Grand Teton National Park
South Side of Jenny Lake - The Walk Back
If you've chosen not to take the ferry on the return trip across Jenny
Lake, you have two hiking choices: the north side and the south side.
On a map, it doesn't look like there's much of a difference, and it
would stand to reason that since the ferry cut across the middle of the
lake, it would be an almost equal distance, on either path you chose.
It's not. The south side route is much shorter than the north
side. It's only about 2 miles from one boat dock to the other, on
the south side trail. Take the north side, and it's more than 4
miles. At least, those are the official distances. I personally
think the south side trail felt longer than two miles, but I had already
hiked a long way, up to Inspiration Point and beyond.
On my way back down from Inspiration Point, I turned onto the trail that
led to the south shore. You don't have to hike all the way back
down to the boat dock--there's a shortcut that takes you past a creek...
... through the woods...
... and eventually drops you off at the edge of the lake.
Surprisingly, about half of the south side trail is not next to
the shoreline. Many times, the lake can't be seen at all.
Of course, when you can see the lake, it's absolutely beautiful.
Keep in mind, though, the mountains are behind you, so you won't be
seeing much of them on the return trip.
When you do see them, they're in the distance, but still quite
impressive.
A little more than halfway along the trail, at the southern end of the
lake, there's a side trail that leads to Moose Ponds. Shortly
before you get there, though, there's a good spot that overlooks the
Moose Ponds, and sure enough, I spotted a moose hanging out there.
It's a good distance away, and you'll need binoculars or a good zoom
lens to appreciate any moose you spot here.
I like this picture, but I can't look at it without kicking myself.
When I hike, I normally carry a hiking stick. It's a nice one,
designed especially for hiking, with a hand strap and knob on the top
that unscrews, revealing a camera mount, effectively transforming it
into a monopod. In order to take this picture, I needed to free up
both hands, and in the process, I leaned my hiking stick against a
nearby tree. About 10 minutes later, as I bounded along the trail,
I realized that I had left my hiking stick behind. By the time I
walked back, it was gone. In less than 20 minutes, someone had
claimed it for their own. I filed paperwork with the park's lost
and found, but no one ever turned it in.
So, if you found a hiking stick along the Jenny Lake Trail, near the
turnoff to Moose Ponds, on September 11, 2007, I sure hope you've
enjoyed it.
Needless to say, by this point, I was frustrated at my absentmindedness.
Even without that distraction, the two-mile hike back to the boat dock
was feeling mighty long--perhaps longer than the official 2 miles.
I picked up the pace...
... and stopped just once more for pictures at the
public boat launch. That's some incredibly clear water!
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Also In This Area: Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park
Jenny Lake Ferry Trip - Hike To Inspiration
Point And Beyond - Grand Teton National Park
Town of Jackson, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park - String Lake & Leigh
Lake Trail
Taggart Lake Trail - Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone Southern Entrance - Tetons, Kepler
Cascades
Old Faithful Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
Wildlife North of Old Faithful, Yellowstone
Midway Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone
Yellowstone's West Entrance Road, Town of West
Yellowstone
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone River
Rapids
Herds of Buffalo, South of Yellowstone Canyon
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Artist Paintpots, Yellowstone
Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone
Return Route from West Yellowstone to Jackson,
through Ashton, Idaho
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