Stage 3 of the Teton Crest Trail covers 16.3 km from Alaska Basin to North Fork Cascade Canyon, with 624 m of ascent and 896 m of descent. The highest point is 3,210 m. Allow about 7 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Small lake below Hurricane Pass at the north end of Alaska Basin, 2.3 km after the Basin Lakes, with dispersed Forest Service camping. Same rules as the rest of Alaska Basin: no fee, 60 m (200 ft) from the lake, no campfires.
Camping zone in the North Fork of Cascade Canyon, near but not at Lake Solitude (no camping at the lake itself), 3 km from the Cascade forks. Permit required, no fires, bear canister required; it sets up the climb to Paintbrush Divide the next morning.
Long camping zone in the South Fork of Cascade Canyon below Hurricane Pass and the Schoolroom Glacier, with spots spread over several kilometres of trail. Permit required, no fires, bear canister required.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. On the trail you sleep in your own tent: every night inside Grand Teton National Park needs a backcountry permit for a named camping zone or site, and nights in Alaska Basin and at Fox Creek Pass are free Forest Service camping. Carry an approved bear canister; campfires are not allowed.
Emergency: call 911. Carry a satellite messenger. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.