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Hidden Falls & Jenny Lake Loop

Alta, Wyoming

4.1/5
based on 13 reviews

Details

Distance

7.77 miles

Elevation Gain

571 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Eric Bennett

Experience Hidden Falls, Jenny Lake, String Lake, and awesome views of the Tetons!

You will find great views of the Tetons throughout this trek, which takes you past the gorgeous Jenny Lake and String Lake, as well as to Hidden Falls, a massive cascade along a river with many other waterfalls and awesome sights. There is also lots of wildlife in this area, including foxes, marmots, birds, squirrels, and elk. This is a must-do day hike if you are in the Tetons for a weekend.

You can park at the parking area near the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, but this is NOT the trailhead for this hike. You will need to backtrack a bit to get to the trail – walk along the road until you cross the small stream, then immediately look for a small trail on your left that heads back towards the stream, just about where the marker is on the map shown here.

The path will cross over the stream and then head up towards Jenny Lake. Follow the signs and it will take you around Jenny Lake, up to Hidden Falls, and then over to String Lake.

Shorter option:
If you want to do a shorter hike, you can take the paid shuttle service across Jenny Lake and hike the Hidden Falls Trail, then take the shuttle back. This out-and-back is less than 2 miles. 

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Forest
Lake
River
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildlife

Hidden Falls & Jenny Lake Loop Reviews

Beautiful hike around the lake to the falls! Stay alert for any wildlife. When I went there was a mama bear and cub trying to cross the trail and you definitely don’t want to come between that. We also came across a younger moose walking down the trail. We kept our distance until he got off the trail… the other group of girls in front of us were ready to go up and pet it 🤦🏼‍♀️ and we informed them that it will charge you so it’s better to leave some space and wait it out

If you can, hike it. If you have small children or elderly people with you. Take the ferry ride. I like the ferry just to take some photos of the views.

Love this trail. I’ve done it a few times and it just never gets old. It’s my happy place.

If you decide to hike the entire lake (and not cheat by taking the ferry across), the falls are perfect after hiking several miles. They're very impressive and that cool breeze feels great!

This waterfall is a must-see when visiting the Jenny Lake District. If accessed from the Jenny Lake trail head, it is a relatively easy and short hike and great for families. If hiking with small children, a boat ride across the lake is advised and fun! Keep in mind that the Jenny Lake trail is currently under construction so access to the waterfall may be impaired. Check with the ranger station before planning your visit.

We went in July and part of the trail was under construction. We could hear the falls, but the viewpoint was blocked off because of the construction, so we continued on to Inspiration Point instead. There were several people on the trail but it never seemed crowded, which was good. We took the boat to the trailhead across Jenny Lake and back, which was nice. But if you miss the boat back you can still walk around Jenny Lake to the parking lot, its about a 2 mile hike back.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike to Lake of the Crags

Hike to Lake Solitude

Hike to Jenny Lake's Inspiration Point

Explore Jenny Lake, WY

Photograph on Cottonwood Creek

Jenny Lake Loop

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Wyoming’s wide-open spaces make it easy to get off the grid and on a trail, through a park, into a forest, up a mountain or down a river. During your journey through Wyoming’s Black to Yellow Region, discover geologic marvels, dense evergreen forests and sprawling prairielands.

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