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I'm cruising through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in a few days. Can anybody suggest some areas that I absolutely shouldn't miss? Any good summit hikes? I am limited due to an injury(damaged M.C.L.) but would like to at least hit the South Teton. Any recommendations?

Yo...don't know about hikes, but dig the screen-name.

JoeyBagoDonuts wrote:Can anybody suggest some areas that I absolutely shouldn't miss? Any good summit hikes? I am limited due to an injury(damaged M.C.L.) but would like to at least hit the South Teton. Any recommendations?

South is a better snow than rock climb, in some opinions. And if your mcl bothers you, it's a longish trail hike and a long scramble, not perhaps a good day-hike.

For a peak, Buck Mt. is hard to beat, up the east ridge, steadily interesting with one brief section of exposed class 4, then down the east face. The views are superb. But again, if you turn around half way, there's perhaps less interest hour by hour than some canyon hikes.

If you don't feel obligated to a peak, consider some of the canyons: my favorite is Hanging Canyon, three lakes in sequence, go as high as you like. Paintbrush Canyon likewise a good choice, steadily interesting, length/time at will. Or up to the Lower Saddle and back.

Remember that it was heavily snowed upon ca. Sept. 2 last fall.

The Avalanche/Hoyt Peak loop near the East Entrance of Yellowstone is fun, not hard, and has great views. 6.5 miles total with some Class 2+/3 on Hoyt...

Teewinot east face is a fun, fairly short class 4 summit. There was still a snow field crossing August 22nd but it might be gone by now. Another reply mentioned snow on the south teton which still looked like there was a lot on Aug 29th when I was up there last. If you decide to do that one, better catch the Middle Teton while you're there. That's a long way back there to only do one of them. I think the Middle is a funner scramble anyway as there is a little more solid rock than the endless boulders up the South (unless you're on snow.) Another favorite, non summit hike is the Teton glacier. Take the Lupine trail head just south of Jenny Lake, go up to Ampitheater Lake and follow the trail around the north end, up to the small saddle where you can see the moraine. Scramble down the trail and small ledge then up over the 2 moraines.
Merrill

Thanks to all who contributed. Great ideas, they all sound fun.

Walking up in the SW Absaroka is so much easier. LOL.

Avalance Peak in YNP is awesome. Huckleberry Mt. is however closer, and its view of Moran and the Tetons is magnificently intimate.

Here's a SW Absaroka walkup not far East of Togwotee Pass at all. Good Teton views too.

Edit: Forgot, I'm no climber these days but they stay off these rocks, they're rotten. Please don't get any ideas. Tom Turiano's book does a great job.

Is that the summit view from Austin Peak? I can't remember what peak is there (climbed the NW Pinnacle Butte earlier this summer)...

It is below Austin Peak. Since you named it, and really well done, that's Jules Bowl and the Pinnacle Buttes.

I'm in the Dunoir Valley. Congrats on a great hike there.

Thanks! I'm jealous - that's such a beautiful area that I'm definitely coming back soon.
I'll second the comment about the rock quality - I've been on it enough to know that that rock is crap!