Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail: Hiking Into a Hidden Wyoming Cave

We don’t normally hike the same trail twice. There are simply too many new places we want to explore. But Darby Canyon Wind Cave was different.

We first hiked the trail in the spring of 2019. We made it all the way to Wind Cave, but the amount of water flowing from the cave made us uncomfortable trying to cross and climb into the entrance. We turned around knowing it was the right decision, but the hike always felt a little unfinished.

Seven years later, we found ourselves on the backside of the Tetons again. We had just finished a five-day horseback and fly-fishing trip into the Teton Wilderness, and our bodies were a little weary. We wanted a moderate hike, but we had already completed many of the moderate trails in Grand Teton National Park on previous trips. The hikes still on our wish list involved elevation gains approaching 4,000 feet. That wasn’t what we were looking for this time.

For some reason, Darby Canyon kept calling us back. Darby Canyon was also close to Teton Canyon toward Devil’s Staircase and Hurricane Pass, another hike on our list for this trip.

With some debate, we decided to drive from Jackson to the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trailhead for another try. This time, the water was much lower. We crossed the stream, scrambled up to the enormous cave entrance, and finally stepped inside.

It was worth the seven-year wait.

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Is the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail Worth Hiking?

Absolutely. In fact, Darby Canyon Wind Cave is one of the few trails we have intentionally hiked twice.

The hike has a little bit of everything we enjoy. The first part winds steadily through the forest before opening to views across Darby Canyon. Eventually, you get your first glimpse of Wind Cave on the opposite side. From there, the trail wraps around the canyon, passes a waterfall flowing directly out of the mountain, and finishes with a steep, rocky climb toward the enormous cave entrance.

Entering the cave made our second hike especially memorable, but we enjoyed Darby Canyon even when high water kept us outside in 2019. Similar to our experience at Donut Falls in Utah, you don’t have to enter Wind Cave for this to be a worthwhile hike.

Seven years after our first attempt, we finally crossed the water and stepped inside Wind Cave. We don’t often return to trails we’ve already hiked, but we’re glad Darby Canyon was an exception.

Getting to the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trailhead

Getting to the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trailhead is part of the adventure. Although the trail is in Wyoming, it sits on the western side of the Tetons and is commonly accessed through the Teton Valley near Driggs, Idaho. We started in Jackson, Wyoming, and the drive took us a little over an hour.

Once we turned off the highway toward Darby Canyon, the road was paved for approximately the first mile before changing to gravel. The gravel road started out wide and well maintained, but like many mountain roads we’ve traveled, it gradually became narrower and a little rougher the farther we went.

There were some potholes and rocks to work around, so we kept our speed down. Eventually, the road narrowed to what felt like about a lane and a half. When we met vehicles coming from the opposite direction, one of us occasionally had to find a wider spot and pull over to let the other pass.

Even with those conditions, the road never felt particularly difficult. We drove Alice, our 24-foot camper van, all the way to the trailhead without a problem. Based on the conditions we encountered, we wouldn’t consider a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle necessary. Just take your time and watch for rocks and potholes.

The trailhead has a surprisingly large parking area. We arrived at about 7:00 a.m. and there were already around 15 vehicles in the lot, although finding a place to park Alice was easy. Despite the number of vehicles, the trail itself never felt particularly crowded.

Van Life Tip: If you’re driving a camper van or other larger vehicle, an early start is a good idea. The parking area has plenty of room, but the narrow sections of the access road are easier to navigate before more traffic starts heading into Darby Canyon.

Our Hike to Darby Canyon Wind Cave

It was a beautiful August morning, with temperatures cool enough to be comfortable but warm enough that I started in shorts and a T-shirt.

The first part of the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail is a steady climb through the forest. There aren’t many completely flat sections, but the grade is gradual and never felt particularly difficult. After spending the previous five days riding horses through the Teton Wilderness, this was exactly the kind of start our tired bodies needed.

For much of this section, we were surrounded by trees with only occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains. The trail was easy to follow and generally well maintained. There were a few muddy areas from recent moisture, but nothing that caused us any problems.

