Jenny Lake is considered the focal point of Grand Teton National Park and provides many opportunities for exploration. Today is our 2nd day in the park and we’re getting to Jenny Lake early to do some hiking. Yesterday we stopped at many beautiful places in the park with our daughter and Becky’s mom Gigi. Check out our stops yesterday at: Our Stops in Beautiful Grand Teton National Park. And after a full day, we are ready to do it again. We’re looking forward to Jenny Lake hikes to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point and more in Grand Teton National Park!
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Planning Jenny Lake and More
Today we will leave our cabin in Colter Bay early and head to Jenny Lake. We know how busy the Jenny Lake area can be and today is a Saturday in summer. So, we plan to make the 1st shuttle boat at 7:00AM. The boat ferries passengers across the lake for a fee to the base of Cascade Canyon. And from here is the start of trails to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and further into Cascade Canyon. To learn more about this Jenny Lake shuttle service, see: Jenny Lake Boating Tours Grand Teton National Park Jackson Hole WY.
We bring our bear spray in case of any close encounters. And we are also prepared with water and snacks for our hike. After hiking, we will return back via the boat to check out other areas we missed yesterday. Eventually we’ll make it to the Moose area in the southern portion of the park. Dornans in this area has some lunch options. And after lunch, we will explore more before heading back to Colter Bay before dinner. We are planning dinner at Leek’s Pizzeria just a few miles north of Colter Bay on Jackson Lake. And after dinner, we’ll find some stops before sunset.
Getting to the Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat
It’s a 30 minute drive from our cabin to Jenny Lake and we leave at 6:30AM. We had hoped to leave earlier, but with little traffic we get to the parking area a few minutes early. We drive past the main visitor center parking lot towards the end. It’ll take a few minutes to walk to the shuttle boat from here. As we’re walking on the paved path, we see something walking right towards us. As it gets closer, it leaves the path to walk around us.
Wow we just saw a fox! What a cool sighting and we’ve just gotten started today. A few minutes later we reach the end of the walkway at the boats. There is a small line when we arrive and we still see the boats are here. And after a couple minutes, they start letting people in.
As we pass the gate, we see a counter where people are buying the tickets. A girl asks if we have cash, and we say “yes”. We tell her we have 4 of us and she asks for $10 each for roundtrip tickets. Online it would have been $20 per adult, $10 for children and $17 for seniors. They do take cards, but cash is quicker and this time being prepared saved us some money. And as we board, they confirm we made the 1st boat of the day!
The Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat
This shuttle service takes you across Jenny Lake eliminating a 2 mile hike each way. It is important to purchase round trip tickets before you leave, as there is no way to pay on the other side. And the shuttles run every 10-15 minutes throughout the day making it easy to get back. But there can be a line for the return trip, which is why we started early to beat the crowds. And plus you get to see Jenny Lake from the water.
Once on the boat, we get a quick safety briefing from the captain. And once we get going, we can see how beautiful the lake is. The water is calm this morning providing a perfect reflection in the crystal blue waters. The shuttle boat has plenty of space and is a nice ride across the lake. The captain answers questions about the lake along the way. It is usually a little cold in the summer mornings, so be prepared to bring light jackets. Though we know it will be in the 80s later today.
The trip across the lake takes about 20 minutes to a dock on the western side. We don’t even see this dock until we get pretty close. But it is a fairly big dock plenty big to park the boat and unload. Once off the boat we see the sign for the trails.
Hike to Hidden Falls
As soon as we exit the dock we see a sign for the trails. The sign just points left for all the trails including Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. So, the 4 of us head left and start climbing through the woods. The hike to The falls is 0.5 miles and the elevation on this trail is about 200 feet. And very quickly we come up to some steps. The steps are wide and spaced out, but we take it slow.
Once past the steps we see a bridge over Cascade Creek. Here the water is roaring down from the mountain. It’s a nice spot to stop for a few minutes to watch and listen to the water flowing. And just past the bridge we see what looks like bear scat. Though we are prepared with bear spray, we stay vigilant.
This trail is a nice walk through the woods though you are climbing up. But we stop at a few spots along the way when we need it. At one stop there are a bunch of rocks to sit on. And here our daughter climbs atop some rocks and says “I climbed up a mountain!” She does this multiples times and slides down to do it again. What she doesn’t realize is we are climbing a mountain. And as we get closer we see a very large tree she has to stop and hug. Just past it we see a bridge and another sign that points left for the falls. And after a short walk from the bridge, we reach the base of the falls.
Hidden Falls
Once we get to the falls, there is a shaded spot at the base. There are many people here already, but plenty of places to sit. It’s taken us about 50 minutes to get here but we stopped multiple times along the way. And now we just relax and enjoy the waterfall.
