Skip to Content

One Day in Grand Teton National Park: Jenny Lake Boat & Inspiration Point Hike

One Day in Grand Teton National Park: Jenny Lake Boat & Inspiration Point Hike

Do you have just one day in Grand Teton National Park and are wondering about the best things to see and do? This article is for you!

We had the exact same question when planning our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. After some research, we realized that one of the best day trips in Grand Teton is to take a boat on Jenny Lake followed by a hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.

Jenny Lake boat trip and hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point is one of the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park!

In addition, there are some other nice places to see and do that will make your day in Grand Teton even more special.

In this article, you can find our experience-based suggestions on what to see and do in Grand Teton in one day. Starting with the Jenny Lake and Inspiration Point hike and ending with additional suggestions such as the famous Mormon Row Barns. Find out!

One day in Grand Teton National Park
 

The nice thing about this boat & hike excursion at Jenny Lake is that you can make it as short and easy or as long and difficult as you want. Families with very young children and elderly people can opt for a boat ride alone, or combine it with a part of Jenny Lake Trail around the south end of Jenny Lake.

The hike to Hidden Falls is quite easy and is therefore the most popular hike in Grand Teton. The next section of the hike to nearby Inspiration Point requires a bit more effort and determination, but again is something that pretty much anyone in good physical condition should be able to do. And if you really like hiking, you can prolong the hike and walk into Cascade Canyon and beyond.

We visited Grand Teton with three young kids (age 5, 5, and 7 years old at that time) and opted for a boat ride on Jenny Lake in combination with a hike to Inspiration Point. However, we afterwards decided to hike even further and ended up walking a couple of miles into Cascade Canyon.

Below you can read all about our day at Jenny Lake and additional suggestions for your day in Grand Teton.

TIP: If you have one day in Grand Teton National Park and find the planning overwhelming, take a look at this highly-rated tour that covers all the main highlights and includes a boat ride on Jeny Lake as well. It doesn’t include hiking, but lots of wildlife viewing opportunities and is a perfect first introduction to this beautiful park.

Scenic view of Grand Teton from Jenny Lake Road
Kids at Jenny Lake. Doesn’t it look like a painting?
 

Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat

Jenny Lake shuttle boat (also known as Jenny Lake ferry) is the most popular and quickest way to shorten the hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Otherwise, you have to hike around the lake first, which adds about 2.4 miles to your trip each way. The boat ride starts near Jenny Lake Visitor Center and campground. In less than 15 minutes they drop you off at the West Shore Boat Dock on the other side of the lake.

We read that it’s wise to arrive at Jenny Lake early in the morning as the car park at the visitor center gets full very quickly. In summer, shuttle boats run pretty much non-stop starting at 7 AM, so you can take a really early start and beat the crowds. On the other hand, a late afternoon visit can probably be just as enjoyable and it’s a better time for photography, especially at Inspiration Point.

When we arrived at Jenny Lake around 8 AM it was already quite busy; at the car parking, on the boat, and also on the hiking trails. However, we traveled in the first week of August, which is of course the most popular time to visit Grand Teton. It will probably be much quieter if you travel in the shoulder season.

If you rather hike, Jenny Lake Trailhead is also located at the Visitor Center. Or you can also opt to take the boat just one way (either way). If you want to spend the whole day in the Jenny Lake area, then hiking might be a really nice way to explore the area a bit more.

Jenny Lake shuttle boat practical information:

  • Boats run from mid-May till the end of September.
  • In summer (+-Memorial Day to Labor Day) shuttle boats usually run from 7 AM until 7 PM. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, they typically operate from 10 AM to 4 PM. Be sure to double-check for up-to-date information, especially if traveling in the shoulder season.
  • Boats depart every 10-15 minutes.
  • Boat ride takes 12 minutes.
  • No reservations are taken, you just take the next available boat.
  • Round-trip costs 20 USD for adults with various discounts for kids and seniors.
  • You can find more info on the shuttle boat here.

TIP: If you don’t like hiking at all, there are scenic boat ride options on Jenny Lake as well. Scenic cruises have to be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. Check here for more information. You can also simply book this highly-rated day tour of the Grand Teton NP that includes this scenic boat ride in its itinerary.

Jenny Lake shuttle boat in Grand Tetons
Jenny Lake shuttle boat
 

Hidden Falls Hike

As mentioned above, the Hidden Falls trail is the most popular hike in Grand Teton. There are reports talking about the popularity of this hike in the beginning of the 20th century already, and it’s still very much the case nowadays.

It’s a nice, short, and relatively easy hike to a beautiful waterfall that drops almost two hundred feet in several steps. In combination with a scenic boat ride on Jenny Lake, a trip to the Hidden Falls makes for a beautiful family-friendly day out in Grand Teton. No wonder it’s so popular.

Theoretically, the Hidden Falls hike begins at the Jenny Lake Trailhead. But if you take a boat, then the whole length of the hike is only 1.3 miles (round trip). The path is well indicated from the boat dock and for the most part, follows the same trail that goes up to Inspiration Point.

At first, you climb a bit, but it isn’t really strenuous and even young children can do this short hike. It shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes one way, maybe a bit more if you walk at a really leisurely pace.

