Schwabacher Landing Trail
Trail Features: | Outstanding Panoramic Views, Wildlife | ||||
Trail Location: | Schwabacher Landing | ||||
Roundtrip Length: | 1.3 Miles | ||||
Trailhead Elevation: | 6574 Feet | ||||
Total Elevation Gain: | 15 Feet | ||||
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 23 Feet | ||||
Highest Elevation: | 6584 Feet | ||||
Trail Difficulty Rating: | 1.33 (easy) | ||||
Parking Lot Latitude | 43.71155 | ||||
Parking Lot Longitude | -110.67058 | ||||
Trail Description:
The turn-off for the Schwabacher Landing Trailhead is located four miles north of Moose Junction on Highway 191 in Grand Teton National Park. At the junction, turn west on Schwabacher Road and drive roughly one mile to the end of the gravel road where you’ll find a rather large parking area. Though a little rough in some spots, the road is passable for two-wheel drive vehicles. Hikers should note that the road may present problems for some vehicles during the spring, and after rainy periods.
From the parking area this flat, easy hike follows a well-worn path as it travels along a series of beaver ponds created along a braid of the Snake River. The trail more or less traverses the boundary between wooded and wetland areas towards the west, and sagebrush flats towards the east. The ponds offer excellent photographic opportunities, especially in the early mornings when the towering Tetons are often reflected in the calm waters.
After walking two-tenths of a mile from the trailhead hikers will pass a rather large beaver dam. At roughly four-tenths of a mile the wide, well-worn path comes to an end. A narrow backcountry trail, however, continues northward for another quarter mile through the sagebrush. At roughly two-thirds of a mile the trail begins to fade into the sagebrush flat, thus marking the end of this hike.
The entire hike passes through excellent wildlife habitat. Mornings and evenings will be the best times to see a wide variety of wildlife; including moose, elk, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyote and bald eagles, as well as a variety of waterfowl.