Field Guide № 001 · Wyoming Edition
Issued Aug 26, 2026
A Five-Day Expedition Through

The Tetons
& Jackson Hole

Five friends · Four nights · Forty-five lakes between us

Departure SFO
Destination JAC
Basecamp Moose, WY
Crew Five
★ The Expedition Party ★

The Crew

D
David
Quartermaster
J
Jess
Naturalist
D
Dylan
Trailblazer
V
Veronica
Cartographer
M
Matt
Expedition Lead
✦ Tentative Special Guests ✦
N
Nina
TBD · Pending RSVP
J
Jeremy
TBD · Pending RSVP
✦ The Itinerary ✦

Five Days Afield

I
Tuesday
Aug 26

Wheels Down, Boots On

An easy landing — paddleboards before unpacking.

Midday
SFO → Jackson Hole (JAC)
The only commercial airport set inside a national park. The Tetons greet you on the tarmac.
Afternoon
Settle into Moose
Pick up the rental SUV, drive 15 minutes to the house. Provision run at Aspens Market — coffee, beer, breakfast supplies, snacks for the trail.
Late Afternoon
String Lake
Flat, turquoise, and the warmest swimming water in the park. A gentle trailhead loop or a paddleboard float — perfect first taste of the Tetons.
Evening
Dinner at the House
Grill on the deck. Open something from town. Plan the morning over the map.
II
Wednesday
Aug 27

Jenny Lake & Hidden Falls

The signature day. Boat across, climb up, swim back.

Morning
Shuttle Boat Across Jenny Lake
Arrive by 8:30 to beat the line. The boat skips you 2 miles to the western shore — the gateway to the canyon.
Mid-Morning
Hidden Falls + Inspiration Point
~2 mi round trip from the dock. Moderate climb, enormous payoff. Ambitious crew can continue up Cascade Canyon — add 4 to 9 miles of valley wandering.
Afternoon
Boat Back & Swim
The Jenny Lake beach by the boat dock is criminally underused. Sun, snacks, cold water, the Tetons reflected behind you.
Evening
Dinner in Jackson — Gun Barrel
Steak and game house, full Western. Or Miazga's if the group wants something more casual. Book ahead either way.
III
Thursday
Aug 28

The Big Hike Day

Earn the swim that follows.

Dawn
Trailhead by 7am
Taggart Lake loop — 3.5 miles, moderate, the cleanest Teton reflection in the park. Or for the strongest hikers: Delta Lake from Lupine Meadows. 8 miles, hard scramble, glacial-blue payoff.
Afternoon
Phelps Lake Swimming Hole
Locals' secret. Short walk in from the Death Canyon trailhead. Granite ledges, clear water, a rope swing if the right people are there.
Evening
Cook In
Tired legs, sunset off the deck. Steaks, salad, something with huckleberry in it.
IV
Friday
Aug 29

Big Water & Wildlife

Paddle the lake. Watch for moose at dusk.

Morning
Jackson Lake by Kayak
~45 min north to Colter Bay or Signal Mountain. Reserve kayaks or SUPs in advance. Paddling at the foot of Mt. Moran is the photo of the trip.
Afternoon
Moose-Wilson Road, Slow
Drive back via the park's most reliable wildlife corridor. Go at dusk. Black bears, moose, beaver ponds. Windows down.
Evening
Big Group Dinner — Whistling Grizzly
The last proper night out. Reservations essential. Walk the antler arches on the town square after.
V
Saturday
Aug 30

Sunrise, Then Home

One last look at the range.

Sunrise
Schwabacher Landing
20 minutes from the house. The iconic Teton reflection shot — beavers if you're early, photographers stacked along the bank, the whole range pink for about six minutes.
Breakfast
Persephone Westbank
Pastries, espresso, and a last sit before pack-up. Five minutes from the house.
Midday
JAC → SFO
Walk back through the antler arch at the airport. We'll be back.
✦ Field Notes ✦

The Particulars

One Vehicle

Reserve a 6-passenger SUV from JAC. Gear takes space, and parking lots fill early — one car keeps the group together.

Park Pass

$35 per vehicle, good for 7 days. The $80 America the Beautiful pass pays off if anyone has another park trip planned this year.

Book Dinners Now

Jackson restaurants fill up weeks out in August. Whistling Grizzly and Gun Barrel especially. Lock these in this week.

Bear Spray

Required nearly everywhere off-pavement. Buy at any Jackson outfitter or rent at the visitor center. One canister per pair.

Reserve the Boats

Kayak and SUP rentals on Jackson Lake go fast in summer. Book Colter Bay or Signal Mountain marina ahead of arrival.

Layers

August in the Tetons swings 40°F overnight to 80°F midday. Pack a fleece, a shell, and broken-in trail shoes.