Hiking the String Lake Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km
The String Lake Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park is one of the best kid-friendly hikes within the park!
I say this because throughout Grant Teton, many trails are very steep, there are a number of flatter trails that circle the lakes at the base of the Teton Range, but none are as short and easy as the String Lake Loop Trail!
Additionally, if you’re looking for a hike in Grand Teton National Park that you are least likely to see bears, I believe that’s the String Lake Loop. Obviously, the chances of seeing a bear on any trail are never zero, but String Lake is one of the busier areas in Grand Teton when the weather is warm during the summer months, meaning that the crowds are more likely to detour bears compared to other areas.
U.S. National Park 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!
Paddling String Lake
Paddle boarding on String Lake is easily one of the best and most popular things to do within Grand Teton!
Most of String Lake is extremely shallow, meaning that paddle boarding on String Lake is generally much safer compared to much larger, colder, and deeper lakes within the park.
String Lake Trailhead Parking
Even though the String Lake Trailhead is far less busy than the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, String Lake is a much more difficult area to visit on a beautiful summer day.
This is because the parking at String Lake is extremely limited, and the lot fills up early on nearly every nice day during the summer.
Unlike Jenny Lake where parking can spill over onto the Teton Park Road, String Lake is over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away from the main road through Grand Teton National Park, meaning that parking further away is not as practical. On top of this, parking along Jenny Lake Road just prior to the String Lake turn-off area is not allowed.
Google Maps Directions: String Lake 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 String Lake Loop Trail
The String Lake Loop Trail could begin at either one of two trailheads around the lake.
This post is showing the hike around the lake from the North String Lake Trailhead, which is my preferred direction to walk because I like to hike away from the busier areas of the lake first.
Always hike with bear spray in Grand Teton National Park.
In my experience, String Lake is a busier area of the park, but like I said, the chances of seeing a bear are never zero.
From the beginning portions of the hike, you can get great views of Mt. Moran off in the distance behind Leigh Lake.
Jenny Lake Lodge Junction
The first intersection from the North String Lake Trailhead is 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 String Lake Loop is just one of many trails that the lodge is within walking distance.
Jenny Lake Lodge
Leigh Lake Portage
On the far side of String Lake, the trail passes by the Leigh Lake Portage, which is used often by canoers and kayakers carrying their gear over to Leigh Lake for a backcountry adventure.
String Lake Loop-Leigh Lake Junction
This is where both the Leigh and String Lake Loop Trails meet.
Turn left to cross over the Leigh Lake Outlet, which leads to the back side of the loop around String Lake.
After the Leigh Lake Outlet, go left to start the back side of the String Lake Loop Trail.
In my experience, I did not see any bears, but another group on the trail did. That being said, this is exactly the stretch of the trail that I would expect to see a bear if there was one because the west side of String Lake is far less busy compared to the trailhead area.
I think it’s worth noting that the back side of String Lake is a bit buggier than the other side of the outlet.
This was my experience midday, which is why I always recommend hiking with this cheap bug net in Grand Teton. The bugs in general can always be an issue anywhere in Wyoming!
Not long after crossing over the outlet, the String Lake Loop Trail starts gaining elevation until the Paintbrush Canyon Junction.
However, the uphill section is fairly mild, which is another reason why I believe that the String Lake Loop Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Grand Teton.
String Lake Loop-Paintbrush Canyon Junction
At the Paintbrush Canyon Junction, go straight to keep on the loop trail.
Typically speaking, Paintbrush Canyon is only used by backpackers on multi-day adventure.
This is also where the String Lake Loop starts descending, as the uphill on the entire loop is fairly minimal.
In the fall, the back side of the String Lake Loop Trail would be one of the best trails in Grand Teton National Park to see the changing Aspen leaves!
On the back side of the loop you may notice a small side trail on the lake side of the trail, which I recommend checking out to get one of the better vantage points that you will see on the trail.
The side trail leads up to a beautiful rocky overlook that would make for a great sunrise hike for the most adventurous type of person.
String Lake-Jenny Lake Loop Junction
At this junction on the loop, both the String Lake and Jenny Lake Loop Trail share the same path to cross over the String Lake Outlet shortly ahead.
Go left to complete the loop around String Lake.
Additionally, the trail to the right is second most popular route to hike to Hidden Falls on the back side of Jenny Lake. The Jenny Lake Visitor Center is the most popular route, which is how my separate post is written.
Read My Separate Post: Hidden Falls Trail
String Lake Outlet
After the String Lake Outlet, go left again to reach the South String Lake Trailhead shortly ahead.
South String Lake Trailhead
Once back at the String Lake parking area, you could simply walk back through the parking lots, but I chose to continue on the path around String Lake, which is what’s shown below in the photos below.
Overall, I think the String Lake Loop Trail is a great hike for those looking for a casual adventure in Grand Teton that doesn’t take all day.
However, there are obviously other more beautiful trails within the park, such as Delta Lake, but I definitely wouldn't overlook the String Lake Loop if you're not looking to hike too far.
How Bad are the Mosquitoes?
If this is your first trip to Wyoming, you’re likely unfamiliar with how bad the mosquitoes will be. Locals don’t joke when they call the mosquito the Wyoming state bird, which is why I recommend grabbing this cheap bug net before going. You never know where and when you may want it because even midday in the most unsuspecting places, the mosquitoes can be out in clouds!
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
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