Between Rockchuck Peak and Mount Woodring, Wyoming hides its most colorful trail

It’s named for the state flower

Paintbrush Canyon sits in the northern reach of Grand Teton National Park, tucked between Rockchuck Peak, Mount Saint John and Mount Woodring. You probably haven’t heard of it.

Most people head straight for the big trails south of here and skip this valley entirely.

But every summer, the slopes turn red with Indian paintbrush, the fiery wildflower Wyoming chose as its state flower back in 1917.

Leigh Lake rests at the canyon’s base, and the trail that starts there climbs into country that changes with every mile.

Glaciers carved this valley 15,000 years ago

The canyon you walk through today took shape under ice.

Glaciers ground out the valley and retreated about 15,000 years ago, leaving behind the rocky bowls and steep walls that frame the trail.

The Indian paintbrush that fills those walls every summer isn’t quite what it looks like. The red parts aren’t petals.

They’re modified leaves called bracts.

Native American tribes used the plant for dyes and medicine, and a shared tribal legend says a boy left his paintbrushes scattered across the land, staining the hillsides in sunset colors.

String Lake starts you off easy

Your day begins at the String and Leigh Lakes Trailhead, where the path follows the shore of String Lake. The water runs shallow and clear enough to see the bottom from the bank.

Mount Moran, the park’s fourth-highest peak, fills the view ahead of you. The lower trail stays shaded and flat, which feels generous because it won’t last.

As you gain elevation, Leigh Lake and Jackson Lake spread out behind you through the trees.

Late July turns the meadows electric

The valley floor puts on one of the best wildflower shows in the park.

Indian paintbrush leads the display, but blue columbine, monkshood and mountain gentian crowd in alongside it. Late July and early August are usually peak bloom, though the timing shifts depending on when the snow melts.

You walk through color set against white granite boulders and green slopes that run straight up toward the ridgeline. Some years the meadows hit harder than others, so check conditions before you plan around the flowers.

Holly Lake sits in a granite bowl halfway up

About halfway up the canyon, the trail delivers you to Holly Lake.

It’s a small alpine lake enclosed by granite hills on three sides, with the high crags of Mount Woodring rising steeply above the water. This is where a lot of hikers drop their packs and sit for a while.

The setting earns it. Cold water, bare rock and big peaks closing in around you.

If you’re not continuing to the divide, this is a fine place to call your turnaround point.

The out-and-back to Holly Lake is 13 miles

Not everyone needs to commit to the full loop. Hiking to Holly Lake and back runs about 13 miles round trip, and it gives you the canyon’s wildflowers and alpine lake without the divide crossing.

It’s still a strenuous day. You gain serious elevation and the trail doesn’t let up much after String Lake.

But you can turn around at any point and still walk away with good scenery. For hikers who want the canyon without the exposure above, this route delivers.

Scree fields and snowfields guard the divide

Above Holly Lake, the trail changes character fast.

You climb through the upper canyon across a scree field and circle around permanent snowfields that linger well into summer. A few short sections cross narrow ledges with steep drop-offs on one side.

Wind picks up near the top and can hit hard without warning.

Paintbrush Divide sits at 10,700 feet, one of the highest points on any maintained trail in the park. The last push to reach it feels every bit of that elevation.

Three peaks and endless rock fill the view at 10,700 feet

From the divide, you get a full 360-degree panorama.

Mount Moran, Mount Woodring and Rockchuck Peak anchor the skyline, and beyond them the view stretches north over crags, glaciers and rock that seems to go on without end.

Everything you climbed through, the meadows, the lake, the scree, sits below you now. Many hikers who have walked trails across the park say this is the finest viewpoint in Grand Teton.

You earned every foot of it.

The descent drops 1,600 feet to Lake Solitude

From the divide, the trail drops steeply toward Lake Solitude, losing about 1,600 feet over roughly two miles. Your knees will feel every switchback.

Lake Solitude sits at about 9,035 feet, a high-alpine pool reached only by trail. When you arrive at the shore, Grand Teton, Mount Owen and Teewinot stand directly in front of you.

The reflection off the water on a calm day puts the peaks right at your feet.

Cascade Canyon walks you straight toward Grand Teton

The full loop continues down Cascade Canyon, a glacier-carved valley with a wide, open U-shape. Grand Teton rises straight ahead as you descend, and the scale of it grows with every step.

Monkshood, fireweed and monkeyflower line both sides of the path. Cascade Creek runs alongside the trail in white water, loud enough to drown out conversation.

The canyon is one of the most popular routes in the park, so you’ll likely have company on this stretch.

Moose and grizzlies share this trail

Moose show up regularly in the lower canyon and near the lakes.

You’ll pass long stretches of huckleberry bushes, which draw grizzly bears through the area in late summer. This is bear country, and the terrain supports everything from small mammals to large predators.

The mix of forest, meadow and alpine zones along the route creates habitat variety you can see changing around you as you walk. Carry bear spray, keep it accessible and give any wildlife plenty of distance.

Fewer crowds and more variety than any trail nearby

Paintbrush Canyon typically sees fewer hikers than neighboring Cascade Canyon, which means you get more of the trail to yourself.

The full loop links lakes, meadows and high alpine tundra into one continuous route that changes constantly. You move from shaded forest to open wildflower valleys to exposed rock above the treeline, all in a single day.

For fit hikers, this is often called one of the great hikes in Grand Teton. The trail earns that reputation mile by mile.

Hit the trail at Paintbrush Canyon in Wyoming

You can reach the trailhead at the String and Leigh Lakes parking area in northern Grand Teton National Park. A park entrance fee applies, so check the official website for current rates.

The full Paintbrush-Cascade loop covers about 20 miles with roughly 4,480 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers need 11 to 14 hours, or they split it into an overnight trip with a backcountry permit.

Paintbrush Divide can hold snow into July, and the Park Service recommends an ice axe and crampons when it does. No pets allowed.

Verify conditions with a ranger before you go.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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