There's a short, golden window every year when Jackson Hole trades summer crowds for crisp mornings, bugling elk, and aspen groves lit up in gold. It doesn't last long — usually just a few weeks from mid-September into early October — but it might be the best time of year to be on a trail here. Cooler temps, thinner crowds, and that particular quality of light on the Tetons make fall hiking hard to beat.

Here's where to go.

Taggart Lake Trail

Distance: ~3 miles round trip | Difficulty: Easy

If you only have time for one hike, make it this one. The trail climbs gently through a lodgepole forest that regenerated after a 1985 fire, opening into a view of Taggart Lake with the Grand reflected on the water. Aspens ring the lower trail and turn a brilliant gold in fall. Go early — the Taggart parking lot fills up fast even in shoulder season.

String Lake Loop

Distance: ~3.8 miles | Difficulty: Easy

A flat, family-friendly loop around one of the park's most photogenic lakes, with the Tetons rising directly behind the water. It's also the jumping-off point for several longer hikes, so it's a good pick if you want an easy out-and-back with the option to extend the day.

Phelps Lake via Death Canyon Trailhead

Distance: ~7 miles (loop) | Difficulty: Moderate

Starting from the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve or the White Grass Ranger Station, this route winds through dense aspen stands before dropping to Phelps Lake. Despite the trailhead's name, most people turn around at the lake rather than pushing into Death Canyon itself — though the canyon beyond is a rewarding, quieter option for a longer day.

Paintbrush Canyon to Holly Lake

Distance: ~12 miles round trip | Difficulty: Strenuous

For hikers who want a full day and a real payoff, Paintbrush Canyon delivers some of the most dramatic scenery in the park. The climb to Holly Lake is steep, but the alpine lake tucked high in the canyon — often rimmed with early snow by late September — is worth the effort. Pack layers; temperatures swing fast at elevation this time of year.

Table Mountain

Distance: ~11.5 miles round trip | Difficulty: Strenuous

Technically in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness on the Idaho side, Table Mountain gives you one of the closest views of the Grand Teton's summit without any technical climbing. It's a long day, but on a clear fall morning the payoff at the top is hard to overstate — and it's a good reminder that some of the best Teton views are actually a short drive over Teton Pass.

Aspen Ridge Trail

Distance: ~5 miles | Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

Tucked off Moose-Wilson Road near the Rockefeller Preserve, this quieter loop moves through hawthorn thickets, boulder fields, and — as the name promises — dense aspen groves before descending to Phelps Lake. It's a good choice if you want fall color without the crowds at the more popular trailheads.

Not a hiker? Drive the color instead

If you'd rather stay closer to the car, Oxbow Bend and Schwabacher's Landing are two of the best spots in the park to see cottonwoods and aspens reflected on the Snake River — both are short walks from the parking area, and both are classic sunrise photo spots in fall.

A few practical notes

• Bear spray, always. Fall is active feeding season as bears prepare for winter.

• Layer up. Mornings can start near freezing even when afternoons warm into the 60s and 70s.

• Watch the weather. An early snowstorm is always possible in Jackson Hole, even in September.

• Start early. Shorter daylight hours and popular trailheads (especially Taggart and String Lake) mean parking lots fill quickly.