4 Must-Do Summer Adventures Near Grand Targhee Resort

Explore the western slopes of the Teton Mountains on one of these 4 must-do summertime adventures near Grand Targhee Resort!

Mountain Biking, Hiking, Trail Running Moderate, Difficult, Extreme

Description

Nestled along the western slopes of the Teton Mountains, Grand Targhee is a spectacular mountainside resort with activities to serve any season. With average snowfall totaling over 500 inches, its main claim to fame is the abundance of winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and fat biking. The mild summers, however, provide even more opportunities of their own – and often without the crowds! This brief guidebook showcases four of the must-do summertime adventures in and around Grand Targhee Resort in Wydaho.

The Teton Mountains are home to an incredible amount of backcountry hiking and backpacking, especially along the eastern portions of the range in the National Park. You don’t have to drive all the way around the mountain to find yourself an epic hike, though! A relatively short drive from the resort, the Table Mountain Loop offers a steep approach to its namesake summit with spectacular views of the Teton Basin, with the Grand, Middle, and Lower Tetons directly across nearby Cascade Canyon. This epic 10-mile circuit is quite difficult but will earn you a large dinner and beer in the nearby town of Driggs afterward.

For mountain bikers out there, pack your downhill or enduro bike and full-face helmet – the Grand Targhee Resort offers abundant lift-access riding through the heart of the summer months. And if you're looking for a burly enduro shuttle, avid mountain biker and traveler Greg Heil describes the Mill Creek Downhill as “a ripping descent off the backside of the Grand Targhee resort,” that “has become famous as one of the fastest and funnest enduro descents in the Wydaho region.”

If trail running is your thing, you’re in luck! The Grand Targhee Resort is full of fun singletrack spanning the lower slopes of the mountain. For an intermediate 7ish miler with some rolling hills, this route offers stunning views through open meadows and stands of aspen, and is especially vibrant during the late afternoon and evening as the setting sun illuminates the mountainside. If you aren’t afraid of a steep climb – and one that will likely be more of a hike than run – consider following the Bannock Trail to Fred’s Mountain during your visit. The summit offers sweeping views of the Grand Teton and surrounding Jebediah Smith Wilderness from nearly 9,700’. If you’re not up for the run and simply want to snag these incredible views, the Dreamcatcher lift also operates through most of the summer and connects the main lodge to the top of Fred’s Mountain. Cell service is also available across most of the mountain thanks to the newly-installed towers near the top of the lift.