America’s Best High-Mileage Day Hikes

Longest

The Classic: Paintbrush and Cascade Canyons Loop
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming 

For Teton grandeur minus climbing ropes, this 19.6-mile loop serves up alpine majesty. From String Lake, ascend approximately 4,000 feet through Paintbrush Canyon’s flower-speckled meadows to the stunning 10,720-foot Paintbrush Divide. The imposing Cathedral Group commands the skyline. Navigate the knife-edge ridge, bracing your quivering limbs, before descending into Cascade Canyon. Skirt serene Lake Solitude, a twilight refuge for grazing moose. The 100-foot Hidden Falls and final glimpses of the Snake River plain punctuate this ambitious expedition. It’s a concentrated dose of Teton marvels—lakes, peaks, and varied ecosystems—condensed into one incredible day. Bring trekking poles, check with the rangers at Jenny Lake about whether crampons are needed, and summon all of your stamina. The loop is best hiked from late summer, after the snow has melted, to early fall, when the aspens erupt in a dazzling display of golden fall color.