Phelps Lake, with Death Canyon rising high in the background/Kurt Repanshek

Fall is one of the best times to hike around Phelps Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The weather is cooling, the aspen leaves are turning yellows and oranges, and the leafy smell of autumn is in the air. The hike will keep you busy for a couple hours at least, more if you like to dawdle and toss rocks, or look for that unique photo. 

The trailhead is at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve along the Moose-Wilson Road, four miles south of Moose. Unfortunately, in fall and winter the preserve buildings are closed, so you can't explore what they hold in terms of exhibits and interpretive materials. But that information can be enjoyed on a spring or summer trip back to the preserve.

From the trailhead you can access more than 8 miles of trail...much more if you head up the Death Canyon Trail and wander deep into the park's backcountry. Grizzly bears do roam this landscape, along with black bears, so be sure to carry bear spray, travel in groups, and let the bears know you're out there.

The trail is relatively flat and definitely family-friendly. While you don't have the three crags of the park's iconic mountains looming overhead, this hike does provide you with a nice mix of lodgepole/spruce forest and open meadow along with the lakeshore itself. Pay close attention to the larger aspens, as you just might spot some claw marks left by bruins either climbing into the trees or using them for scratching posts.

At the lake's eastern edge you'll find some benches where you can take a break and admire the scenery before pressing on around the lake to Huckleberry Point and beyond. Towering over the lake's western shores is a deep chasm cut in the Teton Range and through which passes the Death Canyon Trail. 

Whether you spend half-a-day, or launch a backcountry trek from Phelps Lake, this is a great spot to visit in the park.