Is swimming allowed at Shoshoko Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Shoshoko Falls.

Nearby gauge (Snake River) · 880 ft³/s · About average

Shoshoko Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Shoshoko Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Shoshoko Falls. Pets aren't allowed on any trail, pathway or in the backcountry in Grand Teton National Park; they must stay within 30 feet of roads.

Wyoming • Grand Teton National Park

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Grand Teton National Park NP · National Park Service

Before you go

There is no maintained trail to Shoshoko Falls. The Avalanche Canyon route is not on park maps, is not patrolled, and requires route-finding, bushwhacking and boulder scrambling.

Photo Credits (5)

National Park Service Public Domain · National Park Service

Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Difficulty

Hard

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Shoshoko Falls

Shoshoko Falls is an intermittent cascade of more than 200 feet in Avalanche Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, fed by snowmelt and falling near the outlet of Taggart Creek from Lake Taminah. There is no maintained trail: the falls are reached by an unofficial route that leaves the Taggart Lake area and climbs Avalanche Canyon with bushwhacking, boulder hopping and route-finding. Go in late spring or early summer for the strongest flow.

The Setting

Shoshoko Falls sits at 9,029 feet within Grand Teton National Park, in the high alpine of Wyoming.

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

Start at the Taggart Lake Trailhead on the Teton Park Road and hike toward Taggart Lake, then pick up the faint, unmaintained climbers' path into Avalanche Canyon. Hikers report the path is hard to follow past Taggart Lake, with downed trees from an avalanche, brush and boulder fields; the climb above the falls to Lake Taminah is on loose talus. AllTrails lists the Lake Taminah route via the falls at about 10.5 miles round trip with roughly 2,755 feet of gain, but users report its track is unreliable.

What to Expect

Expect a long, rough off-trail day in a remote canyon with few other people. The falls can be thin or dry later in summer.

Accessibility

The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Shoshoko Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
Pets aren't allowed on any trail, pathway or in the backcountry in Grand Teton National Park; they must stay within 30 feet of roads.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fee: $35.00

🏊 Is There Swimming at Shoshoko Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal times to visit, as the waterfall is typically at its fullest due to snowmelt.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Access roads and trails may close during winter due to snow. Check with Grand Teton National Park for current conditions.

Safety Information

Be prepared for changing weather conditions and carry adequate supplies. Watch for slippery rocks near the waterfall and stay on marked trails to avoid accidents.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Snake River, 5.7 miles away, not on Shoshoko Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

880 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

773 859 1.2k 1.3k

Based on 31 years of record

8.88 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

SNAKE RIVER AT MOOSE, WY

USGS 13013650

5.7 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 1,674 sq mi

Altitude: 6,450 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SNAKE RIVER AT MOOSE, WY (9 km away).

High confidence

Low right now

890 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Low

890 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Low

908 cfs

6/10

Sun

Low

917 cfs

6/10

Mon

Low

908 cfs

6/10

Tue

Low

851 cfs

6/10

Wed

Low

860 cfs

6/10

Thu

Low

827 cfs

6/10

Best window: Today — low flow, sunny (trip score 6/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early May to early August, peaking in June.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Teton Village hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Shoshoko Falls Frozen?

Updated about 21 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately strong flow slows freezing 1 more freezing day forecast

Shoshoko Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 35°F to 26°F. 1 freezing day are forecast, so ice may start to form.

Days below freezing: 3 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 1 of the next 7
Flow: 890 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Wyoming.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

1-meter lidar shows Shoshoko Falls dropping about 269 feet in a single sheer step. The brink sits at about 9,030 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 47 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 337 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Shoshoko Falls near Teton Village, Wyoming, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Shoshoko Falls near Teton Village, Wyoming, showing about 269 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing east

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 9,030 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 269 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: East; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

From Moose, drive north on the Teton Park Road past the Moose Entrance Station to the Taggart Lake Trailhead on the west side of the road.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Park at the Taggart Lake Trailhead lot on the Teton Park Road, which fills early on summer days.

Elevation

9,029 feet above sea level

Coordinates

43.708148° N, -110.802495° W

Land Management

Grand Teton National Park NP

Managed by NPS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Carry a map and GPS and know how to navigate off-trail; talk to a ranger at a visitor center about current conditions before attempting the route. Allow most of a day; hikers report trips of 9 hours or more to the lake area.

This trail sits at 9,029 ft — the air is noticeably thinner

High Altitude

Some visitors experience headaches, fatigue, or shortness of breath at this elevation. Take it slow, stay hydrated, and consider supplemental oxygen if you're coming from a lower altitude.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen

UV intensity jumps ~4% per 1,000 ft — at this elevation you can burn in half the time.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm (3-Pack)

Lips have almost no natural UV protection and burn fast in thin, dry mountain air.

Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Packets

You lose moisture ~2x faster at elevation — electrolytes help you absorb water efficiently.

ROCKNIGHT Polarized UV400 Sunglasses

High-altitude glare off rock and water is intense — UV400 lenses block 99%+ of UVA/UVB.

Boost Oxygen 10L Canister (2-Pack)

Portable supplemental oxygen for quick relief from headaches and shortness of breath.

Altitude Rx OxyBoost Complex

Antioxidant formula designed to support your body's natural altitude acclimation.

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

TETON CANYON

6.7 miles away · 27 sites

Reservable

Overview Teton Canyon Campground is located in beautiful Teton Canyon at an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet. Driggs, Idaho is just 11 miles away. Hiking, backpacking and horseback riding are popular activities in this scenic region.Recreation The towering Teton Range and Jedediah Smith Wilderness are adjacent to the canyon. Excellent hiking, backpacking and horseback riding opportunities abound, with trails leaving from the campground. A horse staging area is located at the trailhead parkin

Book on Recreation.gov