Jenny Lake In Grand Teton National Park

When you are planning your itinerary to Grand Teton National Park, you can't leave Jenny Lake off your list. Jenny Lake is one of the most visited places in the Grand Tetons because of its picturesque placement at the base of the mountain range. This was our favorite spot we hit in Grand Teton National Park.

The lake is pretty much the centerpiece of the park. From the east shore of the lake, you will see Teewinot Mountain, Mount St. John, and Cascade Canyon. From the west shore, you can look across the lake at the valley of Jackson Hole.

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When going to Jenny Lake you don't have to worry too much about getting a good look because there are a good many lookouts for a great view. Garrett and I visited in May and we were able to walk on the trail and see the lake at different levels and have different perspectives of it.

How Did Jenny Lake Get its Name?

While you look in awe over the lake, you can know that there is a story that goes along with the name of the lake. The lake is named after Jenny Leigh, Shoshone Indian wife of Richard Leigh, who assisted her husband on the Hayden Expedition of 1872.

How Was Jenny Lake Formed?

The lake was formed about 12,000 years ago when glaciers flowed down canyons and carved depressions. Now water fills these depressions forming lakes. Jenny Lake is 256 feet deep at its deepest point.

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How To Explore Jenny Lake

There are many different ways to explore and see Jenny Lake. If you are a hiker then you can take a trail to get better views. You can hike to Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls or Cascade Canyon (be sure to look into these trails before going - you don't want to be caught at a bad time of day and you want to be prepared). You can take a boat ride around the lake by renting a canoe or kayak. There is also a boat shuttle service that will take you on a ride around the lake. They opened their boat service up on May 15th and it stays open throughout the summer. The shuttle service runs every 10-15 minutes throughout the day, it's $20 per adult and it is possible to reach some hiking trailheads from the boat ride (check the website for more info. on rides and weather). You can also do what Garrett and I did which was hang out around the lakeshore seeing the lake from a few different perspectives and visit the Jenny Lake visitor center and store. When going to Jenny Lake you don't have to worry too much about getting a good look because there are a good many lookouts for a great view. Garrett and I visited in May and we were able to walk on the trail and see the lake at different levels and have different perspectives of it.

The Jenny Lake visitor center is a pretty cool place, it's inside the historical Harrison Crandall studio. The building was built in the 1920s with recent renovations done in 2019. You can read more about the history of the lake, read about the wildlife around the lake and you can learn more about Harrison Crandall. Harrison Crandall is the first official photographer of Grand Teton National Park. You can also visit the store to get a snack, an ornament, a shirt or any other souvenir you can think of... along with bear spray (more on that later). I bought a book about the native birds in the area - if you don't know, I'm a total nerd and love learning about birds.

We visited Jenny Lake for the 2 days we were in Grand Teton National Park. The first day we hit the lake after lunchtime and the parking lot was very busy but it wasn't too bad walking around to get some good views. We were able to enjoy it and get some fantastic photos. On the second day, we got to Jenny Lake early in the morning and we only ran into two couples. We were able to get more photos and videos, we then sat on a bench along the shore and just relaxed for a minute.

Visit Jenny Lake!! If you don't visit and go to at least one of the lookout spots you will regret it. It's so beautiful that it really doesn't feel real, it feels like you have stepped into a painting. Jenny Lake is one of those places that will take up space in your memory and you won't forget it.