Signal Mountain Trail

With stunning views of Jackson Lake and the Grand Tetons, the hike up Signal Mountain is an easy way to have an awesome experience in the park without getting too far off the beaten path. The trailhead starts at the Signal Mountain Lodge and is very well marked the entire time with small signs that show the different options and distances you have along the way. You have the chance to head up along the ridge or along the ponds, and both are worth checking out and easy to navigate. The trail does not peak at the top of Signal Mountain but at the Jackson Point Overlook. There is a road to the top of Signal Mountain where you can walk down to Jackson Point, but the hike is what makes the views so rewarding.

The wildlife here can be pretty fantastic; in addition to deer and geese, the lucky few may get the chance to see a grizzly bear (or three). The views from the lookout are nearly 360 degrees of alpine beauty, and you can catch sunrise or sunset here in fantastic fashion. The trail is heavy with lodgepole pine, and you'll also see a few aspen here and there with lots of low-lying scrub oak in the meadows, which seems characteristic of the hikes away from the Tetons' granite canyons. There is a good mix of terrain here from dense forest to the lily-covered ponds and the sweeping views.

Make sure to bring your bear spray everywhere in this region.