PRINT: Climbing in Teton Canyon, Teton Canyon

Teton Canyon

Wyoming

Teton Canyon

This is a beautiful canyon on the West side of the Teton Range accessed from Driggs, Idaho. A handful of rock routes are available, and in the winter, a few ice climbs. The rock routes primarily face South (southwest and north) and can be hot in the summer. The canyon is bustling with activity in summer, but it seems very few people bother to actually climb here so. The rock routes are (mostly) located on a (9) granite formation(s) at (near) the end of the road. The ice climbs are located among the limestone cliffs on the south side. (as well as up canyon, in wilderness, on both granite and limestone)

(Climbing opportunities are also found at the Teton Rock Gym in downtown Driggs. Automatic belays, treadwall and excellent setting on boulders and walls. Inexpensive. Open 3-8:30pm)

This introduction was written by Andy Lakkman. (Gee Dubble makes edits in parentheses)

Getting There

Find your way to Driggs, Idaho - and turn East onto ski hill road, as if heading to the Grand Targhee ski area. Drive about 6 miles up the road, and veer right onto the dirt road into Teton Canyon, well marked.

Despite accessing this canyon from Idaho - you are actually in Wyoming. The border of Idaho/Wyoming is small town of Alta you pass through on Ski Hill Road.

In the summer, you can drive to the end of the road to access the rock climbs. Park at the end of the road. Take the major trail up the canyon, and you'll quickly see a climber's trail branching off to the left. Follow this trail for 5-10 minutes to reach the crag.

For winter ice climbs, park when the road is closed to traffic and ski/snowmobile up the road to the ice climbs. Expect 1-1.5 hour approach to access the ice climbs.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Teton canyon ice!

N. Treasure Mt. Yellow=Devils Ridge 3rd, Green=Lobsterman Dan, ski 50m ab.Black=Los Angeles Arete, ski. Blue=Flying Ryan Ski 30ab, Pink=Ghost Ice; L. WI3 R. 5 LightPink= Upper Ghost Ski,55m ab. Re…

kent mcbride on munger crack 5.11+ in 2006 photo bissell hazen

Arms Deal, left, upper
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G1 = yellow
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T2 = red
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DMZ = green
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M.A.D. = blue
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Arms Deal = pink
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Cold War = green
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Smart Bomb = green
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Cherry Bomb = dark green
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Kamakazi Project = yellow

Arms Deal, left, upper G1 = yellow T2 = red DMZ = green M.A.D. = blue Arms Deal = pink Cold War = green Smart Bomb = green Cherry Bomb = dark green Kamakazi Project = yellow

Arms Deal-Z Cracks-Grand Wall overview;
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Black = trails approaches, descents
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Color = Savage Arena, Arms Deal, Holey Moley, Skin Tour/Silver Cougar, Z Cracks, Wild Kingdom, High Noon

Arms Deal-Z Cracks-Grand Wall overview; Black = trails approaches, descents Color = Savage Arena, Arms Deal, Holey Moley, Skin Tour/Silver Cougar, Z Cracks, Wild Kingdom, High Noon

flying ryan

Treasure Mt

Public Execution at Waterfall Wall

Arms Deal, left, upper G1 = yellow T2 = red DMZ = green M.A.D. = blue Arms Deal = pink Cold War = green Smart Bomb = green Cherry Bomb = dark green Kamakazi Project = yellow

After trundle & brush, this main fork unclimbed crack could be a ** 5.9?. At the wooden bridge hike up sunny side for 5 minutes

This nice looking crack (5.11-?) is located on a separate wall about 10 minutes from the main wall. To locate it, walk up the main trail until just past a foot bridge. Follow a trail to your left…

greg collins in 2006 on munger crack 5.11+ photo bissell hazen

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Matt TeNgaio
Idaho Falls, ID

I headed up there recently, (8/07), with latest guide in hand and found a bunch of new stuff that isn't in the guide. Does anyone have current route beta for the Grand Wall area? Sep 19, 2007

Andy Laakmann
Bend, OR

I'm working on getting more info. Not only have new routes been added to the Grand Wall, but a new 80' craig has been developed with 10-15 routes somewhere on the N side. Rumors have it that it is "behind campsite #30". I haven't had time to explore yet. Sep 19, 2007

lane montgomery
Casper, WY

Its called Shady Maple after a restaurant in Pennsylvania. Jun 3, 2010

larry j
wydaho

Hey all- I've never posted on here before, but I saw the uncertainty about the new crag on the south side (N. facing) of the canyon, so I couldn't help but add some needed info (until the new version of the guide comes out). Myself and 5-6 locals have put up about 25 or so routes on this wall (The Shady Wall, not Shady Maple), all ranging from .10- to .13 something, with the bulk in the .11 range. Most everything is bolted, but there are a few mixed lines, and 1 or 2 gear lines. So a light rack helps and can supplement bolts on a few lines. The rock is beautiful granite with some limestone flowstone (the ooze) covering the granite on a few routes, which makes for some unique pocket climbing on granite. The climbing is very different than that of the Grand Wall and can be very deceptive as to how challenging a climb will be. The sun never hits the wall and is a great summer time crag. With that said, it takes forever to melt out in the spring and seeps into July (esp. this year, what a winter!). A full description of the crag and routes w/color photos will be in the new edition of the Jackson Hole/Pinedale Climbing Guide by Wesley Gooch. I think he said it should be out this fall?? PM me if anyone is looking for any more beta. There is great bouldering at the base of the crag on 3 very large boulders as well...check it out Aug 23, 2011

Chandler Van Schaack
Pine, CO

Went and checked out the Shady Wall this weekend after reading the last comment from 2011. This wall is sick. All routes except for one (the 5.9 warmup) are on absolutely immaculate rock. The wall stays shady all day. There are 5-star sport routes in the 5.10, 5.11, 5.12 and 5.13 grades. It is a 15 min. walk from the car. Oh yea, and there is rad bouldering all over the place. The Guideboook referenced in the comment above is now out of print and I couldn't find a copy for sale in any of the local climbing shops in Jackson. However, the Yostmark climbing shop in Driggs (on Ski Hill Rd. about a block after you turn onto it in town) has a store copy and were nice enough to let me take pictures. I won't post the pics on here cuz I'm pretty sure that would be illegal in some way, but if you decide to check this place out just drop into the shop and they'll help you out. IMO this is the best sport crag within 1.5 hrs of Jackson by a mile. Aug 29, 2016

Jskierpx
Truckee, CA

Visiting a friend in Driggs from CA, skinned into the canyon to check out the backcountry and poke around for some ice to climb. Like most ice climbing, the beta for this canyon is pretty limited and adds an adventurous element to exploring up here. Below are a couple links to point you in the right direction:

caltopo.com/m/72JH

rootsrated.com/jackson-hole…

We searched for BoyScout falls but I think that I put in the GPS coordinates wrong and ended up at MackTyson instead. Luckily it was fat and beautiful and was a great time.

Not too much more to add as I was just visiting the area for a few days, but there is ice back there worth slogging into, and gives you a beautiful view of the Grand and environs. Feb 13, 2019

Alec O
Norwich, VT

Had a great day at the Shady Wall. Huge thanks to the developers—what a fantastic place. You can tell how much work you all put in. 5-star routes, amazing base area, great hardware. This place is a gem! Sep 17, 2020

Coury Dorn
New Mexico

If you use MP to track performance or whatever, you can use the Generic Area for ticks. Go to MP > * In Progress (bottom of All Areas list on home page) > Generic Area, select the grade, tick it, move on. No need to create a page for every route and problem. Hope this helps :) Aug 29, 2022