Hiking Lake of the Crags & Mount St. John in the Tetons
Hanging Valley, home to Lake of the Crags and Ramshead Lake, is one of my favorite hikes in the Tetons. This unmarked trail doesn’t appear on visitor maps, making it the perfect escape from the summer crowds.
The hike to Lake of the Crags is a 7-mile round trip with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. If you’re up for a bigger challenge, climbing Mt. Saint John is a 9-mile round trip with around 5,000 feet of elevation. I highly recommend both, and for an added treat, stash some cold drinks in the lake to enjoy when you return!
Getting There
The journey begins at String Lake, following the path around Jenny Lake before heading up into Hanging Valley. Since this trail is unmarked, many people mistakenly follow shortcuts that lead to dead ends or random bathroom spots in the woods. To avoid this, download my gps route, so you don't get lost.
Once on the trail, you’ll ascend through the bushes, eventually meeting the stream that flows from the lakes. Stick to the right side of the creek as you follow it uphill.
Highlights
The first lake you’ll encounter is Ramshead Lake, absolutely gorgeous in the morning with the glassy reflection. Just above it, you’ll find Lake of the Crags, my personal favorite, nestled beautifully in the valley.
If you’re aiming to summit Mt. Saint John, continue past Lake of the Crags. Be cautious—there are several drainages, and taking the wrong one could leave you cliffed out. From here, the trail is a bit loose but easy scrambling up to the summit block.
The Final Push to the Summit
Once on the ridge, you’ll encounter a few moves of Class 5 climbing. Transition to the north side of the ridge for the final approach—this is the easiest route to the summit, bypassing an exposed slab on the south side (doable but not the easiest route.)
Once you reach the summit of Mt. Saint John, you are rewarded with epic views of the Grand Teton, Teewinot, Mt. Owen to the south, and Mt. Moran to the north with Jackson Lake below.
If you’re interested in exploring Lake of the Crags or tackling Mt. Saint John, I highly recommend downloading my GPS map I recorded so you don't end up wandering through the bushes looking for the trail, or on top of a cliff trying to get to the summit.
You can download it here!