Table Rock

Directions

From Rexburg, travel north on Hwy 20 until you reach the Driggs, Jackson exit. Take the exit and follow Hwy 33 until you come to Driggs. Once in Driggs, keep your eyes peeled for East Little Ave. Turn left. Follow that road until it becomes Targhee Ski Hill Road. This road will take you across the Idaho/Wyoming border, through Alta, and on towards Grand Targhee Ski Resort. The road becomes East Alta Road, then East Ski Hill Road. While the road is still East Alta, you will come to a fork. To the right is Teton Canyon Road, and to the left East Ski Hill Road continues. You will want to bear right onto Teton Canyon Road. If you miss the fork, you can still take the next right turn (a 90 degree right that creates a "T" with Ski Hill Road). Teton Canyon Road will lead you straight to the trailhead for Table Rock.
For directions with map, click here.
For terrain map, click here


Table Rock Trail

Table Rock (also called Table Mountain) sits right in the shadow of Grand Teton; just a stone's throw away, or so it seems. Table Rock offers a hike not for the faint of heart. It's no ultra-marathon of a hike, but it is long, drawn out and passes through fairly steep segments. There are parts with very short, choppy switchbacks, overall gaining over 4,000 feet of elevation. The lower regions are covered in forest and streams as you work your way through a mountain canyon. Wild flowers, alpine birds, and even moose cover the hillsides. Keep your camera handy in case that picture perfect moment presents itself.

Aside from the wildlife, there are babbling brooks throughout the canyon, many of which cross the trail. This particular trail, although maintained, has no formal bridges to assist crossing. You will need to be sure footed and steady as you cross on tipsy rocks, slick logs and sometimes even through ankle deep water. Bring some quality shoes with good grip and waterproof sealing. It will pay off. As you continue to climb, sturdy shoes or boots will also allow a more comfortable ascent as you leave the canyon forest where the trail disappears and improvise on the rocky ridge that leads to the "table".

After the forested canyon, the trail opens up into a giant bowl. The south wall (you enter from an opening on the west) is a long ridge that slowly approaches the "table". There are switchbacks that climb the west wall to the rim of the bowl. Here you'll find the last bit of trail that spans around the rim, heading to the south. Once to this point, it is a straight, visible shot to the top (top picture). As mentioned before, there is no distinct trail, but again, the direction is clear. As you approach the base of the "table", a slight trail cut into the side jets back and forth up the rock. At this point it is just a matter of yards to the top! The view is spectacular! My last attempt was a foggy, snowy, Labor Day, sandwiched between clear, 80 degree days, which yielded no visual reward worth seeing. A blanket of fog veiled the majestic peaks from our view. Again, this is a specific example illustrating the drastic changes that can take place in these parts. However, the adventure is still worth the trip, but even more so, it builds motivation and anticipation for another attempt in hope of clearer day.

Photos (click any photo for larger image)
Top: Table Rock from just below the approaching ridge
Top middle: A small stream with a makeshift bridge. Most streams do not even have a log.
Bottom middle: The large bowl from the south rim. Same position as the top photo, just a 90 degree turn to the left. The faint zigzag straight ahead is the trail climbing its way up the bowl. The canyon from which hikers enter the bowl is in the distance.
Bottom: The top of Table Rock on a foggy day. Grand Teton is literally breathing down your neck at the top. Let the lack of scenery demonstrate just how dense the fog can be.

Below: Video clip on our way down Table Rock's ridge.