Canyons & Trail Conditions

The Jenny Lake Ranger Station is now open for the season.
Conditions can change rapidly this time of year and we will do our best to supply general condition information. Please check back often as we will do our best to post the most current information. If your questions are not answered on this site, please feel free to call the Jenny Lake Ranger Station at (307) 739-3342 or (307) 739-33423. If you have specific route condition information that you would like to share, please give us a call!

~The Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers

7/16/09
Condition Report: snow patches begin around 9,300 feet but melting fast. The Camping Zones below 9,000 feet have snow-free sites while many above are clearing. An ice axe is highly recommended crossing any of the major passes, and good map reading skills would have prevented many wrong turns in recent weeks.

General Observations:

Lakes: The morainal lakes are clear. The road to Spalding bay is open.

Passes: All mountain passes are covered in snow. Fox Creek Pass is now passable without an ice axe.

All of the High Peaks including the Grand are in are in transition from 'full alpine' to dry, depending on aspect.

Granite Canyon- The trails and camping areas are snow free with the exception of several snow patches to cross from the Teton Village Tram..

Open Canyon - Dry to 9400' then some navigation required to get to the pass. Axe not necessary on either side of the pass.

Avalanche Canyon- Patchy snow begins at Taminah. Mostly snow above.

Death Canyon- Clear to slopes below Fox Creek Pass which can be negotiated without an ice axe.

Death Canyon Shelf- 25% snow. see photo at left, taken July 11

Stewart Draw - Clear to near 10,000 feet.

Garnet Canyon - North Fork Camping near the steep walls of the Moraines is not recommened due to rockfall from the Stettner couloir. Moraine site campers should use the traditional sites closer to the Middle Teton Glacier.

Garnet Canyon - South Fork- snow (see photo at right, including Cloudveil, the South, Gilkey and the Ice Cream cone. taken 6/23/09)

Surprise-Amphitheater Lakes Trail- Snow on last 1/8 mile. Lakes and surrounds half snow covered.

Cascade Canyon - North Fork-Dry with snow patches just below and at Lake Solitude. Camp sites are clear. Ice axe needed to cross Paintbrush Divide.

Cascade Canyon - South Fork- Patch to continuous snow about 3 miles above the Forks (above the horse site). Ice axe and route finding skills needed to cross Hurricane Pass.

Paintbrush Canyon- Patchy snow at Holly Lake, continuous snow above.

Hanging Canyon- Dry to gullies under Ramshead lake. Snow above.

Safety Notice

Climbing and mountaineering are inherently dangerous pursuits. This website is not a substitute for good judgment. Route conditions and photos will be updated whenever possible, but ultimately the responsibility rests with you and your partners while in the Tetons. Please stop in and see us at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station when you're in town, or give us a call at 307.739.3343, 8-5pm MST during the peak of the summer.