Open Canyon

This is a full-day sufferfest that earns every inch of its 'very strenuous' rating. You'll start at the Death Canyon Trailhead and wind through dense alpine forest along Phelps Lake — a deceptively pleasant warmup that lulls you into thinking this won't be so bad. Then the trail turns upward into Open Canyon and the real work begins. The climb to Mount Hunt Divide is relentless, pushing through subalpine meadows and increasingly rocky terrain until the trees fall away and you're standing in wide-open alpine tundra with the Teton Range sprawled out around you. The views from the divide are the kind that make you forget your legs stopped cooperating two miles ago. This is a trail for conditioned hikers who want a legitimate backcountry challenge without the permit hassle of an overnight — think Paintbrush Divide's tougher, quieter cousin.