Rockies: Grand Teton

0 ft

Elevation

U.S.

Country

Days

Easy

Difficulty

Early June

Start

Early Sept

End

About the Mountain

WHY CLIMB IT?

The Grand Teton (13,770 ft) is the highest mountain in the Teton Mountain Range, which is one of America’s few ‘Crown Jewel’ national parks. Unlike most mountains of its height, there are no ‘easy’ ways up the Grand Teton. Any route you choose will require technical, roped rock climbing – unless you are an expert climber comfortable with free soloing. However, there are 34 named routes to choose from, and far more if you count variations, so there is something for everyone. The most popular routes include the Owen-Spalding (Grade II 5.4) and the Upper Exum (Grade II 5.5). On the advanced side, there’s Bean’s Shining Wall of Storms and the Golden Pillar (both Grade V 5.12-).

“Climbing the Grand Teton is an absolute bucket list item for any mountaineer or alpine climber. There’s something magical about standing on the top of the mighty Grand and looking down at the wild, beautiful landscape below you.”

- Meg Atteberry

Between its endlessly diverse climbs and stunning views of the Great Plains, it’s no wonder the Grand Teton has been named one of the ‘50 Classic Climbs in North America’. The adventure can take anywhere from a day to a week, depending on your ability and objectives. The speed record up to the summit and back is less than 3 hours, while some groups choose to spend days on the mountain for skills training. Most climbers hike up to the saddle, rest overnight, then summit and descend the next day. This breaks up the 14-mile round-trip journey into manageable chunks, as there’s 7,000 feet of elevation gain to cover and the summit push is distinctly steeper than the saddle approach.