Trip Report 7/9/2022
Grand Teton National Park
This one felt incredible. Reflecting back on this day, it’s a powerful marker of personal growth and a massive expansion of what we thought was possible as trail runners. My friend Wyatt was back in town for a short time, and we decided to push our boundaries by connecting familiar terrain all the way from the Leigh Lake trailhead down to the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR). At the time(2022), it was a brand-new personal record for distance for both of us. We went into it hoping for longer miles on flat terrain—but as it turns out, the Valley Trail is far from flat.
The Valley Trail is an exceptional way to enjoy long, unbroken singletrack in Grand Teton National Park. The route visits all the major glacial lakes and trailheads nestled right against the base of the mountains. It's also a perfect alternative during the shoulder seasons when deep snow still obscures the high-altitude canyon routes.
Because there is no vehicle access north of Leigh Lake, we opted to skip the far northern out-and-back section to Trapper Lake. Instead, we arranged a point-to-point shuttle, running from north to south to take advantage of a slight net-elevation drop and to clear out before the afternoon crowds choked the trails around Jenny Lake.
With Wyatt’s drop-off set at Leigh Lake and my car waiting at JHMR, we hit the trail at 7:30 a.m. We started fast, running past String Lake and crossing the iconic footbridge onto the Jenny Lake Loop. The morning water was pure glass, the sun was bright, and our pace was strong. That quiet solitude changed abruptly when we hit the waves of tourists coming off the Jenny Lake boat shuttle and pushing up toward Inspiration Point. The comments from walkers are always comical—people are quick to judge a runner’s pace—and we threw out plenty of "on your lefts" as we navigated the western shore.
At the south end of Jenny Lake, the route turns onto the Moose Ponds Trail, dumping us briefly onto the dirt road before hitting the Lupine Meadows trailhead. This is where the real work begins: the route climbs steeply up the moraine for the biggest ascent of the day. While the technical climbers split off here for Garnet Canyon and the high peaks, the Valley Trail moderates and drops down into the Bradley and Taggart Lakes drainage.
Bradley Lake is an underrated gem. Nestled right beneath the shadow of the Grand Teton, its green glacial glow is stunning and serves as a quiet refuge before you hit the heavily trafficked shores of Taggart. On the south side of Bradley, we accidentally took a slight detour onto the Bradley Lake Trail rather than the true Valley Trail. The navigation error was minor in terms of time, and within a mile, we rejoined our intended route at Taggart Lake to stop for our first major water refill.
We dutifully fueled up on energy blocks, gels, and forced down extra water, knowing we needed to stay ahead of the rising temperatures. Our next anticipated water source wouldn't be until Granite Creek, far past Phelps Lake.
Departing Taggart, we pushed south onto a five-mile stretch of grassy forest that leads toward Death Canyon. This section was completely new to me and instantly became one of my favorites. The trees limit the massive mountain views, but the tourists completely vanish and the dirt single track is beautifully smooth. We found a great rhythm here, pushing hard to keep our pace under nine minutes per mile as we traversed the base of the Buck Mountain complex.
The next major trail junction hits the Death Canyon trailhead, where the single track climbs efficiently up to the Phelps Lake Overlook. The view here is unmatched, so we used it as an excuse to sit for a minute and eat some solid food. Descending the overlook, we passed the turnoffs for the Death Canyon and Phelps Lake loops, climbing over the open moraine beneath Open Canyon and Kaufman Creek before finally arriving at Granite Canyon.
We pumped water at Granite Creek—our final hydration checkpoint—before tackling the last two to three miles toward the resort. The final leg required a moderate climb across Saratoga Bowl to the top of Granite Ridge. Once inside the JHMR boundary lines, we picked our way down the winding single track of Teewinot, finishing right in the heart of the resort commons.
Our legs were absolutely feeling the distance by the end, but our preparation was solid. Staying strict with our hydration and fueling strategy saved us from a brutal recovery ordeal. Connecting these classic trails into one massive push was the perfect way to redefine what we're capable of on foot.
🗺️ Line of Travel:
Leigh Lake Trailhead ➔ String Lake Loop Trail ➔ Jenny Lake Loop Trail ➔ Moose Pond Trail ➔ Lupin Meadows Trailhead ➔ Valley Trail ➔ JHMR
📍Beta:
This point-to-point run is slightly easier running north to south for an elevation drop. Major trailheads at String, Jenny and Taggart can be quite busy. There are plenty of lakes and streams in every major canyon for refilling water.
📊 Route Stats:
- Distance: 21.96 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,871 feet
- Moving Time: 3:33:16
- Average Pace: 9:42 / mile
👟 Gear List:
- Shoes: Dynafit Ultra 100 GTX
- Pack: Camelback Hydration Vest
- Water: MSR Trailshot Water Pump
Member discussion: