11 Great Day Hikes in Wyoming

Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone National Park

Observation Point Trail
Yellowstone National Park
No one who visits Yellowstone can really say they’ve been to the national park unless they’ve seen Old Faithful. The world’s most famous geyser that is virtually synonymous with the words “national park” erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 110 feet high. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path. Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail.

Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks
Yellowstone National Park
Day hikers can walk through one of the world’s largest collection of travertine terraces on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park. A series of connected trails cut through the heart of the sprawling hot springs. A 0.8-mile loop allows you to see most of the major features.

Best day hikes for kids in Yellowstone
No trip to one of the nation’s iconic national parks would be complete with a day hike. There are several trails at Yellowstone National Park that are perfect for families.

Jenny Lake Trail
Grand Teton National Park
Day hikers can walk along a tranquil blue lake with some of the most impressive mountain views in the United States as a backdrop on the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park. The 6.5-mile trail wraps around the world-famous lake at the base of the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming.

Best trails to see Grand Teton's wonders
Among the best ways to see Grand Teton National Park’s highlights is via a day hike. Just three short trails will allow you to see each of the park’s highlights – mountain views, wildlife, alpine lakes and historical homesteads.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.

Alpine lakes beneath Tetons await hikers

Mount Moran rises over Straight Lake. Photo courtesy of Grand Teton NPS.

Topo map, Leigh Lake Trail segment.

Leigh Lake Trail segment runs 2 miles round-trip

Families can day hike alongside two alpine lakes on the Leigh Lake Trail at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

The 2-miles round trip segment described here heads past crystal blue lakes through green pines with gray Mount Moran soaring in the background. Most of the segment passes String Lake, but the trail ultimately ends at its namesake, Leigh Lake.

To reach the trailhead, from Jackson Hole, Wyo., take U.S. Hwy. 191 north. Turn left/west onto Teton Park Road then left/west onto Jenny Lake Road, following it to the String Lake Picnic Area. For the final turn, go left/west onto String Lake Road. Park in the lot at the road's end. The trailhead leaves from the lot's northwest corner at the 11 o'clock position with 12 o'clock due north.

The wide, paved access trail heads through a grassy area to the north end of the beach on String Lake. This is the route's lowest point at 6,880 feet, but the elevation gain on the segment is minimal.

Curving northeast and heading into a fragrant wooded area, the trail gradually comes alongside east side of String Lake.

String, Leigh and other alpine lakes in the area formed during the last ice age. At that time, glaciers spread down from the mountains, leveling the valley floor and gouging out the lake beds. Meltwater from the glacier then filled those vast depressions.

String Lake soon narrows to what appears to be a thin river to the east. You’re then at its northern tip which connects to Leigh Lake.

Sometimes moose and mule dear can be spotted along walk. Bears also have been spotted on the trail along String Lake’s north side, so exercise caution.

At 0.9-miles from trailhead, you’ll reach a four-way trail intersection; go straight/north. This spur trail takes you to southern shore of Leigh Lake. Boulder Island rises before you.

Views of the Tetons towering over Leigh Lake are impressive to say the least. The lakes and narrow valley sits below 12, 605-foot Mount Moran – Falling Ice Glacier will be visible on its face – and 11,590-foot Mount Woodring.

Upon taking in the views on Leigh Lake’s southern shore, return the way you came. Alternately, if you have some extra energy, you can continue up Leigh Lake’s east side. Upon re-reaching the four-way trail intersection, go left/east. The entire trail actually is 5 miles long one-way and ends at Trapper Lake.

Once back at String Lake, enjoy a picnic on the beach and then a swim in the cool waters. Be forewarned: Even on a hot day, the water will be chilly!

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Waterfall, Inspiration Point await on day hiking route in Grand Teton National Park

Hidden Falls at Grand Teton National Park. Photo courtesy of Grand Teton NPS.

Topo map for Hidden Falls/Inspiration Point Trail.

Trail begins on Jenny Lake's western shoreline

UPDATE: As of July 10, 2018, the National Park Service has closed the Hidden Falls-Inspiration Point area due to a fissure that formed there. Read more.

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Day hikers can enjoy a waterfall and then a vista at 7200 feet elevation in Grand Teton National Parks’ Cascade Canyon.

The Hidden Falls-Inspiration Point Trail runs 3.8-miles round trip. Due to the high elevations and accompanying heavy snowfall during winter, the trail only is open in summer.

To reach the trailhead, from Jackson Hole, Wyo., take U.S. Hwys. 26/89/191 north. Turn left/west onto Teton Park Road and follow the signs to the Lower Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Park at the visitor center’s lot.

From the visitor center, take the Jenny Lake Boat to opposite shoreline. The shuttle typically leaves every 20 minutes between 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and there is a fee for using the boat. The alternative, though, is the hike around Jenny Lake (see above) just to reach the trailhead.

Hidden Falls
Once the shuttle arrives at the West Shore Boat Dock, take the trail heading south to Hidden Falls. The route heads through a semi-open grove of fragrant conifers with patches of huckleberry.

In a half-mile, the trail arrives at Cascade Creek. Cross the stream via a footbridge, and at the next junction, go right/east on Cascade Canyon Trail.

Watch for a sign pointing to a spur heading to Hidden Falls. Take that trail, which leads to the fall’s base. The falls is about a mile from the boat dock.

Though technically not a waterfalls but a series of cascades running 200 feet over several multiple steps, Hidden Falls still is impressive. Because only part of the cascades are steep, there's a lot of confusion among various sources about exactly how high the drop that looks most like a waterfall actually is – some say 80 feet and others say 100.

Inspiration Point
After taking in the falls, double back on the trail. Upon reaching the Cascade Canyon Trail, go left/north to Inspiration Point. You’re at the mouth of Cascade Canyon, and it's a 400-foot switchback climb over 0.9 miles up to its rim.

The hard walk is worth it, though. From Inspiration Point at 7200 feet, you can see up into the Cathedral Group of mountains (12,325-foot Teewinot Mountain, Mount Owen, and the Grand Teton) to the southwest and the St. John Group (Symmetry Spire, Rock of Ages) to the northwest. A panoramic view of Jenny Lake is to the east and Jackson Hole to the south.

Inspiration Point marks a good spot to turn back, but you can continue on the Cascade Canyon Trail deeper into the Tetons.

Also, be aware that Hidden Falls, and to a slightly lesser extent Inspiration Point, are popular destinations in the park, so expect to be walking the trail with others.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Video of Grand Teton N.P.’s Jenny Lake

Day hikers can walk along a tranquil blue lake with some of the most impressive mountain views in the United States as a backdrop on the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park.

The 6.5-mile trail wraps around the world-famous lake at the base of the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming. Just a few miles south of Yellowstone National Park, no visit to the latter would not be complete without also stopping at Grand Teton.

The trail can be reached from Yellowstone by taking U.S. Hwys. 26/89/191 south. Turn onto Teton Park Road then onto South Jenny Lake Junction. Park at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center with the trail leaving from it.

Here’s a video of Jenny Lake taken along the trail:

Here's an article more fully describing the trail.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Best trails to see Grand Teton's wonders

Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park.

Among the best ways to see Grand Teton National Park’s highlights is via a day hike. Just three short trails will allow you to see each of the park’s highlights – mountain views, wildlife, alpine lakes and historical homesteads.

String Lake Area
Several alpine lakes perfect for a family outing sit at the park’s central section. The 1.8-mile round trip Leigh Lake Trail heads around a crystal blue lake through green pines with gray Mount Moran soaring in the background. During summer, enjoy a picnic on the beach and then a swim in the cool waters.

Mormon Row
A collection of abandoned homesteads from the 1890s sit amid sagebrush in Antelope Flats with the towering Teton Range as a backdrop. A series of unofficial paths, here collectively called the Mormon Row Trail, ramble between the buildings along Gros Ventre Road for about a mile. Bison and pronghorn often can be seen grazing in the flats.

Teton Crest
You can hike along the Teton’ high spine via a segment of the Teton Crest Trail. From Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, take the aerial tram up Mount Hunt. A stem trail runs 2.75 miles (one-way) to the Marion Lake Trail. The trail can’t be hiked until snow has melted, which usually is late July.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Hike circles glacial lake to 180-foot waterfall

Topo map of Jenny Lake Trail.

Crossing Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park.
Photo courtesy Grand Teton NPS.

Moose ponds, boat ride
across lake await hikers

UPDATE: As of July 10, 2018, the National Park Service has closed the Hidden Falls portion of this hike due to a fissure that formed there. Read more.

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Day hikers can walk along a tranquil blue lake with some of the most impressive mountain views in the United States as a backdrop on the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park.

The 6.5-mile trail wraps around the world-famous lake at the base of the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming. Just a few miles south of Yellowstone National Park, no visit to the latter would not be complete without also stopping at Grand Teton.

Because of the high elevation, July and August mark the best time to hike the trail. Jenny Lake can be frozen in May, and snow can fall in June. Be forewarned: Because of this small visiting window, the trail will be busy in summer. To avoid the crowds, hike it early or late in the day.

The trail can be reached from Yellowstone by taking U.S. Hwys. 26/89/191 south. Turn onto Teton Park Road then onto South Jenny Lake Junction. Park at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center with the trail leaving from it.

Though an easy, well-maintained trail, it is long, especially for young children. You can cut the trail into a reasonable segment by walking half way around Jenny Lake and surprising the kids with a boat ride back across. That route – described here – is about 3.5 miles long.

Ice Age holdover
If you’re staying a while at the park, before heading out be sure to stop at the visitor center and pick up your kids copies of The Grand Adventure activity guide. By completing the guidebook and also attending a ranger-led program, your children can earn a Junior Ranger patch or badge, a cool souvenir. Each activity book is a mere dollar.

From the visitor center, head roughly southwest toward the lake. Beyond the lake is the Teton Range, with Teewinot Mountain at 12,325 feet the closest high point, with the Teton triplets beyond it to the southwest. Grand Teton is to the right of Middle Teton, with South Teton to the left.

When the trail splits, continue heading southwest by crossing Cottonwood Creek and passing the east shore boat dock. This route heads around the lake’s southern side.

Jenny Lake is fairly young, forming about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age when glaciers pushed rock debris into the canyon beneath the mountain range. These debris created a natural dam that now holds the lake. A subalpine lake, it reaches an astonishing 423 feet in depth.

About a mile through the conifer wilderness, watch for the small “Moose Ponds” sign. The largest member of the deer family in North America, moose like to hang out in the wetlands area to the trail’s south and west. When the trail reaches a ridge line, look in that direction, and you’ll likely spot one or two.

Black bears also are common in the park. While they almost certainly will leave you alone, always remain wary of them – and definitely do not leave food in your vehicle.

Spectacular Hidden Falls
Curving around the lake’s southern shore, the trail gains in elevation. In about 1.4 miles from the trailhead, on the shore opposite of the visitor center, is the junction for the Cascade Canyon Trail.

The waterfall boasts a 180-foot drop as Cascade Creek flows out of the Tetons into Jenny Lake. If Hidden Falls were located on the other side of the continental divide, it would be the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

Return back along the Cascade Canyon Trail to the trail junction and continue left/north on the Jenny Lake Trail. In short order, the trail crosses Cascade Creek.

Less than a 1000 feet from the creek is the west shore boat dock. You’ll need to pay for a boat ticket; they leave about every 15-20 minutes throughout the day. As crossing the lake, enjoy the reflection of Teewinot Mountain upon the crystal blue waters.

The boat arrives at the east shore dock. From there, retrace the Jenny Lake Trail back to the visitor center.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.