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Summit Table Mountain

Alta, Wyoming

4.8/5
based on 4 reviews

Details

Distance

11 miles

Elevation Gain

4000 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Christina Adele Warburg-Hon

Mountain Summit with Jaw-Dropping Views of the Grand Teton and Cascade Canyon. Scenic Dog Friendly Hike with views of the Teton Backcountry and Alaska Basin

To climb Table Mountain you begin at the Teton Canyon Trailhead near Driggs, Idaho. The trailhead sits at about 6,800 feet elevation and from there you have two options to reach the 11,106 ft. peak -neither of which are technical, and both of which are dog-friendly.

The first option, named Huckleberry, is about 7 miles long and is considered easier as you build elevation slowly. You will see this trail almost immediately after pulling into the parking lot. The second option, named The Face, is only 4 miles long, but considered exceptionally difficult as it extremely steep and trail itself is mostly loose rock, making it easy to slide. This trail is at the far east side of the parking lot and is not immediately seen.

Keep in mind, that the signs at the trailhead will not name these different trails as such, and the main way to know the difference is the distances.

Many people will elect to climb up The Face and then make their way back along Huckleberry, effectively making it an 11 mile loop. However, the hike can be as short as 8 miles and as long as 14 depending on which route(s) you take. I can't speak from experience, but every person I have talked to has warned me to not take The Face coming down as all of the loose rock makes it extremely dangerous to hike downhill on. Also, between the two, Huckleberry is the considered the more scenic route. Some things to keep in mind while planning your route. We opted to take the Huckleberry route both ways because we wanted a hike with more mileage, and the little over 4000 ft. elevation gain was easier when spread out over 7 miles.

Almost immediately after you make your way above tree line, the trails will intersect for the last mile and half before the summit. As you make your way along the ridgeline leading up the summit you have amazing views, but the Grand Teton stays mostly out of sight. The last quarter mile is absolutely the most difficult with the most elevation gain, but when you finally scramble over the rocks on to the peak you are greeted with a spectacular view of the Grand immediately in front of you, Cascade Canyon to your left and Alaska Basin to your right.

Please keep in mind that during the summers, thunderstorms frequently occur here with lightning touching down all along the ridgeline leading up to the summit. As the final mile and half are above treeline and lack shelter, it is a wise decision to leave for this hike early in the morning so that you are off the mountain by the time the storms roll in.

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Features

Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Scenic

Reviews

I heard about this hike from a friend. Not many people go to the West side of the park. I think we saw a total of 6 people on the trail that day. We started at 5:00am in August. I loved this hike!

I took the "Face trail" up. Great leg-burner with a fantastic reward at the end - the views! I sat up there for an hour petting other hikers' dogs. I even saw a marmot pop up!

This is truly one of the most amazing hikes I have been on! There are two different ways to get to the top. There is a short steep trail (which is for the more intermediate hikers) and the longer easy going trial. Both are fantastic! Each of the trails has its amazing sites! Both are beautiful and covered with wild flowers that can grow to be nearly 8 feet tall sometimes! There are hundreds of varieties of flowers! It is great for photographers! There are also many beautiful streams and water falls. The most breathtaking part of the whole hike is when you reach the summit. There are no words to describe the absolute, amazing awesomeness you are witnessing! Warning! The last 100 feet of the climb is difficult! Expect to slip and slide a lot! So be careful with each step! Also, you will want to take bear spray! There are many black bears in the area. It's not a big concern, it's just to be cautious. Now you are probably wondering why I gave this hike 4 stars an not 5. That is because of the sheer amount of people on this trail. It can be hard to find a spot to hide if nature calls (if you get me). It is completely worth all struggles though! It is truly awesome!

I led a group of teens and college students on this hike in early July. The views along the trail raised oohs and ahhs the entire hike. When you ascend the peak, there are no words. It truly is a breath-taking experience.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

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Scenic Drive Up to Grand Targhee Ski Resort

Hike Darby Canyon to the Wind Cave

Hidden Falls Trail

Backpack the Teton Loop

Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows Trailhead

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