![]() ![]() The Lower Paintbrush Camping zone starts about 3.5 miles into the hike and continues for about 1 mile. We saw two moose munching on some juicy shrubbery just dozens of feet from the trail! There will be more open space and low-lying flora, making it a prime area for seeing some of the iconic Teton wildlife. In no time, the canyon will start opening up a bit and the vegetation begins to thin out. Make sure you take some time to turn around and enjoy the views back towards String Lake. As the odometer moves past 3.0 miles, the climb intensifies and you will slowly, but doggedly, make your way deeper into the canyon. The first three miles of the hike are fairly flat as you meander through the dense forest of lodgepole pines, past Leigh Lake and String Lake and into the mouth of Paintbrush Canyon. You don’t want to start your backpacking trip by circling the parking lot looking for a parking spot! Starting the hike Plan to start your hike as early as possible. The parking lots by both trailheads tend to get very crowded and fill up early during the peak season. There is more parking at the Leigh Lake Trailhead, so that’s probably your best bet. The trailheads are just a minute away from each other, and it doesn’t make much difference distance-wise which you choose. The Paintbrush Canyon Cascade Canyon trail can be started from either the String Lake Trailhead or the Leigh Lake Trailhead, both located just north of Jenny Lake. You can then breathe easy knowing the rest of the hike is downhill. Tackle most of the elevation gain earlier, reaching the top of Paintbrush Divide after about 8.8 miles.If you hike clockwise, this view will be at your back, whereas it will be staring you in the face if you hike counterclockwise. ![]()
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