-3°-10°84 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Teton Crest Trail?

The Teton Crest Trail is 57.4 km, and most hikers complete it in 3–4 days. Total elevation gain is 2974 m.

How difficult is the Teton Crest Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 52 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 3271 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Teton Crest Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Teton Crest Trail?

In United States. The route starts near 43.785, -110.728 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

More treks in The United States

See all The United States treks →