North Fork Cascade Canyon Trail

North Fork Cascade Canyon Trail is a Grand Teton National Park backcountry hiking route that splits from the Cascade Canyon Trail system and heads up toward Lake Solitude in the Teton Range. It follows the North Fork area of Cascade Canyon, transitioning from forested canyon travel to above-tree-line alpine terrain.

For distance planning, common through-hike versions of this corridor are run as a longer out-and-back from the String Lake Trailhead; a typical example is about 14.6 miles out-and-back. The higher, late-stage portions are the crux—this is when the route’s character shifts to steeper climbing over scree/loose rock and more sustained effort.

The North Fork section runs parallel to Cascade Creek and is described as a canyon-to-alpine progression: first calmer, then increasingly exposed as you gain elevation. Past Lake Solitude, the trail continues upward on steeper ground that includes loose, rocky sections and tight switchbacking before reaching the broader Paintbrush Divide / Paintbrush Canyon connection area.

Route touchpoints used by hikers in this canyon system include Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point on the Cascade Canyon approach portion, before the rightward move onto the North Fork Cascade Canyon route. Practical wayfinding in the higher terrain often relies on clear signage/route markers where the canyon forks and the terrain opens.

Seasonally, high-elevation sections can hold snow well into July and August, even when lower canyon travel is already ice-free. This route also falls in prime bear habitat; make noise and carry bear spray as part of standard bear-country protocol.

If you’re building a longer loop, this North Fork corridor is commonly combined with adjacent Cascade Canyon and Paintbrush Canyon trail options (for example, as part of a Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon loop that descends back toward Jenny Lake/String Lake). Overnight camping is in designated backcountry camping zones on-route, and wilderness permits are required for overnight camping.

More information: Grand Teton National Park: Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade ..., Grand Teton National Park: Cascade Canyon