Jenny Lake Adventure, Grand Teton National Park.

Jenny Lake was named after the Shoshone Indian wife of Beaver Dick Leigh, whom helped in the exploration of the Cascade Canyon area. They named a larger lake after her husband, Leigh! The lake was formed by a glacier thousands of years ago. The lake is encircled by conifer forests that thrive on the hospitable soil of glacial deposits.

Jenny lake covers 1191 acres of crystal clear Glacier run-off water from Cascade Creek. Elevation 6786 feet, Latitude 43.752, Longitude -110.724.

The Grand Teton National Park parking lot for the Hidden Falls Trailhead is located about 7 miles form the US-121 highway.

On Tuesday, September 07, 2021 I took the 12 minute, $15 senior, boat trip across Jenny Lake, saving a 2.4 miles hike around the lake. (If you only ride the boat back you’re on the honer system to pay for a one-way trip when you get off the boat.)

The start of the hike is easy. You start by crossing a bridge overt Cascade Creek created from Hidden Falls glacier run-off. For the first half mile you hike through a spruce/fir forest with large glacially deposited boulders up to Hidden Falls. I felt good after reaching the Hidden Falls. (I had only initially intended to hike to the Water Fall.) So, I continued onto Inspiration Point, a mile further with a 500 ft. elevation gain. INSPIRATION POINT offers some of the best views in the Grand Teton National Park. The trail is dirt with several sections of rock stairs and exposed rocks. The trail crosses exposed rock and features several steep switchbacks. Sections of the trail are treacherous, I watched where I placed every step by steep rocky 40 to 50 foot ledges. I felt very secure footing in my $45 Kole’s hiking boots. (Teton Village sells hiking boots for $360!) Going up was OK, coming down was scary, which I left continuous hand prints on the wall for balance!

This hike is a must destination for many hiking the Cascade Canyon Trails.