Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is the heart of Grand Teton National Park and the single best introduction to it. The lake sits directly at the foot of the Teton Range, its clear water filling a basin carved by glaciers that flowed out of Cascade Canyon, so the peaks rise almost straight from the far shore. The classic visit combines the water and a short hike: from the south end, a shuttle boat run by the park's concessioner crosses the lake to the west-shore dock, and from there it is about a mile on trail to Hidden Falls, a cascade tucked into the canyon mouth, and a short, steeper climb beyond to Inspiration Point, a rocky ledge with a sweeping view back across the lake to the valley. Hikers who skip the boat can walk around the south shore, which turns the outing into about five miles round trip to the falls; the lakeshore loop is longer and quieter. The visitor plaza at South Jenny Lake was rebuilt in a multi-year renewal project, with improved trails, overlooks and the short paved Discovery Trail to the shore. Seasonal honesty: from November 1 through April 30, the Teton Park Road is closed to cars between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain, so Jenny Lake is reached only on foot, bike (before snow), skis or snowshoes; from mid-December the road is groomed, and the lake becomes a peaceful winter destination for those willing to travel under their own power. The shuttle boat runs in the summer season only. Entrance to the park requires a pass. Fit: first-time visitors, families (the boat-and-falls combination is perfect for kids), outdoors lovers, and winter adventurers on skis.

The lake's popularity is earned but also a challenge. In summer, the South Jenny Lake parking area fills early, and cars line the road shoulders; the park asks drivers to pull completely off the pavement. The fix is simple: arrive early, or come in late afternoon when the boat lines shorten and the light softens on the peaks.

If the boat line is long, walk the south shore trail one way and ride the boat back. Inspiration Point is the better payoff of the two destinations for anyone comfortable on a rocky, sometimes exposed path, and beyond it, the trail continues into Cascade Canyon, one of the park's great day hikes.

In winter, Jenny Lake feels like a different park. With the road groomed from mid-December, cross-country skiers and snowshoers travel from the Taggart Lake Trailhead parking area toward the lake, which freezes and lies quiet beneath the peaks. It is a long outing that requires good conditions, proper gear and an awareness of avalanche terrain near the canyons; check the park's winter conditions page and do not venture onto lake ice. Wildlife sightings on the way, including moose in the willows, are part of the reward.