Hiking the Jenny Lake Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 7.1 miles / 11.4 km
The Jenny Lake Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park is one of the best all-around day hikes near Jackson because the full loop combines the best of Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and, for the most adventurous type of person, the Lake of the Crags Trail also branches off the same Jenny Lake Loop.
These optional adventures aside, the Jenny Lake Loop Trail on its own is truly a very casual Grand Teton adventure that may seem more challenging than it really is because of the longer distance.
However, the full loop around Jenny Lake can easily be completed in just a few hours, as the entire hike moves fairly quickly, even if you decide to include the optional side trails to visit Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Jenny Lake Loop Trailhead Parking
While the Jenny Lake Loop Trail could begin from a number of different directions, the most popular trailhead is by far the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which is the direction that this post is written.
That being said, be sure to arrive early, regardless of which trailhead you choose to begin.
I say this because the parking lot at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, along with other trailheads, will fill up completely between 9-10 a.m. during the busy summer season, which can require visitors to park up to 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away from the trailhead.
Google Maps Directions: Jenny Lake Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone-Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone-Teton area.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Jenny Lake Loop Trail
From the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, the Jenny Lake Loop Trail begins at the Jenny Lake Trailhead, located just past visitor center and the bathrooms.
Jenny Lake Loop
Once at Jenny Lake, you can either go right or left to complete the loop around lake.
Personally, I like to go left toward Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point because this side of the lake will always be the busiest side of the trail.
This way, you can enjoy the relatively quiet and uncrowded side of the loop, once past the West Boat Dock on the far side of Jenny Lake.
Jenny Lake Boat Shuttle
If you choose to go clockwise (left) around Jenny Lake, as I did, go right at the next split to walk past the Jenny Lake Boat Dock.
While you could cut out about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of the hike around Jenny Lake by taking the shuttle, it kind of defeats the purpose of hiking the loop—especially because the Jenny Lake Loop Trail parallels the shoreline, making it the best way to truly enjoy the beautiful alpine-blue water and potentially see wildlife!
In my experience, bears can and will be found on any trail in Grand Teton National Park.
However, they tend to be less common on busy trails, like the Hidden Falls/ Inspiration Point side of Jenny Lake.
Valley Trail (Lower Moose Ponds) Junction
The next junction on the Jenny Lake Loop is the Valley Trail, which is also a part of the Moose Ponds Loop Trail that uses a short part of the Jenny Lake Trail to complete the loop around the ponds.
That being said, the Moose Ponds Loop Trail is one of the best trails in Grand Teton to see wildlife in the park. Therefore, to learn more about how to better your chances, I highly recommend checking out my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Moose Ponds Loop Trail
Upper Moose Ponds Loop Junction
Shortly after the Valley Trail connection, the Jenny Lake Loop Trail will pass by the upper Moose Ponds Loop junction.
Again, I highly recommend treating the Moose Ponds Loop as an entirely separate hike, especially if you want the unique opportunity to see wildlife within the park.
Read My Separate Post: Moose Ponds Loop Trail
Jenny Lake Horse Trail Junction
At a few points around the Jenny Lake, the trail splits into both a foot traffic and horse trail.
In this case, go right to stay on the foot traffic trail around Jenny Lake.
Once on the back side of Jenny Lake, you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the deepest, clearest, and bluest water along the shoreline.
This can be a great place to fish if you have a valid Wyoming fishing license or go for a swim in the cold, alpine waters of Jenny Lake.
Jenny Lake Loop-Hidden Falls Junction
Then, on the far side of Jenny Lake, the loop trail splits into both the Jenny Lake Loop as well as the trails to both Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Here, go right to continue around the Jenny Lake Loop, which will pass by the West Jenny Lake Boat Dock shortly ahead.
Cascade Canyon-West Boat Dock Junction
On the far side of Cascade Stream, you can either go right or straight to bypass the Boat Dock, which can be a very crowded section of the trail by midday.
I say this because the line to the boat dock can backup the trail with people waiting for their turn to ride the shuttle back across Jenny Lake.
That being said, I went right to show the what the boat dock trail looked like in the late afternoon.
Cascade Canyon-Inspriation Point Junction
As if you had hiked from the String Lake Trailhead or the boat dock, then this junction is the fastest way to get to Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls, and Cascade Canyon.
However, for the Jenny Lake Loop Trail, go right to continue around the lake.
West Jenny Lake Boat Dock
As previously mentioned, this section of the trail can see a long line of people by midday, as visitors wait their turn to take the ferry back to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center.
Furthermore, the National Park Service has even gone as far as posting signs on the trail to show estimated wait times based on how far back people are standing.
Once past Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and the west boat dock, the trail generally becomes less crowded.
That’s not to say that there aren’t hikers on this side of Jenny Lake, but typically speaking, visitors more often hike from the String Lake Trailhead when parking at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center is too difficult.
String Lake Outlet
At the far end of Jenny Lake, the trail follows the String Lake Outlet until it crosses over the stream near the String Lake Trailhead.
That being said, I’ve found it more common to see bears on this stretch of the trail, being that it’s less crowded. More often than not, I’ve seen most bears in Grand Teton by some kind of water source, but know that they can truly be anywhere.
Jenny Lake-String Lake Loop Junction
On the upper side of the String Lake Outlet, go right to stay on the Jenny Lake Loop Trail.
The trail to the left is the trail around String Lake, which leads to other areas of the park like Paintbrush Canyon.
Read My Separate Post: String Lake Loop Trail
Once across the String Lake Outlet, go right to continue around the Jenny Lake Loop Trail.
I have read that Utah Honeysuckle is edible, but I have not and will not be trying it without someone that knows more than myself.
Jenny Lake Loop-Jenny Lake Lodge Junction
Then, when the trail enters the next forested section, the hike will pass by the junction to get to the Jenny Lake Lodge.
This is one of many reasons why the Jenny Lake Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Grand Teton National Park, as the Jenny Lake Loop is just one of many trails that the lodge is within walking distance.
Jenny Lake Lodge
Jenny Lake Overlook
Eventually, the loop trail passes by the popular drive-up Jenny Lake Overlook.
Typically speaking, the Jenny Lake Overlook is busier in the morning than the evening, like when these photos were taken, but you can almost always expect to see other people here.
Jenny Lake Campground
Toward the end of the loop, the Jenny Lake Trail will pass by Jenny Lake Campground, and from here on, you can expect to see more and more people for the rest of the hike to the visitor center.
Jenny Lake Visitor Center
Then hike ends back at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which should be easy enough to return to the parking area from here.
More Grand Teton Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Grand Teton National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
From personal experience, I’ve seen that the Yellowstone-Teton area has one of the highest Grizzly Bear densities in the country. Even on the popular trails, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Grizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Wyoming, like any Mountain West state, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park websites.
National Park Service: Grand Teton National Park / Yellowstone National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
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