Hidden Falls is a 100 foot cascade formed by snowmelt. And the water is flowing hard and you can feel the cool wet air from it. It’s a really beautiful waterfall and probably the largest we’ve ever seen. It is definitely worth the short hike to get here. We take some pictures while others reach this spot. And others offer to take pictures of us while we do the same.
After about 15 minutes here, we decide to continue on to Inspiration Point. But we had heard it would be hard for Gigi. And this area at the base of Hidden Falls is nice and cool with room for our daughter to run around. So we leave Gigi here with our daughter and head back to the bridge. From here it’s about another 0.5 miles to Inspiration Point but we should make better time.
Hike to Inspiration Point
The hike to Inspiration Point basically starts when we get back to the bridge. We can see the falls through the trees from the bridge and it’s a nice stop before the trek up. Because once past the bridge, the trail climbs and becomes rocky. This trail is definitely not for Gigi already but maybe for our daughter. But we try to climb quickly so we don’t leave them too long. And only climbing a short distance, we make it to some steps that lead to an opening.
It only takes us about 5 minutes to get to this opening with great views of Jenny Lake and more. In addition to the views, there are a lot of little critters running around. And unlike the ground squirrels we saw yesterday, they are different colors with stripes down their backs. We identify them as golden-mantled ground squirrels, often mistaken for chipmunks. They are so cute and not afraid of us at all, but we try to keep our distance. After hanging out here about 15 minutes, another hiker says that Inspiration Point is farther up. So, we get back on the trail and head up further up.
This section of the trail gets narrower and very rocky. We take it slowly and think it’s a good thing our daughter is not with us. Not only is it more difficult, but there are some drop-offs that would make any parent worry. But it’s only about 10 minutes until we see the sign for Inspiration Point.
Inspiration Point overlooking Jenny Lake
The sign just says Inspiration Point and elevation 7200 feet. And the view here is awe-inspiring. We can see just about all of Jenny Lake from here and it’s easy to spot the shuttle boats below. The space here is open so many people can be here and spread out. And there are plenty of rocks here to take a seat and soak it in.
There are also more ground squirrels here. And if that wasn’t good enough, someone points out a yellow-bellied marmot on a rock. The marmot is much larger than the ground squirrels and just hanging out by himself. But the ground squirrels get close to us like they’re used to being fed here. We don’t feed them, but one just looks up at us basically begging. You can continue past Inspiration Point into Cascade Canyon, but after 20 minutes we are ready to head back down.
We carefully walk down the trail passing other hikers along the way. And at a point we see some people are looking at a rock scramble across the way. They said we just missed a mama black bear and 2 cubs, but they’re gone now. So, we continue down hurrying to get back to the falls and our daughter and Gigi. By the time we get back to them it’s been an hour and 15 minutes. But half of that time was stopping on the trail to enjoy the views.
Hiking and Shuttle Boat Back
When we get back to the falls, our daughter is running around with some other kids while Gigi watches. We were worried about leaving them for too long, but it’s a great spot to hang out and play. And after a few last glances at the falls, we start back on the trail to the 1st bridge. It’s the 2nd bridge further down the trail, where a sign says 0.3 miles to return to the boat dock. And after the bridge, this section of the trail is a nice walk. Not only does it go down, but it also follows Cascade creek.
Our daughter plays follow the leader back to the boat dock. She blazes down the trail singing while Becky helps Gigi behind her. And in about 35 minutes we get to a point overlooking the dock. We see a sign here that says it’s a 45 minute wait from here for the shuttle boat. We’re glad we started early so we don’t have to wait. Though while waiting for Gigi, the boat arrives, and by the time we walk down to the dock, it’s gone.
So, we just wait on the dock for the next boat already on its way. Looking at the time, it’s only 10:30AM, so we hiked for about 3 hours total. Though we took our time and stopped at Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point for a while. And only 5 minutes later the next boat is already here. We take the ride back to the other side enjoying this beautiful day. And we get back before 11:00AM having the rest of the day ahead of us. Continue reading if you’d like to read about the rest of our day in Grand Teton.
Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
After hitting the restrooms before we get back to our car, we drive north to String lake. This is a popular picnic and swimming area that we want to check out off Jenny Lake Road scenic drive. So, from Teton Park Road, we turn left onto Jenny Lake Road. And once we turn right onto String Lake Road, it’s really crowded. Park rangers stop us here and tell us to come back after 4:00PM. So, we decide to head to the Moose area continuing on Jenny Lake Road as it turns into a 1-way road. We pass Jenny Lake Lodge on the way to the Jenny Lake Overlook.
We stop at the overlook where you can walk to different viewpoints. We really enjoy looking back and where we came from this morning. Across the lake we can see Cascade Canyon and where the boat dock is on the other side. Once back in the car we complete the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive back to the loop onto Teton Park Road. We stop at Teton Glacier Overlook quickly on the way to Moose. And just before the entrance station, we turn left for Menors Ferry.
