Wander the West

Hiking in the Teton National Park

	Taggart Lake

September 2006

Hiking in the Teton National Park ranges from extreme back country climbing and mountaineering to low impact day hikes. There are literally hundreds to choose from and making a decision can be as difficult as choosing a good wine. Here is a trail that my wife and I found to be excellent in scenery, exercise, photo opportunities, and location.

The Taggart and Bradley Lake loop starts just north of the Moose junction entrance to the Teton National Park and heads northwest toward the base of the Teton Mountains. The Trail has several variations in destination and length ranging from 3.2 to 7 miles round trip. We elected to take in both lakes and thus the trip was an invigorating 5.2 miles. The views are unparalleled and the mix of mountains, lakes and forest are truly the best of natures color pallet. The chances of seeing wild life along this trail are high and the human traffic was only moderate despite its popularity. The lakes themselves are typical high alpine lakes with air-like clarity and coniferous lined shores. The trails are in great shape but not wheelchair accessible.

One of the best parts of this trail is that it is one of the first trail heads that one will encounter upon entering the park from the south. This allows you to get in a great hike early and then spend the remainder of the day seeing the rest of the park to the north.

Hiking in the Teton National Park Photos

- Eric Davis