A very strenuous full day (11–14 hours) over Paintbrush Divide at roughly 10,700 ft; no permit is needed for a day hike, only for an overnight stay. The divide often holds snow into July — check current conditions at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station before attempting it early season.
Underfoot & overhead high alpine divide above treeline
19.9 mi and 4,480 ft of climbing work out to 8h 50m of moving time — before you stop for anything. No refill is recorded on the route — you carry all of it. Informational only, not medical advice.
Get the summer refuel plan →NAISMITH · CDC · ACSM · how these numbers are worked out
In July, Grand Teton National Park runs around 79°F at the main visitor elevation, and this route gives you almost nothing to hide under. With no refill recorded on the route, everything you drink starts in your pack.
46°F · Areas Of Smoke · wind 2 to 9 mph
NOAA forecast for Grand Teton National Park — not for this trailhead specificallyConstruction projects underway. Moose-Wilson Road between Murie Ranch and LS Rockefeller Preserve open with delays of 45 minutes in both directions. No roadside parking on Moose-Wilson Road. Taggart Trail detour in...
Live NPS alert for Grand Teton National Park · sourceConstruction underway on North Park Road between Leeks Marina and Lizard Creek Campground. 15-min delays both directions 6am-9pm / 1-hour delays both directions 9pm-6am. The section of road is about 7 miles north of...
Live NPS alert for Grand Teton National Park · sourceAbout 8h 50m of moving time for 19.9 mi and 4,480 ft of climbing — that is Naismith's planning rule, so it counts walking only, with nothing for photos, lunch or the queue at the top.
Planning figures for that much moving time are 4.4–8.9 L, cool day to hot. No refill point is recorded on the route, so you carry all of it. Informational only, not medical advice.
No — Paintbrush Canyon–Cascade Canyon Loop is closed to dogs. Our Grand Teton National Park dog guide lists the trails where they are welcome, plus boarding and the nearest 24/7 vet.
We rate it comfortable from age 16. It is not a stroller route. That rating is our own hand-check of length, footing and exposure, not an official NPS grade.
About 10% of the route is shaded, and Grand Teton National Park peaks around 79°F in its hottest month. The less shade a route has, the more of it you want behind you before midday.