The Chapel of Transfiguration
Menors Ferry Road takes us past the Chapel of Transfiguration to a large parking lot. We park and head first to the log chapel known for its views of the Cathedral Group. There is a bus parked out front, but we wait a few minutes as the group clears out. And then we head into the Episcopal chapel, where services are held on Sundays during the summer. But today, we are able to walk in and have the place to ourselves.
The views of the chapel against the mountain backdrop are beautiful. But, inside the chapel is equally awesome. From the log cabin exterior to the wooden benches, this place was carefully constructed. And where the altar is at the back of the church is a window with what seems to be even better views. After some quiet reflection, we head out and across the parking lot toward the Menors Ferry Historic District.
Menors Ferry Historic District
We pass the sign to walk to Menors Ferry Historic District but not before grabbing a brochure. You’ll actually cross a street and then you’ll see the ferry boat. It’s next to the walkway and you can get a good view of the old boat that’s still together. And just past it, you can see the chain where it still crosses to the other side of Snake River.
The historic whitewashed general store is also here, but it is closed today. And behind it is a small building that was a smokehouse. Maud Noble’s cabin is further down, but we see Dornans on the other side of the river. And by this time, it is after noon and we are ready for lunch. So, we head back to the car. We exit through the Moose entrance station where cars are lined up. But we quickly get in and pass the visitor center here and over the bridge to turn left toward Dornans.
Dornans Chuckwagon Grill Lunch
With no restaurants in this area of the park, Dornans is a good place to stop for something to eat. However, Dornans is a destination by itself. They do have cabin rentals here, as well as a trading post, pizza restaurant, and adventure shop among other things. We drive to the end of the road and find some parking where we see the sign for Dornans Chuckwagon Grill. To find out more check out their website at: Dornan’s: Vacation in Jackson Hole! (dornans.com)
This is an outdoor restaurant, where we walk up to a covered counter to order. And after ordering, we find a covered picnic table. They do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the lunch and dinner menu appear to be the same. We can smell smoked meat and all decide to get their pulled pork sandwich. It comes with homemade coleslaw unless you want to upgrade to fries or chili. Since the sandwich is already $16.00, we just order a basket of fries to share. There is no kids menu, but our daughter gets the grilled cheese. And they have self-serve sodas, but you can also get water. They also have a bar menu for beer and wine.
Next to the self-serve sodas is the condiment area where you can get 2 types of BBQ sauce, ketchup, etc. After we grab some sauce and napkins we find a table near an outdoor Connect-4 game. We play a few games before our food comes out. The pulled pork sandwiches were very fresh and good. The coleslaw wasn’t bad, but the fries were just ok. And our daughter’s grilled cheese was different. But though pricey, the pork sandwiches are worth a try if in the area.
Visitor Centers and More
Since we are in the Moose area, we stop at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. This visitor center is much larger than the one we visited yesterday at Jenny Lake. And in addition to more rangers, they have a larger bookstore and multiple exhibits. There really aren’t any exciting trails to explore here, so we head back to String Lake. But arriving before 3:00PM, the parking lot is still packed, so we leave again. Worried about a crack in our windshield, we take a detour to the airport to discuss with our rental car company. And after wasting an hour there, we head back to Colter Bay to go to the visitor center there.
On the way, we stop at Elk Ranch Flats Turnout to look for wildlife. Yesterday we saw a lot of bison here, but we’re not so lucky today. However, across the street we do see some bison and pronghorn far away in the distance. It’s still worth a stop since you never know when the wildlife will be out. And once back to Colter Bay we head to the visitor center first. We talk to a ranger about some hikes in the area, but don’t think we’ll have time. However, there are some nice views of the lake and marina behind the visitor center. Though the marina is closed due to the low level of Jackson Lake. But we now have all our passport stamps, so we head back to our cabin to freshen up before dinner.
Leek’s Marina & Pizzeria
We leave our cabin and head north a couple miles to Leeks Marina Road. The road dead ends at the marina and boat ramp. We find one parking spot in front of the pizzeria and park and walk in. Inside the restaurant, we walk right up to the register to order. The menu is on boards above us and has a good selection. They have specialty pizzas and calzones as well as salads and sandwiches at reasonable prices. You can also build your own pizza or get it by the slice. In addition they have a kids menu, soda machine and a separate beer list. And if you still have room, they also have ice cream for dessert.
We order a large supreme pizza and garlic bread to share as well as some sodas and water. They have a good selection of local microbrews and we order a couple as well. We also order just a slice of cheese pizza for our daughter. This is the way to go and it’s half the price of the other kids menu items. Though there are tables inside, we head outside to the patio. Most area already taken, but we find a table under an umbrella overlooking the lake.
