Hiking Disappointment Peak in Grand Teton National Park
Location: Lupine Meadows Trailhead in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
11,623 ft.′12 miles roundtrip. 5,000 ft gain. Class 4 climbing. Wildlife. Wildflowers. Alpine Lakes.
If you’re ready to start climbing mountains in the Grand Teton mountain range, this is my top recommendation for a first!
Though it features technical climbing, it’s FAR shorter than the South or Middle, can be done very early in the season (we went June 24, 2023 and encountered no snow on-trail) and requires no equipment.
Disappointment is said to be named for when the first climbers made their ascent in 1925- they were disappointed to find that they had not, in fact, submitted the Grand… but stoked to find that they were the first to climb what’s become one of my favorite summits!
With its insane views and lack of serious danger, I would do this mountain every summer if I could.
HOW TO DO THE HIKE:
It begins at Lupine Meadows Trailhead… where all the most popular mountains start! The famous Middle, South, and Grand Tetons all require the freaking ding dang switchbacks of Lupine Meadows- however, you will be going a different direction at the fork to Garnet Canyon! Yay!
Following 3,000 ft of switchbacks and clear signage up to Surprise and Amphitheater lakes (defer to the right when in doubt), you’ll come to the little (Surprise) and big lake (Amphitheater), then go to the left and curve along the clear path up to…
THE CHIMNEY! This is where the technical climbing comes in- I’ve heard many stories of people taking the wrong way here, getting stuck and scared, and having to bail. It almost happened to me after watching my friend scale what looked to me an impossible vertical wall with VERY little nooks, crannies, or holds. (Can you tell I’m a hiker, and not a climber?)
Getting through this part is very simple if you take the right route.
When you approach the chimney, which is very clear, the entrance through the chimney is not apparent right away. Thankfully, a friend told me about having to take his pack off to squeeze through the hole, so after I tried and realized that I was NOT taking the wall to the left, I started to poke around to see if I could find what he was talking about.
Off to the right, I found what looks like a vertical hallway up through the inside of this giant stack of rocks. I did, in fact, have to take off my itty-bitty daypack to fit in-between. It felt a little sketchy, but only in a, “what if all of these rocks fall and crush me” way… which in my opinion is WAY better than, “what if I fall off of this rock face to my death?” If you get claustrophobic, it might be a stressful for a few minutes. But once again, I found it so much more chill than the incredibly exposed alternative.
Once on the other side of the Chimney, it’s the final stretch… but the final stretch is still approximately 1,000 ft of elevation. The chimney feels like a bit of a false summit… don’t celebrate too hard! You still have a hot minute to go.
But once you get up to the top… oh! The views!
This mountain is kind of funny because it’s one of the few where the top doesn’t feel sharp. It feels almost like a big dome. There’s also no marker. (Special place in hell for people who still geological tags.) Enjoy a big fat snack and soak in heart of the Tetons! At the top of this peak, you’re in a bowl with a front-row seat to all the greats of this spectacular range.
No disappointment here!
WHEN TO HIKE DISAPPOINTMENT PEAK: My favorite time to do this hike is on a Monday, so that I can catch a fat slushie, burger, and good vibes at the Hootenanny at Dornan’s after. Wildflowers bloom May - September but my favorite flower time for this specific hike is early summer. The yellow-blossomed explosions of arrowleaf balsam root covering the hills makes for the cheeriest way up!
WHAT TO BRING TO HIKE DISAPPOINTMENT PEAK: Bring plenty of water and snacks. My secret sauce for summits is the lightest battery acid in the world… 5 Hour Energy! Shhh, it’s fine. Mama needs her go-go juice. Though it isn’t recommended, I don’t eat that much on giant hike days. Maybe it’s the questionable caffeine or the adrenaline, but I always find myself carrying a ton of snacks up AND down the mountain. Silly. Though should always bring more water and food than you need, just in case. I opt for Cliff Energy gels, jerky, Luna or Perfect bars, apples and peanut butter packets, Cheezits, and if I’m really prepared… a sandwich that I’ll inevitably only eat half of and end up throwing away because it’s been hot and squished in my bag for 12 hours. Why am I like this? Pack protein, sugar, and carbs. Always bring a headlamp. Make sure your phone is fully charged. A first aid kit is great to keep in your daypack. Bugspray is goofy imo and sunscreen is helpful but if you wear the right gear, you won’t burn if you don’t reapply. Luxury item? Chapstick. Trust me. Last note, in case it wasn’t clear… bring a ton of water!
WHAT TO WEAR TO HIKE DISAPPOINTMENT PEAK: Sunshirt and hat is an absolute must. Also bring a packable, lightweight puffy + rain jacket… It’s better to be prepared than scared! The majority of this hike is exposed to sun and wind, and the mountains make their own weather. If you’re unfamiliar with that saying, it means it could be 80 degrees at the trailhead yet hailing at the top- so don’t assume you don’t need those extra layers. Hiking boots work but I hugely prefer my trailrunners. I wear Lone Peaks from Altra for every summit because they’re super light and grippy, unlike chunky hiking boots that tend to give me that feet-in-concrete, ohmygod-they’resoheavy-i’mgonnadie feeling.
DO I NEED EQUIPMENT TO CLIMB DISAPPOINTMENT PEAK: No. Hiking poles are incredibly helpful on joints with the steep incline both up and down, but are not necessary. I do get sausage fingers whenever I do anything on Lupine Meadows without poles, but I’ve done the South Teton without them and lived.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A STORM COMES WHEN CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN: The most important thing is not to panic. Stay calm to discern the situation. That being said, take danger seriously- because you are 10x as vulnerable to the elements on a mountain as you are on the ground. If there’s any sign of thunder/lightning, get down as quickly as possible. Lightning kills people on mountains all the time, and you do not want to be on slick rock when drops could be deadly. Storms pass quickly, and only you can make the call. Trust your gut… when coming from an informed and calm thinking space.
DO I NEED BEAR SPRAY TO CLIMB DISAPPOINTMENT PEAK: Yes! It’s important to carry bear spray whenever you’re in grizzly country. Educate yourself on how to be bear aware, before you go. I almost always see bears on Lupine Meadows.
