Jenny Lake Loop Hiking Guide
The Jenny Lake Loop circles the lake that sits right under Teewinot and the Grand Teton, passing the junctions for Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon along the way. It's long but never steep for long, which makes it a good all-day option for a mixed group. After the boat shuttle shuts down for the season, this loop is also the way everyone reaches the west shore.
Permit: Grand Teton National Park charges an entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person on foot or bike (16 and older), each valid 7 days; the park annual pass is $70 and the America the Beautiful pass ($80) also covers entry. Non-US residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless entering on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The park is cashless. No permit is needed for a day hike.
Distance and Climbing
AllTrails measures the loop at 7.3 miles and 423 feet of gain, taking two and a half to three hours. The park lists 7.1 miles but more than twice the climbing, 1,040 feet, probably because it counts the many short ups and downs along the shore. Plan on the park's number for effort. The tread is dirt, narrow in spots, with roots and rock.
Going Around
The park's suggested direction is north from the Jenny Lake Trailhead along the east shore to the south end of String Lake, across the bridge, then south along the west shore. That side is where the Cathedral Group views open up: Mount Owen, the Grand Teton and Teewinot. You pass the Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon junctions, then the Moose Ponds area near the south shore, where a short spur leads to an overlook the park says is good for moose and beaver. Any of those can be added; each adds distance and climbing.
After the Season Ends
Jenny Lake changes a lot in October. The boat shuttle ran its last day on September 30 in 2026, and the general store, lodge and many nearby services closed in early October; the Jenny Lake Visitor Center follows in mid-October. The Teton Park Road and the one-way Jenny Lake Scenic Drive close to cars on November 1 and stay closed through April, so from then on this trailhead is a long ski or snowshoe from the Taggart Lake Trailhead. Valley trails here are usually snow-covered until late May.
Fee, Bears and Weather
You'll need a Grand Teton entrance pass: $35 per car for seven days, $20 per walker or cyclist, or an annual or America the Beautiful pass, and the gates are card only. Bears move along the lakeshore, and the park asks hikers to travel in threes or more, make noise in thick brush and carry spray. Fall here means sunny afternoons and frigid nights, with occasional storms that can leave snow on the trail.
Hiking tips for Jenny Lake Loop
- Hike the east shore first, as the park suggests, and save the peak views for the second half.
- Plan your energy on the park's 1,040-foot figure, not the lower app number.
- Add Moose Ponds early or late in the day when wildlife is more active.
- Don't count on the boat as a bailout after September; the loop is the only way back.
- Carry layers and rain gear; fall days here swing from warm to near freezing.
Nearby trails to explore
- Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point at Jenny Lake
- String Lake Loop
- Cascade Canyon Trail (Grand Teton)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Seven miles around Jenny Lake is better with good company and an extra set of eyes for moose. Use TrailMates to find Jackson Hole hikers heading to Jenny Lake. Download the TrailMates app to connect.