How to Create a Grand Teton Hiking Itinerary

Grand Teton National Park is one of best national parks for backcountry hiking adventures. The park boasts over 200 miles of established hiking trails within the park boundary and several thousand more in nearby public lands. Creating a Grand Teton hiking itinerary can be exciting, but also a little daunting due to the many choices available to the hiker. Read below to successfully plan and create a Grand Teton hiking itinerary.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Identify your hiking goals

   IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS: When creating a hiking itinerary, you need identify your hiking goals before even looking at the choices available to you. How many days will you have in the park? How long or strenuous of a hike can you handle? Do you want to see scenery, waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, lakes, snow, or glaciers? Do you want to walk in the valley or in the mountains? Do you want solitude or to be around a lot of people? Do you want to climb a mountain?

2. 
    
   Research Grand Teton hiking trails

   RESEARCH: Before creating a Grand Teton hiking itinerary, it is best to do research first. Read articles online about all the different hikes, download hiking brochures from the park’s official website, and buy hiking guides specific to Grand Teton National Park. Check out the useful article, “How to Choose Grand Teton National Park Hiking Trails” to get a good idea of the different hikes available to you and what each one offers. Below you will find links to further resources in these areas.

3. 
    
   Choose a trail

   MAKE YOUR CHOICES: Next you need to actually make choices for hikes you plan to do when visiting Grand Teton National Park. Create a list, acquire the appropriate materials (maps, trail descriptions), and be sure to check at the visitor centers if there are any special notices posted for that trail (e.g. snow conditions, wildlife sightings, etc.).

4. 
    
   Gather necessary hiking supplies

   GATHER SUPPLIES: Any responsible hiker knows that to take a trip into the backcountry wilderness requires preparation. Consider the following supplies when creating your Grand Teton hiking itinerary: good sturdy hiking boots, rain gear, a fleece layer, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a Camelbak hydration pack or other water bladder, plenty of high-calorie food, a compass, a map, a cell phone, bear spray, trekking poles, chapstick, kleenix, first aid kit, and bug spray.

Resources

• How to Choose Grand Teton Hiking Trails
• How to Hike the Teton Crest Trail
• Download the “Day Hikes” Brochure from Grand Teton National Park’s Official Website

[alienangel555]

on 2/1/2009 You seem to know a great deal about this topic. I love the pics, and article of course, lol. 5