Grand Teton National Park: Jenny Lake and Hanging Canyon Loop

Come summer, the established trails near Jenny Lake can be hiker magnets. Your solution: This 12.4-mile circuit that tours several of the park’s must-see sights before ducking onto an unofficial trail that doesn’t appear on area maps. From the ranger station near Jenny Lake Campground, pick up the well-maintained Valley Trail around the lake’s southern shoreline.

After 2.5 miles, bear left at the fork for a gentle climb up the Cascade Creek drainage to Hidden Falls, which plummets 200 feet down tiers of boulders. Next, cross a bridge over the creek and follow the switchbacks to Inspiration Point, a rocky pulpit overlooking the entire lake. From here, the trail curves west into Cascade Canyon for less than half a mile to a junction; turn right and descend to Jenny’s western shore.

At mile 4.3, turn left on the Valley Trail and hike north for .1 mile. Immediately after crossing a stream (mile 4.4) on a small bridge, watch closely for an unsigned turnoff into Hanging Canyon; veer left here. Keep the stream on your left as you follow the obvious user path—soft with decomposing trees and crowded by ferns and towering stalks of purple monkshood—through lush terrain reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.

Soon after the route enters the canyon, the climbing ramps up (you’ll notch 2,800 feet in the next 1.5 miles) as the trail switchbacks up a forested hillside slowly recovering from a wildfire nearly a decade ago. Pass Ribbon Cascade, where narrow bands of water plunge down tiered outcrops, and maneuver around intermittent stretches of thick deadfall caused by heavy snows in 2011.

At mile 5.3, contour southwest across patches of slabby granite to reach Arrowhead Pool, the first of the canyon’s three lakes. Drop down a spur to the shore, then continue another three-quarters of a mile on a path that runs along the north side of Ramshead Lake to Lake of the Crags, tucked into a pinched cirque of towering rock walls. (Tempted to stay longer? There’s one campsite per lake.) Descend back to the canyon’s mouth and turn left. The final 4.5 miles wrap around the north and east shores of Jenny Lake to the ranger station.

INFO For information on permits, current trail and camp conditions, and wilderness guidelines, go to nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/things2know.htm.

PERMIT A wilderness permit is required for all overnight camping in the backcountry. Reservations accepted ($20 administrative fee for permits during peak season). nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/back.htm

CONTACT Grand Teton National Park, (307) 739-3300; nps.gov/grte/

-Mapped by Eli Boschetto and Molly Loomis

Trail Facts

• Distance: 19.9

Waypoints

JEN001

Location: 43.751749, -110.722334

Start the Jenny Lake loop at the flagpole near the ranger station. Pick up an illustrated map at the sign board, and take in the view of Teewinot Mountain from the trailhead.

JEN002

Location: 43.752838, -110.723391

Fork left at this paved junction (right leads to Jenny Lake Campground). Enjoy the view of Cascade Canyon, Mt. St. John and Rockchuck Peak over Jenny Lake.

JEN003

Location: 43.753137, -110.723712

Turn left to begin the clockwise loop. Take in more big views of Teewinot Mountain and Mt. St. John.

JEN004

Location: 43.751513, -110.725461

Cross the bridge at the boat dock. Many visitors take boats across Jenny Lake to view Hidden Falls.

JEN005

Location: 43.749808, -110.729528

Pass the drive-in boat ramp. Look northward over Jenny Lake to catch a view of Rockchuck Peak and Mt. St. John.

JEN006

Location: 43.747822, -110.73622

Keep straight on the main trail at the Bradley Lake trail junction.

JEN007

Location: 43.74846, -110.739087

Continue straight. Side trip: Turn left onto the Moose Ponds trail for a short side loop around marshy ponds. Keep an eye out for moose at the viewpoint over the pond.

JEN008

Location: 43.750101, -110.739478

At the horse trail junction, head right to continue along the shoreline.

JEN009

Location: 43.765007, -110.74507

Take a quick side trail to an overlook above Cascade Creek.

JEN010

Location: 43.765082, -110.745406

Bear left and start a gentle climb along Cascade Creek. The trail on the right leads to the boat dock.

JEN011

Location: 43.764989, -110.75018

Bear left for the quick trip to see Hidden Falls.

JEN012

Location: 43.765066, -110.751151

Hidden Falls: This well-loved 200-foot cascade is visited by scores of tourists who arrive by boat. Return to JEN011 and turn left across the bridge.

JEN013

Location: 43.766921, -110.748349

Rocky switchbacks lead to this perch on Inspiration Point. Look eastward across Jenny Lake toward the Snake River Valley. From here, follow the trail west for half a mile to the three-way junction.

JEN014

Location: 43.767065, -110.754375

Turn right. The trail on the left leads into Cascade Canyon.

JEN015

Location: 43.768986, -110.744623

Back at the lakeshore, bear left to continue around Jenny Lake. The trail on the right runs back to the boat dock.

JEN016

Location: 43.770094, -110.743008

Immediately after crossing the creek on a small footbridge (and .1 mile past JEN015), turn left at the unmarked junction. (This trail does not appear on area maps.) Keep the stream on your left as you follow the well-beaten path (soft with decomposing trees and crowded by ferns and towering stalks of purple monkshood) through lush terrain reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.

JEN017

Location: 43.770908, -110.74355

Soon after entering the canyon, the climbing ramps up (you’ll notch 2,800 feet in the next 1.5 miles), as the trail switchbacks up a forested hillside slowly recovering from a wildfire nearly a decade ago.

JEN018

Location: 43.774905, -110.749698

Pass Ribbon Cascade, where narrow bands of water plunge down tiered outcrops, and maneuver around intermittent stretches of thick deadfall caused by heavy snows in 2011.

JEN019

Location: 43.775974, -110.755792

At mile 5.3, contour southwest across patches of slabby granite to reach Arrowhead Pool, the first of the canyon’s three lakes.

JEN020

Location: 43.775665, -110.758646

Drop down a spur to the shore, then continue another three-quarters of a mile on a path that runs along the north side of Ramshead Lake to Lake of the Crags.

JEN021

Location: 43.777205, -110.764027

Ramshead Lake

JEN022

Location: 43.776005, -110.770726

Lake to Lake of the Crags: This tarn is tucked into a pinched cirque of towering rock walls. Next, descend back to the mouth of the canyon and turn left.

JEN023

Location: 43.77018, -110.742617

Follow the lakeside trail to the northeast.

JEN024

Location: 43.781687, -110.73068

At the String Lake trail junction, bear right to continue around Jenny Lake.

JEN025

Location: 43.78401, -110.72749

From the bridge, enjoy a view of Rockchuck Peak towering overhead. After crossing String Lake outlet, turn right to continue around Jenny Lake.

JEN026

Location: 43.768181, -110.717511

Stop at this point for views across Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon, Mt. St. John and Teewinot Mountain.

JEN027

Location: 43.755531, -110.721454

Continue straight at the 4-way junction to complete the loop back at the ranger station.

Trailhead

Location: 43.752203, -110.722597

Jenny Lake

Location: 43.753138, -110.723651

Views of Cascade Canyon

Location: 43.765113, -110.747166

Hidden Falls

Location: 43.765159, -110.750642

Trail to Inspiration Point

Location: 43.766259, -110.74914

Inspiration Point

Location: 43.767003, -110.748196

View from the northern shore of Jenny Lake

Location: 43.777632, -110.732145

String Creek

Location: 43.779708, -110.730708

String Lake Crossing

Location: 43.784062, -110.72781

Views of the Tetons

Location: 43.76815, -110.717125