We get our drinks right away and grab a table and wait for our food. While waiting we enjoy the views of all the boats moored here in the lake. It’s the only place we’ve actually seen boats in the lake. And after about 20 minutes, we get buzzed our food is ready and go in to pick it up. The pizza is pretty good and the garlic cheese bread is real garlicky but also good. Pizza, beer and views is a winner.
Stopping at Overlooks Looking for Wildlife
After dinner it’s about 7:00PM, and we hope it’s a good time to stop at some overlooks we bypassed yesterday. There is an upper and lower Willow Flats Overlook just past Jackson Lake Lodge. These overlooks are supposed to be good spots to see wildlife at dawn or dusk. And we drive through the upper overlook first, but we don’t see anything. However, we stop at the Lower Willow Flats Overlook to take a closer look. Behind the sign here is a path, but another sign says this area is closed due to bear activity. So we go back to the car not seeing any wildlife. Though it is still a few hours from sunset.
The next overlook we want to stop at is the Oxbow Bend Turnout just down the road. From the parking lot, you can walk down to the river, but we only see ducks & geese here. We actually get better views of the bend in the river walking past the parking lot. But with no other wildlife seen, we leave to head back to the Teton Park Road toward Signal Mountain.
And just past the dam, we see some cars stopped outside of the Catholic Bay Turnout. And right next to the road in front of the chapel, we see a bull elk just lying in the grass. Though we have seen elk before, we are not missing a chance to see one up close. We park our car on the shoulder and watch from across the road. The elk just sits and eats while we take pictures. After finally seeing a good wildlife sighting, we drive on to Signal Mountain Summit Road.
Signal Mountain Summit Scenic Road
We weren’t originally planning to drive the Signal Mountain Summit Road, but we heard it on GyPSy Guide. You can read more about this guide in our previous post: Our Stops in Beautiful Grand Teton National Park. In any case, we turn onto the road about 5 minutes before 8:00PM. This narrow road winds up to the summit of Signal Mountain, the highest point you can drive in the park. It has a 20MPH posted speed. But, in 15 minutes, we get to the 1st of 2 overlooks we plan to stop at, Jackson Point Overlook.
There is a small parking lot here with ample parking just around the bend in the road. You have to walk past the parking lot up a walkway to the overlook. And quickly we see an expansive view of the valley below. There is a path leading from the overlook to a point. On the left you can still see the valley. But on the right you see views of the other side overlooking Jackson Lake and the Tetons. We are so blown away, we can’t wait to drive to the summit overlook.
About 5 minutes later, the road ends at the parking lot at the aptly named Signal Mountain Summit Overlook. And this overlook gives us even better views of the valley, or Jackson Hole, below. This is an impressive vantage point definitely worth the drive here. And ironically there is a cell tower up here providing excellent reception. The tower is right next to restrooms with pit toilets though they do not smell good when we pass them. But we jump back in the car to get back to Colter Bay Swim Beach before dark.
Colter Bay Picnic Area and Swim Beach
As soon as we exit the road back to Teton Park Road, we see a male deer on the side of the road. Though we missed wildlife sightings at the overlooks, we saw 2 on the way to Signal Mountain and back. But now we want to get back to Colter Bay before the Sun completely sets at Swim Beach. And once we get there, we drive to the end near restrooms and the picnic area. Past the picnic area is an easier access to the beach.
We get here after 9:00PM and the sun is just barely peeking from behind the mountains. The moon is also out, but the sun has not completely set and there is plenty of light. Some clouds are glowing from the Sunlight and there’s still plenty of time to throw some rocks.
Becky missed coming here last night, so we’re happy to come back all together. We walk down to the shore with our daughter and throw rocks into the lake. Our daughter loves throwing rocks, and it’s a perfect way to end our 2nd day in Grand Teton National Park.
Summary of Jenny Lake and More
We have had 2 action-packed days in Grand Teton National Park. The highlight today was hiking from Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. The trails, the falls, the views of the lake were all absolutely beautiful. And we got up early to make the 1st boat. That allowed us to beat the crowds, while taking our time and still returning early. Which also gave us plenty of time to explore many areas we didn’t get a chance to yesterday.
We enjoyed exploring Jenny Lake Scenic Drive, the Chapel of Transfiguration and Menors Ferry before lunch. Lunch at Dornans was pricey but a good stop in the Moose area. And after lunch, we stopped at 2 visitor centers with a few stops in between. Dinner at Leek’s Pizzeria offered beers, brews and views which is always good. And after dinner, we went to a few more overlooks looking for wildlife before driving up to Signal Mountain Summit. Our last stop was back to Swim Beach before sunset to throw some more rocks of course. We also saw quite a bit of wildlife today, and didn’t have to worry about using bear spray. Our last 2 days here have been amazing, but we are looking forward to heading on to Yellowstone tomorrow.