Phillips Ridge Trail to Overlook

The Phillips Ridge Trail is a lengthy meandering trail shared with mountain bikes that ascends the crest of the ridge of Phillips Ridge, a large hill at the base of the southern Teton Mountains. Halfway up, however, is a stunning overlook complete with logs for benches and shade from trees. It makes for a perfect day-hike destination offering up gorgeous views along the way. While the occasional mountain biker might cross your path, the trail should feel overall quiet and peaceful.

Phillips Ridge to Overlook Trail Description

Beginning from the trailhead, cross the road to begin making a short ascent into private property. Remember that this is, in fact, private property and you should stick to the only for this quick stretch. As you wander through meadows and forest, you’ll begin to hear the sound of a rushing creek nearby. Passing through dense vegetation, you’ll catch a quick view of the creek, followed by the boundary for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, leaving the private land behind.

The trail makes a quick bend to parallel the creek for a bit before crossing the creek over a footbridge. You’ll quickly reach another small footbridge creek crossing where you’ll then encounter a fork. Head to the right through the fork to the next junction, a mere 100 feet ahead. Head left at this junction to fork off to the Phillips Ridge Trail.

Now on the Phillips Ridge Trail, you’ll ascend and descend over a small rise, crossing the creek once more along the Power Line Trail before veering off to the left again to remain on the Phillips Ridge Trail. You’ll begin gradually ascending through dense woods for a while, eventually crossing the Power Line Road, something you’ll find you do frequently throughout the duration of the hike. Through the forest, you also begin to see the Teton Mountains rise up beyond.

The consistent steady climb up through the forest soon begins to expose more Teton views. The trail itself will soon snake below, and then up and over the crest of the ridge. As Phillips Canyon fades to the other side, you discover beautiful views of Jackson Hole now far below. Continue to wind around and up the crest below the power lines where more road crossings await. The benefit to the power lines is that you’re treated to expansive views that wouldn’t otherwise be there.

Maintaining a gradual ascent, you’ll cross back over the ridge and continue twisting up the ridgeline below the power lines. Even bigger views of the southern Tetons and Jackson Hole begin sprawling out into the distance. As you pass above Phillips Canyon, you’ll then wrap around to reveal a big view east, crowned by the Gros Ventre Mountains in the distance.

You’ll begin to veer back toward the forest, passing a large rocky wall below the power lines. Beyond the wall you wander back into the forest, passing a small boulder field on your way. If you’re lucky, you may even hear the distinct call of a pika as you pass through. Look closely t see them scurrying in the rocks.

Winding through more forest, you’ll soon emerge below the power lines once again, showing off large views before heading back into the forest. You’ll then head back into a forest, this time on the east side of the ridgeline. Not long after, you’ll begin to see your first aspen trees of the hike as you pass through a lush meadow. If you’re hiking early in the season, you’ll find yourself among a gorgeous display of wildflowers through this stretch. Continuing straight ahead, you’re treated to an occasional vista eastward through the trees.

After a noticeably lengthy straightaway, the trail will make a sharp cut back toward the north. While passing through the lush forest, you’ll cross below the power lines once again before continuing through the woods. Soon after, you’ll reach the crest of the ridge where the overlook awaits. The expansive view is only partially obscured by a few foreground trees, still leaving a wide and sprawling view stretching out to the north. The view is also a fantastic place to see the dramatic eastern slope of the Teton Mountains dropping down into the valley.

Enjoy the setting as long as you’d like and when ready, head back out the same way you hiked in. If you’d like to trim a bit of distance off the return trip, consider heading back down the Power Line Trail for a few different views and more direct route.

Getting There

From downtown Jackson, head west on Broadway for 1.5 miles. At the junction with Highway 22, take a right and follow that for 5.3 miles to the town of Wilson. At 2nd Street, take a right and follow that one block to Main Street. Take a left onto Main Street and follow that for 0.1 miles. Next turn right onto Fish Creek Road and continue north for 3 miles. Under a forest canopy, look for the Phillips Canyon Trailhead on the right.