Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop Grand Teton Hike
Talk about an EPIC hike. After spending the past month hiking in Grand Teton National Park, this loop, passing over a Paintbrush Divide, and stopping by Holly Lake and Lake Solitude tops our list as the best hike in Grand Teton National Park.
Trailhead: String Lake
Distance: 20.5 miles round-trip
Elevation: 4,115 ft
This hike took us 11 hours 30 minutes total including 1 hour of resting and snack breaks. If you are looking for an easier route to Lake Solitude, check out our post on the out-and-back hike to Lake Solitude through Cascade Canyon.
How to Hike the Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop
This is a very strenuous and long hike, so make sure you are prepared and read through our tips below.
The hike starts at String Lake Trailhead which has limited parking closest to the trailhead, so make sure to arrive early or you will add some additional mileage by parking in the overflow lots. We HIGHLY recommend doing this loop counterclockwise as crossing over Paintbrush Divide is narrow and steep on the East face and it’s much easier to be ascending than descending this slope.
The first couple of miles wraps around String Lake with beautiful Grand Teton views to your left and the lake to your right. As you climb steadily towards Holly Lake you will have views of Leigh Lake to your right, and behind you, most of the way. Climbing upwards through Paintbrush Canyon is absolutely beautiful. We completed this hike on September 20th and the fall colors were stunning. Paintbrush Canyon had more fall foliage than Cascade Canyon so make sure to grab some pictures on the way up!
At mile 6.3, you have the option of continuing straight towards Paintbrush Divide, or heading right to visit Holly Lake. We opted to stop by Holly Lake for lunch and a quick break, as this stop really doesn’t add much (if any) extra distance to the hike as the Holly Lake Trail meets back up with the Paintbrush Canyon Trail.
The next two miles from Holly Lake to Paintbrush Divide are EPIC. As the trees thin towards 10,000 ft in elevation, you’re left with jaw-dropping views of exposed rock, mountain peaks and glaciers. Paintbrush Divide is at 10,700 ft in elevation and the last quarter mile to the summit is a bit squirrely. It’s steep and there are several places you need your hands to steady yourself as you climb. We had a dusting of snow on September 20th at the divide, so make sure to check the weather and bring appropriate traction for your shoes. As the wind picks up, and the temp drops, soak it all in and feel ALIVE.
After crossing Paintbrush Divide, the next 2.5 miles down to Lake Solitude are fairly challenging. The descent drops 2,000 ft of elevation across boulderfields, so make sure to watch your step. The entire descent provides beautiful views of Lake Solitude and Mica Lake.
Spend some time resting and enjoying the scenery at Lake Solitude. This remote lake is one of our favorite places in Grand Teton National Park. After resting at Lake Solitude, the last 9 miles out through Cascade Canyon are a moderate descent on a very well maintained trail with Grand Teton views the entire way.
Keep a lookout for wildlife as we have seen several moose along this section of Cascade Canyon walking in the streams and eating along the banks. Make sure to keep your distance, as moose can be very dangerous if they feel threatened or spooked. We were also lucky enough to see two fox running up the trail.
The last few miles back to String Lake trailhead are tough. 20.5 miles is no joke and we were definitely feeling it! Make sure to drink plenty of water and take quick breaks to let your legs rest. The final two miles of this loop wrap around Jenny Lake with great water views to distract from hurting feet.
Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop Hiking Essentials
Make sure you have the ten essentials for your hike as this loop will take you 10 miles away from the closest trailhead and always expect the unexpected in the mountains. We’ve put together a list of our day hiking essentials which we run through before every time before heading out to the trails. We have helped out several unprepared hikers with extra water and first aid. Make sure you have the essentials for your hike.
Read More: Day Hike Packing List
READ MORE ABOUT OUR HIKING LIST AND RECOMMENDED GEAR
Other Grand Teton National Park Hikes
We also HIGHLY recommend Delta Lake Hike which is a shorter, and an arguably more beautiful lake, directly below Grand Teton. Read more about our hike to Delta Lake which is accessed by an unmaintained and unmarked trail: Delta Lake Grand Teton Hike.
If you are looking for an easier route to visit Lake Solitude (which we HIGHLY recommend), check out the Lake Solitude out-and-back through Cascade Canyon.