Chester, Idaho

Tucked between Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks sits Island Park, Idaho – and the best way to experience it is getting thrown around the inside of an UTV, kicking up dust, cranking corners and cruising the land. There are multiple vendors in town that offer rentals, and they wil...

Of a summer spent living in Yellowstone, and many overnight trips in the park, the trek to Union Falls and Scout Pool ranked at the top of my list. (Many of my fellow gas station employees agreed!) The hike itself is nothing spectacular, but takes you to two of the most beautiful places in the pa...

This out-and-back hike to the highest point in the Centennial mountains of Idaho and Montana skirts the continental divide and provides stunning views of both states.  From U.S. Highway 20, Sawtell Peak Road heads west, winding back and forth up the south side of Sawtell Peak.  Because there is a...

Just an hour outside of Jackson Hole, this waterfall is very easy to access. This is also a great spot to camp overnight if you are heading to the Grand Tetons National Park from the West Coast. Look for a sign at the turn out that says “Fall Creek Falls.” If you find yourself on the bridge over ...

Flying around the Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially at sunrise or sunset. Viewing the Tetons from ground level at Grand Teton National Park is a spectacular view, but seeing the Tetons from the air is unreal.Finding a Plane and Pilot: There ar...

This gem of a campground was discovered in desperation after all the campsites were booked at Yellowstone. There are 60 sites with relatively clean bathrooms. The sites are large with optimal privacy from your neighbors. If you're lucky enough you can even snag campsites steps from the lake. Ther...

Hidden Falls Trail is a relatively short and easy hiking trail to Hidden Falls in Grand Teton National Park. To access this trail you can either hike here from the Jenny Lake Trailhead or the Leigh Lake Trailhead, or take a much quicker route by ferrying across Jenny Lake to the start of the Hidd...

Leigh Lake is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Moose, Wyoming.

Because it's only accessible by canoe, kayak, or foot, the 8 Leigh Lake campsites have a solitary backcountry feel to them while providing all the necessities for an enjoyable night under Mt. Moran in Grand Teton National Park. The western campsites are paddle-in only, while the easter campsites ...

String Lake is a great place to spend time in Grand Teton National Park. There are many options for fun here including kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and picnicking. The warm, shallow waters make it a great lake for families, and there are many options for hiking here, from easy to difficult. Th...

There are many ways to access the Teton backcountry. However, one of my personal favorites is from Leigh Lake via the String Lake trailhead. From the backcountry office obtain a backcountry permit for 2 nights at Leigh Lake. Site 12 has some of the more impressive beachfront views of the Front Ra...

Mount Moran’s CMC Route is best climbed by starting at String Lake’s boat launch. From here, pack up your overnight and climbing gear into your kayak or canoe and start your journey north on String Lake. At the end of the lake, portage a few hundred yards to Leigh Lake and continue your paddle no...

This is one of the most picturesque and popular overnight trails in the Tetons for a reason. The trailhead is located at the String Lake parking lot. The trail constantly changes at every turn; be ready to experience a wide variety of gorgeous scenes from lush dense forests, scattered waterfalls,...

This day-long adventure takes off from the Paintbrush Canyon Trailhead. The trailhead is located north of the very popular Jenny Lake along String Lake Rd. It took us about 7 and half hours including an hour lunch break to hike up and down from about 6,900 feet to 9,300 feet, an early start is de...

Leigh Lake is absolutely stunning with about as many recreational activities as you can imagine for a lake. It is a short flat one mile hike from the trailhead at String Lake to Leigh. Once you get there can go as far along as you wish along the 2 mile lakeshore. You can also Kayak, Canoe, or SUP...

Whether you have your own canoe, kayak, or stand up paddle board or you need to rent, paddling the String Lake and Leigh Lake circuit is a less beaten path through Grand Teton National Park. Upon entering the park (or whenever you're ready for this portion of your trip), head straight for Dornan'...