Eventually, the forest begins to open and the scenery changes dramatically. We reached an open area near a rocky bluff where we could look across Darby Canyon. If you know where to look, you can see the dark opening of Wind Cave high on the opposite side of the canyon.

Seeing the cave from here is a little intimidating.

You’re standing on one side of the canyon looking at your destination on the other, and it doesn’t seem like there could possibly be an easy way to get from where you’re standing to the cave. Fortunately, the trail doesn’t drop straight into the canyon. Instead, it continues toward the head of Darby Canyon and makes a large horseshoe around it, eventually bringing you onto the opposite side.

From that first distant view, however, Wind Cave still looks a long way away.

The Final Climb to Wind Cave

Once we made our way around the canyon, the character of the hike began to change. The gradual climb we’d enjoyed through the forest was behind us. The closer we got to Wind Cave, the steeper and rockier the trail became.

The final three-quarters of a mile or so was easily the most difficult part of the hike. The trail climbs through a series of switchbacks, with loose rocks and a few places where we needed to use our hands to scramble upward. Nothing felt overly technical, but we definitely had to pay more attention to our footing.

Before reaching Wind Cave itself, we came to one of our favorite features of the hike: a waterfall pouring down the rocky mountainside below the cave.

The difference from our first visit was immediately noticeable. When we hiked here in the spring of 2019, considerably more water was rushing down the mountain. On this late summer hike, the flow was much lower.

I climbed down from the trail to get a closer look at the waterfall. You can make your way behind the falling water, which is a fun little side adventure and a great place for pictures. Standing beneath the rock with water cascading in front of us was almost worth the hike by itself.

Wind Cave was still above us, and after seven years, we were finally going to see if we could get inside.

Entering Darby Canyon Wind Cave

After exploring the lower waterfall, we returned to the trail and continued up the switchbacks toward Wind Cave. By this point, the weather had started to change. A little rain moved through, so we put on our rain gear and decided it was a good time to stop for lunch before making our way into the cave.

As we ate, a few other hikers enter and exit the entrance. We watched them cross the stream below the mouth of the cave and climb the rocky area on the right side of the waterfall. Seeing others make their way across also gave us a good look at the route we would need to take.

This was the spot where our hike had ended seven years earlier.

In the spring of 2019, the water flowing from the cave was much stronger. We weren’t comfortable crossing it, so we turned around. This time, the flow was considerably lower. After finishing lunch, we crossed the stream and carefully climbed the rocks toward the cave entrance.

Stepping inside was exciting almost immediately.

The first thing that struck us was the enormous size of Wind Cave. Photos from outside don’t really prepare you for how large the opening feels once you’re standing inside it. Other than developed cave systems we’ve visited, such as Mammoth Cave, it was one of the largest cave openings we had ever entered.

The environment changed quickly, too. The temperature felt noticeably cooler, perhaps 10 degrees colder than outside, although we didn’t measure it. We could also feel a steady breeze moving through the cave. Standing there in the cool air with water flowing out of the darkness made the name Wind Cave seem very appropriate.

Exploring inside required much more care than hiking the trail. The cave floor is covered with large rocks and uneven surfaces. We moved slowly, watching every step. In a few places, we got down on our hands and knees to climb over and around the rocks.

We probably explored about 100 yards into the cave and spent 20 to 30 minutes inside. Unfortunately, we had made one mistake: we didn’t bring headlamps. We used the flashlights on our phones, but as we moved farther from the entrance, it became increasingly dark.

For us, that was plenty. Seven years after standing outside Wind Cave and deciding the conditions weren’t right, we had finally made it inside.

Getting Out of Wind Cave

Getting into Wind Cave was exciting. Getting back out required a little more concentration.

As we approached the entrance from inside the cave, we had to carefully work our way back across the large rocks covering the cave floor. Once outside, we still had to descend the rocky section between the mouth of the cave and the stream below.

