![]() We thought about hiking all the way around the lake, but TBH, we weren't up to an additional 2 hours or so. My wife and I are mid 50's, and are relatively fit. We took the ferry back around 12:30, and for the second straight day were happy to see black bear(s) hanging out at the East dock! It's a relatively easy to moderate flat hike, but there are a few areas of elevation gain requiring you to walk up steps. We took a leisurely pace and completed the hike in about 1.5 hours, with a short excursion to the Moose Pond area (not recommended). We did the shorter 2.4 mile hike around the southern end of the lake. We arrived around 10:30 on a Monday morning and were surprised to find a few open parking spots in the lot. Once for the shuttle over to hike to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls, and the second time to hike this trail. Jenny Lake was our favorite stop on our recent trip to GTNP. There are less people on that part of the lake but also less to see, so all it did was tire our group out for the day. Total trip after hitting those points of interest is about 9-10 miles and the last 7 miles are nothing special. Our party elected to go all the way around the lake, which was a mistake. You can take the boat back but it's expensive and it's about as quick to just hike the 2 miles back. From there it's worth going up to Inspiration Point as the climb is fun and views are excellent.Īfter those 2 points of interest, I'd recommend going back the way you came and go visit other areas of the Tetons. Hidden Falls is the real gem here as it's an amazing experience. We took the trail clockwise towards Hidden Falls, which is an easy 2 mile hike and fairly pretty. We got here at 8am and it was already packed in the parking areas. It's a pretty lake, but it's not any prettier than any other lake in the area and the overall activity with hordes of people make it a bit more interesting. Jenny Lake gets a lot of hype and I don't think it lives up to it, honestly. They are much cleaner than the ones near the parking lot. There were some really healthy snacks like fresh fruits and veggies. I recommend the store in the Jenny Lake area. We maintained a safe distance, but it's still scary because you don't know if the bear will make any sudden movement. We hiked a little further towards the canyon area only to check out the black bear that was feeding. It's totally worth it and we made our kids continue up to the scenic overlook of the lake and beyond. The additional hike to Inspiration Point may be challenging to some because it's mostly uphill, but the path is wide enough in most places. It's actually a little further and higher up. It's not the first small waterfall you see immediately on the trail. It's a fairly easy to moderate climb to hidden falls. Later on in the morning, it got much warmer around low 80s, and we were in our short sleeve shirts. People were very friendly on the trail often saying hello and offering to take our family photo. Most kept their distance and wore masks as they approached one another. When we started early in the morning around 9:15 am there weren't too many people, but around 10 am and near some scenic stops on the trail there were more people and crowds of about 6 to 10 people. Everyone wore a mask on the ferry and at the two docks. Cost was $50 roundtrip for a family of four, and it was worth every penny to not hear our teens whine about the extra 2 miles of hiking. We took the ferry and it was worth it to have a peaceful and scenic ride on the lake. ![]() You need to arrive early (by 9am) or you will have to hike to the beginning of your actual hike. Best to get there by 9 or so or wait until 2:30 or so.This is such a scenic trail and well worth the effort. Parking at Jenny Lake fills up early with and leads to people parking on the road before the turn in to the visitor center which makes for a bit of a walk back to the visitor center, etc. We had a nice chat with him for a few minutes and were on our way. He was helpful with giving instructions about the trail. There was a volunteer hanging out on the plaza in that area. ![]() When we were there last Saturday, we didn't even go in to the visitor center. Like I said, just follow the crowds of people. Whether you take the ferry over from the visitor center and access the hikes that way or whether you hike from the visitor center, it should be clear to you when you are there. The other is across the lake where you access the trail to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon from that boat dock Really, it isn't that complicated. One is near the visitor center and parking lot.
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