Inspiring Hikes: Jenny Lake Loop, Grand Teton
The Jenny Lake Trail is an 8-mile loop trek located at the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. It is rated as moderate and took me about 5 hours to complete. This hike, which is an excellent introduction to Grand Teton National Park, features rivers, lovely mountain views, plenty of wildlife and, of course, Jenny lake itself.
Approaching the Tetons from the East side of the loop
There are just so many things that I love about this hike. I started off my Grand Teton and Yellowstone trip with this one, and it really has a little bit of everything. I found it challenging enough to keep me interested and engaged the whole 8 miles, but not so difficult that I wasn’t enjoying myself.
There was plenty of wildlife, including foxes, deer and even a few grizzly bears, and, of course, the views of the Tetons sweeping up from the icy-blue Jenny Lake were pretty impressive. The path hugs the perimeter of the glacial lake with dozens of spurs and offshoots that lead you right to the water’s edge. Despite the trail being one of the most popular in the whole park, looking out over that water and up to the white-capped silhouettes of the mountains can really make you feel like you have the whole park to yourself.
Staying close to another group of hikers, as I was trekking alone
A quick note on the weather: I visited the park in early May, so just be warned that if you are planning on hiking anywhere in Grand Teton in May or any time earlier in the year, you will be hiking in the snow. There were parts of the trail where I would sink thigh-deep into it if I didn’t watch my footing well enough. For me, this wasn’t a big deal, and actually made the hike kind of fun!
I definitely recommend good hiking shoes that are waterproof and have a fair amount of grip on them. I also really recommend trekking poles, whether you end up hiking in snowy weather or not. I’m pretty clumsy, myself, and having this gear effectively kept me upright on the trek.
I would also try to give yourself a couple days in the area in case the bears are out and about. My first day attempting this trek, I got about thirty minutes into the hike and had to turn around when a couple of passing hikers informed me of a grizzly on the trail. It’s never ever worth trying to keep hiking when you know there’s a bear in the area, especially if you are hiking alone, like I was. So, I was glad to have another chance to do the hike the following day.
The weather in the mountains is ever-changing, and when it goes south it does so very quickly. Be prepared for everything from direct sun to snow flurries to rain and mud on the trail. A rain jacket and some gloves will be well worth the extra weight and space.
I had so much fun completing this hike at the Grand Tetons, and it remains by-far one of my favourites from my trip to Wyoming. If you’ve got the time for at least one hiking excursion on your own mountain vacation, I highly recommend dedicating a day to this absolutely lovely piece of alpine paradise.