With the cave behind us, we worked our way down the rocks on the left side of the waterfall. This section was a little tricky. We hadn’t brought hiking poles, so we relied on our hands and took our time finding secure places for our feet. There were a few spots where getting low and using our hands made the descent much more comfortable.

Once we crossed the stream and rejoined the main trail, the difficult part was essentially over.

From there, our hike back to Alice was pretty uneventful. We didn’t stop much or spend time exploring along the way. We simply settled into a comfortable downhill pace and made our way back through the canyon and forest.

By the time we reached the trailhead, we had covered 6.38 miles with 1,804 feet of elevation gain. Our moving time was 3 hours and 26 minutes, while our total time was 4 hours and 47 minutes. That longer total included our lunch stop, exploring the waterfall, and the 20 to 30 minutes we spent inside Wind Cave.

It turned out to be exactly the kind of hiking day we had been looking for.

How Difficult Is the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail?

We rate the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail as moderate. Most of the hike is a manageable mountain trail, with the real challenge coming near the end.

If you’re comfortable hiking moderate trails with sustained elevation gain, we think Darby Canyon is very approachable. Entering the cave is optional and shouldn’t factor into whether you can complete and enjoy the hike itself.

For us, it was enough of a workout to feel rewarding without being overly strenuous.

When Is the Best Time to Hike Darby Canyon Wind Cave?

Our two visits to Darby Canyon were very different. When we hiked in the spring of 2019, snowmelt created enough water flow that we decided not to enter the cave. On this August hike, the flow was considerably lower.

For that reason, we would favor summer into early fall for this hike, especially if entering Wind Cave is part of your plan. However, water levels vary with snowpack, runoff, and recent weather, so conditions can be different from year to year.

We also liked our early start. Cooler morning temperatures made the climb comfortable and gave us plenty of time before afternoon mountain weather became a factor.

Darby Canyon Wind Cave FAQ

Where is Darby Canyon Wind Cave?

Darby Canyon Wind Cave is located near Alta, Wyoming, on the western side of the Teton Range. The trail is in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and is accessed from the Teton Valley side of the mountains.

Is Darby Canyon Wind Cave in Idaho or Wyoming?

Wind Cave is in Wyoming, although many people associate the hike with Idaho because it is commonly accessed through the Driggs, Idaho area. This also explains why you may see it referred to online as the Darby Canyon Idaho hike.

How long is the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail?

Our hike was 6.38 miles round trip with 1,804 feet of elevation gain. Mileage can vary slightly depending on how far you explore around the waterfall and cave.

Can You Go Inside Darby Canyon Wind Cave?

Yes, when conditions allow. Water flows from the cave, and the amount of water can vary considerably. We chose not to enter during our spring 2019 hike because of the stronger flow. In August 2026, conditions were much more manageable, and we were able to enter and explore a short distance.

Do You Need a Headlamp to Enter Wind Cave?

You don’t need a headlamp to hike to Wind Cave, but we strongly recommend one if you plan to go inside. We used the flashlights on our phones and quickly wished we had brought headlamps.

Are Dogs Allowed on the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail?

We encountered several dogs during our hike, including one that made it all the way to the cave. The dogs we saw were hiking off leash and seemed to handle the trail and rocky terrain without difficulty.

That’s useful firsthand information and doesn’t claim that off-leash travel is officially permitted.

Final Thoughts on Hiking Darby Canyon Wind Cave

You’ll see Gail wearing Stio clothing on many of our hikes. It’s a brand we both wear regularly and recommend for hiking and travel.

But hiking the trail a second time also reminded us why we enjoyed it so much the first time. The cave may be the destination, but the canyon, mountain scenery, waterfall, and changing terrain make the entire hike worthwhile.

We rarely repeat trails because there are always new places we want to explore.

Darby Canyon Wind Cave was worth making an exception.

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Looking for another moderate Wyoming hike? We also recommend Lake Louise and Bomber Basin near Dubois, two more beautiful Wyoming hikes we’ve enjoyed and featured on Van Life By Design.

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