The access trail begins at the signed junction on the Phillips road for the Ski Lake Trail, and climbs up, paralleling the road through open forest. It continues to climb steeply up an open hillside until cresting and leveling out. Here it winds through thick forest until coming out to a large open meadow where it crosses a bridge. Just past here you will reach the junction for the Phillips Pass Trail. From here, the trail heads to the right and goes through a mixture of pine forest, aspen stands and open hillsides with spectacular views. It continues along the side hill until dropping down into the Phillips drainage where it reaches a junction with the Phillips Canyon Trail. The trail then turns left and climbs steeply up through large open alpine meadows with gorgeous wildflowers in the summer months. Eventually the trail reaches the upper saddle known as Phillips Pass where the trail enters in Grand Teton National Park and continues on.