Work Continues on the Teton Crest Trail

Stretching through the heart of the Teton Range, the Teton Crest Trail travels through high mountain passes, remote canyons, and some of Grand Teton National Park’s most spectacular backcountry.

Maintaining a trail in this environment takes continual work. Snowmelt, heavy rain, erosion, and thousands of footsteps gradually reshape the trail surface, while the remote terrain and short high-elevation working season make even routine maintenance a significant undertaking.

Since 2020, Grand Teton National Park Foundation has supported a multi-year effort to renew sections of the Teton Crest Trail and connected backcountry trails. Crews have focused on areas most in need of restoration, including Static Peak Divide, Buck Mountain Pass, Marion Lake, Cascade Canyon, Hurricane Pass, Paintbrush Canyon, and Granite Canyon.

This summer, work continued in several of these areas. In late August, crews focused on a section near Marion Lake that had not been worked on in over a decade. Over time, portions of the trail had lost their original slope and shape, making the route difficult to navigate and unstable with water often running directly down the trail.

Crews spent several days reshaping the trail surface, improving drainage, and completing rockwork to help move water off the trail. These improvements reduce erosion while creating a more durable and navigable route for hikers.

Much of this work is easy to miss when it's done well. A hiker may simply notice a trail that's easier to follow or water draining away rather than pooling underfoot. Behind that experience are carefully placed rocks, drainage features, and hours of work by trail crew members.

Completing this work miles from the nearest trailhead adds another challenge. Crews carry tools and supplies into remote worksites and often spend multiple days in the backcountry, with a limited window to complete projects before winter returns to the high country.

The work near Marion Lake is one piece of the ongoing effort to care for the Teton Crest Trail. Rather than changing the character of this iconic route, renewal work helps it withstand the effects of weather, erosion, and continued use for years to come.