Grand Teton National Park guide · 2 min read
Jenny Lake: Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
Jenny Lake sits at the foot of the Teton Range and is one of the busiest corners of Grand Teton National Park.
From the east shore, Teewinot Mountain and Mount St. John rise above the water, and you can look straight into the mouth of Cascade Canyon. The most popular hikes here lead to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Both are on the lake's west side, which has no road.
There are two ways across. A privately run shuttle boat leaves from the dock near the Jenny Lake parking area, and tickets are sold right at the dock. If you would rather stay on foot, a path of roughly 2.4 miles follows the southern shoreline and ends at that same trailhead. Riding the boat keeps the outing to both destinations at about 2 miles out and back.
From the west shore dock, the trail climbs gently for about half a mile and gains around 200 feet on the way to Hidden Falls. The waterfall drops about 100 feet in a cascade fed by snowmelt, and it is a favorite stop for families.
Inspiration Point is another half mile up the same trail, and this stretch is steeper. The viewpoint sits above Jenny Lake and looks east across the water to the valley of Jackson Hole. Turn around and you can see into Cascade Canyon and up to the Cathedral Group: Mount Owen, Teewinot, and the Grand Teton.
Inspiration Point is where many people end their climb, yet the trail continues west into Cascade Canyon. Past the viewpoint, the canyon widens and you leave much of the foot traffic behind, with longer routes heading on toward Lake Solitude and Hurricane Pass. Before or after your hike, stop at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center to talk with a ranger, join a ranger-led program, or pick up a Junior Ranger activity.
