Quick Guide
The Teton Valley is loaded with endless outdoor adventures to explore. There are numerous national forests, parks, rivers, peaks, canyons and lakes that define Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. This hiking guide to the Teton Valley is only a small glimpse of what Idaho and Wyoming have to offer. With that said, we have compiled a short list of classic hikes in close proximity to Rexburg, Idaho. Rexburg is a small college town laden with outdoor adventurists; yet many are held back because very few public resources are readily available to point them in the right direction. Consequently, we have gathered information from all over the internet, coupled with personal experience, in order to create a solid reference base for these five hikes. Our information is not all-encompassing, but serves as a basic backbone for information and trail descriptions.
Before heading out on any adventure, however, there are a few things to always keep in mind. Outdoor recreation goes hand in hand with increased safety hazards. Some activities present a greater risk than others. Although the trails listed herein are relatively low key, we still expect hikers to use their common sense and good judgment. As a simple reminder, there are a couple things with which out-of-towners may not be familiar:
- This is Bear Country. While this is not a site to give specific bear information, there are necessary precautions that need to be met. Parks and forests have varying regulations regarding safety procedures. It is your responsibility to be aware of specific rules and to act accordingly.
- Weather is unpredictable. That may seem like common sense, but it is even more so here than many other environments. In a nutshell, the Grand Teton mountain range divides Wyoming and Idaho. There are atmospheric differences between the two sides and those different pressures, temperatures, weather patterns, etc. all collide over the peaks of those mountains. This very region that we are writing about is notorious for its spontaneity. We see sudden onsets of severe thunderstorms, drastic temperature changes, and extreme rain. Be prepared for anything out here!
The following is a brief overview of a few trails that are area favorites. If you click on the trail name on the sidebar to the right, you can find directions, a detailed description of the hike based on first hand experience, and personal photographs taken along the trail. Any image can be enlarged simply by clicking on it. You will find brief captions for the photos at the bottom of each entry. Feel free to leave your feedback, comments or experiences in the comment box at the end of each post. We hope you enjoy!
Trail | R Mountain | Aldous Lake | Wind Caves | Table Rock | Middle Teton |
Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Moderate | Difficult | Strenuous |
Distance (round trip) | 1.5 mi | 2.6 mi | 5.2 mi | 11 mi | 14.5 mi |
Approx. Hike Time (round trip) | 1.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 3-4 hrs | 8-11 hrs | 12+ hrs |
Approx. Distance to Trailhead | 9.5 mi | 55 mi | 60 mi | 55 mi | 102 mi |
Elevation Gain | 600 ft. | 480 ft. | 1870 ft. | 4009 ft. | 6014 ft. |
Trail | Sandy and uphill. | Constant, but | Maintained Trail. | Steep parts with | Maintained forest trail. Woods turn to rocky canyon. Heavy scrambling. Loose rocks. Snow patches into late summer. |
Best Season | Mid-Spring to Mid-Fall | Early-Summer to Mid-Fall | Early-Summer to Mid-Fall | Early-Summer to Mid-Fall | Mid-Summer to Early Fall |