Paintbrush Canyon and Cascade Canyon Loop (Paintbrush Divide and Lake Solitude)

Grand Teton National Park (String Lake Trailhead)

This loop links two of Grand Teton’s best-known canyons over Paintbrush Divide, which the National Park Service gives as 10,700 feet, the highest point on the Teton Crest Trail. The park lists it as a 19-mile, one-night trip from String Lake and warns that it is “an extremely busy trail July and August.”

Most backpackers split it into two days, camping at Holly Lake, in the Paintbrush zones, or in the North Fork of Cascade Canyon below Lake Solitude.

The hike

Backpacker describes the loop counterclockwise from the String Lake Trailhead. A short walk along String Lake leads to a bridge and the Paintbrush Canyon Trail, which crosses marshy ground where the magazine suggests looking for moose, then climbs through sagebrush foothills and subalpine forest.

The climb is long. Backpacker puts Holly Lake, at about 9,410 feet below Mount Woodring, at roughly 4.9 miles. From there it’s about 1.5 miles and 1,310 feet more to Paintbrush Divide, an exposed, treeless ridge. Two Outliers, which hiked it in early July, describes “a few sketchy sections with loose scree and steep drop offs” near the top and one narrow, snowy stretch with a sharp drop. The NPS reported in 2022 that meltwater and foot traffic had eroded the divide’s eastern scree slope, and crews rebuilt sections of the trail there.

The descent drops about 2.3 miles to Lake Solitude, at about 9,035 feet, at the head of the North Fork of Cascade Canyon. Backpacker says most sites nearby have “spectacular views of the Cathedral Group.” The trail follows the North Fork down to the main Cascade Canyon, then descends past glacial erratics and small caves along Cascade Creek. Backpacker’s route takes the quieter horse trail at a fork and finishes along Jenny Lake back to String Lake; other versions pass Inspiration Point.

Distances vary by source: 19 miles from the NPS, 18.1 from Backpacker, 18.77 from The Outbound and 21.9 from Two Outliers, which climbs about 4,230 feet. Going counterclockwise, Two Outliers suggests camping in the North Fork Cascade zone, which leaves about 12 to 13 miles for the first day and 8 to 9 for the second. Holly Lake makes a short first day (about 6.8 miles by its count) and a long second.

Backpacker lists grizzly and black bears foraging around the divide and says to bring an extra layer for the exposed ridge. For a longer traverse that includes this loop’s northern half, see the Teton Crest Trail.

Tips

Get the permit sorted. One-third of sites can be reserved; the rest are walk-up, no sooner than a day before.
Ask about snow on the divide. NPS says snow lingers in the high country through much of the summer; the Outbound says an ice axe may be needed early in the season.
Start the climb early. Two Outliers notes the afternoon sun is high on the way up to the divide.
Carry bear spray and a canister. Canisters are loaned free with a permit.
Expect company. NPS calls this an extremely busy trail in July and August.

Camping

A Grand Teton backcountry permit is required, and the park says one-third of sites (plus all group sites) can be reserved on Recreation.gov, with the rest assigned in person no sooner than one day before your trip. Permits cover up to six people; groups of 7 to 12 must use group sites. You can stay up to 2 nights per location.

According to Two Outliers, Holly Lake has three individual sites on its eastern side plus a group site. The Upper Paintbrush zone has no established sites (camp at least 100 feet from the trail and water), Lower Paintbrush is about a mile long, and the North Fork Cascade zone has 13 sites spread over about a mile. The NPS says mountain zones allow camping anywhere inside the zone boundary, with no campfires. Food and scented items go in an IGBC-approved canister unless a bear box is provided; hanging food is prohibited.

Inside Intel: Two Outliers recommends the North Fork Cascade zone and says “the best campsites are towards the north end of the zone, closest to Paintbrush Divide.” Backpacker describes the North Fork as having “quiet, spaced-out campsites (some with great views of the Tetons).”

Trail facts

Distance: 19 miles (NPS); 18.1 to 21.9 miles in other sources
Route type: Loop from String Lake
Difficulty: Strenuous
High point: Paintbrush Divide, about 10,700 feet
Campsites: Holly Lake sites, Upper and Lower Paintbrush zones, North Fork Cascade zone
Water: Streams and lakes along the route; treat it
Permits: Grand Teton backcountry permit required
Bear storage: IGBC-approved canister (free loan) or bear box where provided
Dogs: Not allowed in the backcountry
Trailhead: String Lake, off the Teton Park Road
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

A chilly night below Paintbrush Divide:

Holly Lake sits at about 9,400 feet, under a pass Backpacker says is often snow-covered until August. See the sleeping bags backpackers rate before you book a high camp.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.