From July through August, experience a family-friendly backpacking adventure with Teton Backcountry Guides. We’ll explore the Jedediah Smith Wilderness land adjacent to Grand Teton National Park where the trails are equally as scenic but far less crowded.
Our backpacking trips are all inclusive. Everything you need is provided, including all equipment, meals, permits and fees, so that you can 100% fully enjoy your vacation time.
Choose one of our backpacking tours below and we’ll customize all of the details for your small group. We’ll teach you how to practice “leave no trace” backpacking and how to travel light and still be comfortable eating and sleeping in the backcountry.
Our guides carry all the heavy group gear, including all of the food, which will keep your pack light and comfortable. You simply need to carry only your personal items and we take care of all the rest, allowing you to enjoy the experience of traveling through the mountains.
We are professional mountain guides who live in the Tetons year round and have over 30 years of mountain guiding experience. There is no match for our experience in the Tetons!! On our trips, you will learn about the wildflowers, geology, birds, wildlife and history of the area. Your entire vacation with us will be an educational and fun experience!
All trips have a minimum of 4 participants.
Two-day Wilderness Loop near Jackson Hole
Rated: Easy to Moderate
Ages: 10 years old and up
Dates: Schedule on demand for your small group. Book now for 2024.
Our Two-day Wilderness Loop is a great way to experience an authentic mountain adventure for those new to the sport of backpacking or short on time. We’ll choose the route and itinerary for this two day, one night backpack loop hike based on your interests and fitness level.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: With the gear already pre-organized, you simply need to move your personal clothing into the backpack we provide. We’ll hike three miles with 1,800′ of elevation gain to our base camp in a subalpine meadow. Time and weather permitting, we’ll hike near our camp or to the summit of a 10,000′ nearby peak. Amazing views of the surrounding mountains abound. After a hearty dinner, we’ll enjoy the campfire and fall sleep in our tents to the sounds of a nearby babbling brook.
Day 2: After breakfast, we’ll hike to a high pass with great photo opportunities. We’ll then descend towards the trailhead where we’ll round out the loop on a different trail providing more scenic opportunities.
Cost: $695/person plus 7% tax, includes all equipment and meals
Three-Day Wilderness Adventure Loop
Rated: Moderate
Ages: 12 years old and up
Dates: Contact us for dates for Summer 2024.
Spend three days covering the spectacular backcountry terrain of the northern Tetons in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness on this fantastic loop tour.
Day 1: We’ll hike six miles gaining 2,000 feet of elevation as we hike up and over a broad ridge with great views of the surrounding peaks. We’ll camp on our first night near a clear mountain stream, where you can fall asleep to the sounds of a babbling brook.
Day 2: We’ll gain 1,600 feet of elevation over six miles as we hike onto the Teton Crest Trail. You’ll hike over snow and rock and through meadows of wildflowers with great views of the Grand Teton. We’ll camp by a beautiful alpine lake. Ample time allows for swimming, relaxing next to a cascading waterfall, and exploring the alpine environs.
Day 3: After breakfast and sunrise over the lake, we’ll descend five miles back to the trailhead through meadows of wildflowers with fantastic views of Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park.
Cost: $1095/person plus 7% tax, includes all equipment and meals. Minimum four participants
Three-Day Alpine Wildflower Circuit
Rated: Moderately Strenuous to Strenuous
Ages: 16 years old and up
Dates: Book your private trip for 6 or more persons for Summer 2024
Join us for this three-day loop hike in the southern Tetons during the peak alpine wildflower displays. Hike departs and ends in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness.
On Day 1: We’ll hike eight miles into the Wilderness with an initial climb up 2,000 feet over three miles to Mesquite Divide (9,132′). Exceptional Teton views abound as we continue hiking on the Teton Crest Trail to our camp near a babbling brook at 8,500′.
On Day 2: We’ll ascend into Grand Teton National Park along the Teton Crest Trail to our camp at the base of Fossil Peak, about a seven mile trek. En route, we’ll pass Marion Lake with options to swim, photograph or lounge in the sun and take in the views. That evening we’ll camp at 9,000′ at the headwaters of Fox Creek in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness.
On Day 3: We’ll spend a full day hiking as we descend nine miles into the remote and rugged Fox Creek drainage in the Targhee National Forest. We’ll provide a shuttle back to the original trailhead, arriving by 4 pm.
Cost: $1095/person plus 7% tax, includes all equipment and meals. Minimum 6 participants
Backpacking Trip Details
Trips are based on four or six participants
21-day advanced booking is required
What’s Provided:
- All backpacking the equipment including Go Lite Backpacks, Mountain Hardware sleeping bag, Therma-rest sleeping pads and Marmot tents, hiking poles and camp chairs
- All the meals, from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day. Food is healthy and prepared fresh (no dehydrated meals) Lunches include a gourmet spread of specialty cheeses, salamis, smoked salmon.
- Guides to carry the group gear and food leaving your packs light and comfortable. All you carry is your personal items!!!
- All group gear is provided including fuel, kitchen items.
- Bear spray is provided to each participant.
- Cup, bowl, spoon, bug net and camp gear provided.
- Backpacks are pre-packed for you so you simply need to add your personal items and we are on a way, making for an efficient start for the trip. Simpy transition your clothing from your bag to our pack and back makes for ease for the pre and post trip logistics
What’s Not provided:
- Your personal clothing items. We will send you a detailed clothing list so that you have the essential items. We have headlamps and water bottles to loan.
We are a family-run business that cares sincerely about each clients experience. With over 30 years of mountain experience, your guides Jeff and Diane know how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed in the mountains. We live in the Tetons year round and know the area like no other! Learn about the wildflowers, wildlife, geology, mountain men and history of the area.
We are professional mountain guides who focus on your safety and education. Each day you’ll learn new things about the ecosystem that you are exploring, enhancing your experience and understanding of the natural history of the Tetons. You’ll learn about Leave No Trace backpacking and how to camp safely in bear country. We pride ourselves on providing professional guiding, tasty and nutritious meals and top-notch equipment.
Reservations/Cancellations
A 50% deposit is required to confirm the reservation. Balance on multi-day trips is due one month in advance of trip departure. Cancellations that occur more than 30 days in advance are refunded full deposits less a $200 cancellation fee. Cancellations that occur less than 30 days of trip departure are subject to forfeiture of all monetary transactions.
