Cascade Canyon Turnout

Cascade Canyon Turnout is a moderate hike in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, managed by the National Park Service. The trail begins at a turnout on the way to the alpine community, which is hard to reach for most visitors. The canyon passes through forested areas dominated by lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir and subalpine fir, with Cascade Creek running close by and creating wetland islands along the way. The route is an out-and-back about 6.4 miles long, with a one-way climb of about 425 feet from a low point of 7,317 feet to a high of 7,745 feet. The upper canyon leads into the alpine zone, a harsh environment where snow typically covers the ground most of the year. The canyon itself was once a U-shaped glacial valley, and the creek that flows down it into Jenny Lake was originally named Glacier Creek in 1872 before being renamed Cascade Creek in 1931. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run about 90 to 100°F in July and August, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow. The turnout sits about a mile from Jenny Lake Lodge, and the String Lake Trail and Teton Crest Trail are each about a mile away. Climbers can find Red Cross Rock about 1.2 miles off.