Taggart Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton National Park, and it’s easy to see why. You get mountain views, a beautiful lake and enough of a hike to feel like you earned it without giving up your entire day.

I had planned to hike the Taggart Lake Loop, but part of the trail was closed for construction. So I did the hike as an out and back instead. It ended up being around three miles, and honestly, I didn’t mind retracing my steps. The scenery looked different going in the other direction, and the shorter route gave me more time to hang out at the lake.

The hike starts at the Taggart Lake Trailhead, not far from the Moose entrance. This is a busy trail, so getting there early is a good idea. The parking lot can fill up quickly, especially during the summer.

The trail begins out in the open with huge views of the Tetons right in front of you. That alone makes the hike worth doing. There’s something almost ridiculous about how close and dramatic the mountains look here. They don’t slowly rise in the distance. They just shoot straight up from the valley.

The first part of the trail passes through sagebrush before crossing Taggart Creek on a wooden bridge. From there, it climbs gradually through a mix of forest and more open areas. The climb isn’t terribly difficult, but there are enough uphill sections to get your heart rate up.

Because this area was burned in the 1985 Beaver Creek Fire, parts of the trail feel more open than you might expect. The younger trees and standing deadwood allow you to see the mountains throughout much of the hike instead of waiting until the very end for a view.

Eventually, the trail drops toward Taggart Lake, and the water starts appearing through the trees.

The lake is beautiful. On a calm day, the Tetons reflect in the water, although even without a perfect reflection, it’s still one of those places where you want to sit for a while. I found a spot near the shoreline, took some photos and enjoyed the view before heading back.

That’s one thing I liked about doing this as an out-and-back hike. I didn’t feel rushed to keep moving around the loop. I could spend more time at the lake and then return the same way I came.

The hike back was mostly downhill, but it didn’t feel repetitive. The view changes when you turn around, and the open sections give you a chance to look across the valley instead of toward the mountains. I usually prefer loops because I like seeing new scenery the entire way, but this trail works perfectly well as an out and back.

Taggart Lake is a great choice if you want a shorter hike in Grand Teton National Park without giving up the scenery. It’s popular, and you probably won’t have it to yourself, but some places are popular for a reason.

This one gives you a little bit of everything: mountain views, forest, a creek crossing and a peaceful alpine lake at the end. The loop may have been closed, but the hike still felt complete.

Sometimes the backup plan turns out to be just fine.

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