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Mary’s Nipple and Peak 9943 are perfect if you’ve ever wanted to climb a peak in the Tetons, but didn’t want to go more than a few miles. The top of the Dreamcatcher Lift at Grand Targhee provides access to a trail that brings you to Mary’s Saddle, where you have the option to climb both peaks from there. The trailhead can be accessed by either taking the Dreamcatcher Lift up, or by hiking up the Bannock Trail. Continue reading “Mary’s Nipple and Peak 9943”

Distance: 3 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Best time of year: Fall, Spring

The Upper Escalante River Alcove is a great alternative to the increasingly popular Hole-in-the-Rock Road. The out-of-the-way trail brings you into a landscape like something right out of Zion National Park. You follow a healthy desert river through an enormous sandstone canyon with massive golden cliffs. Though you could theoretically follow the Escalante River for dozens of miles all the way down to the destructive waters of Lake Powell, a great half-day hike brings you down the wild river to a giant eroded alcove, larger than a mansion, complete with ancient art that’s unfortunately been damaged by simpler minded people. Regardless, it’s still well worth the trip. Continue reading “Upper Escalante River Alcove”

Distance: 3 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best time of year: Spring, Summer, Fall

The Bannock Trail is a great way to experience all the dramatic elevation change that Grand Targhee has to offer. The trail brings you through stunning aspen groves and up to rocky ledges that overlook massive canyons and basins in the Teton Mountains. Continue reading “Bannock Trail”

Distance: 1.2 miles (one way – to Spooky)
Difficulty: Easy, but tight spaces and some scrambling
Best time of year: Fall, Winter, Spring

There’s a great loop that connects Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon to Spooky Slot Canyon, which was my original plan for a hike. As it turns out, ascending into Peek-A-Boo Slot can be very tricky and downright dangerous. It was a little too much for me while solo, and even too much for another couple that caught up to me in Spooky. This helped to reinforce my decision to only venture into Spooky. Even Spooky Slot had a part that made me feel a little uneasy alone, so hopefully I can come back one day and do this loop properly with the help of a hiking partner. In the meantime though, I did get a bit into Spooky Slot Canyon, and it was a pretty amazing trip through many very tight squeezes. Continue reading “Spooky Slot Canyon”