Unfortunately for us, the falls were closed in the summer when we visited, so I don’t have a picture for you. But from what I’ve seen it’s a really beautiful waterfall well worth the short hike.

Cascade Canyon Creek near Hidden Falls
Cascade Canyon Creek
 

If you have more time and energy, continue hiking to Inspiration Point – see further.

TIP: There are many bears in this area, so travel in groups and make noise (which shouldn’t be an issue in high season).

If you are traveling in the lower season, it’s wise to carry a bear spray. You can buy one at the Jenny Lake visitor center or online at less than half the price. And yes, we saw a bear here when we were in the boat; it crossed the road right behind the unsuspecting tourists hiking on the trail.

Black bear at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Can you spot the bear?
 

Inspiration Point Hike

After visiting the Hidden Falls, return to the main track and turn left towards Inspiration Point. This part of the trail is really rocky, rugged, and also quite steep.

It’s best to wear good hiking shoes if you are planning to hike to Inspiration Point. Although if it’s dry, I guess you’ll be ok with any sturdy footwear.

Hiking to Inspiration Point in Grand Teton with kids
Steep hike to Inspiration Point
 

After a short while, you’ll see the Cathedral Group (Teewinot Mountain, Grand Teton, and Mount Owen). From then on the scenery just gets better.

Soon you’ll reach Inspiration Point with stunning views over Jenny Lake and the area. Judging by the number of friendly squirrels here, it’s a very popular place for a picnic.

Friendly squirrel at Inspiration Point in Grand Teton
Squirrels are all around you at Inspiration Point – please don’t feed them though!
 

The entire hike from Jenny Lake boat dock to Inspiration Point is just 2.2 miles (round trip). It took our family a bit less than an hour one way.

Somehow we expected this whole trip to take much longer, but taking the boat and hiking to Inspiration Point took us less than 1,5 hrs.

So without having many other plans for our day in Grand Teton, we decided to do some more hiking and continued walking further into Cascade Canyon.

View from Inspiration Point in Grand Teton National Park
View from Inspiration Point (light should be better for photography in the afternoon)
 

Hiking to Inspiration Point with Kids

The hike to Inspiration Point is not that long, but it’s really steep with some sections that could potentially be dangerous for young kids. Our boys (5, 5, and 7 years old) had no difficulties with this hike at all. So I think that any child from 4-5 years and up should be able to complete this hike.

If you are not sure if you can manage this hike, you can always give it a try and turn around if you notice that it’s too difficult for your children.

I hear that many families with young children take a Jenny Lake shuttle boat, then hike to Hidden Falls, and hike back along the southern shore of Jenny Lake instead of taking the boat back. That walk is quite flat and easy to do even with younger children.

Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point hike with kids - Grand Teton National Park, WY
Jenny Lake hiking area is really family-friendly
 

To The Forks of Cascade Canyon

From Inspiration Point take a trail heading west into Cascade Canyon. This hike is very different than the previous section as there is hardly any elevation gain. It is well suited for families with children, but of course you first have to climb to Inspiration Point in order to get here.

The first section of the hike goes through a forest and isn’t all that impressive, but after a while it becomes really beautiful. The further you go into the canyon, the better the views get.

I have to say that up to this point we weren’t that impressed with the hike, but going into Cascade Canyon really made our day – the scenery here is simply stunning.

Best National Parks in the USA for families with kids
Hiking in Cascade Canyon
 

We had read that this area is frequented by bears, especially in huckleberry and raspberry season. Indeed, there were big wild berry patches along the way, but we didn’t seen any bears here.

Anyway, it’s wise to make noise and carry a bear spray if you hike in this area, especially if you travel in a small group or in lower season or at a less popular time of the day.

No black bears or grizzlies for us, but we ran into a couple of moose in Cascade Canyon. A mother and a young were grazing in a little creek along the way, and we also saw a big male moose in the bushes just next to the road. Picas and marmots live in this area as well.

Moose in Grand Teton NP, Wyoming
Moose along the Cascade Canyon Forks trail
 

The entire hike to the Forks is 10 miles (round trip). We didn’t walk all the way to the end as there isn’t really any particular landmark at that point.

If you are a keen hiker and like to explore the Tetons trekking even further, you can continue to the North Fork of Cascade Canyon, and eventually to Lake Solitude (15.3 miles round trip, so start really early if you are planning on doing this).

There are also longer multi-day hikes possible in this area and we met quite a few hikers who were doing just that. They were fully equipped to hike and camp for a few days and had bear sprays with them. However, a couple who’d been hiking in Grand Teton National Park for 4 days told us they hadn’t seen one single bear.

While we came here for just a few hours and saw one right next to a boat deck. And we also ran into a bear at our hotel later that same day. So in any case, travel well prepared and always be aware that you are in bear country.

Hiking at Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton NP Wyoming
Cascade Canyon
 

Back to Jenny Lake

After hiking into Cascade Canyon we decided to turn around and head back to Jenny Lake. The hike back follows the exact same trail, but takes even less time since it’s pretty much downhill from Inspiration Point.

We stopped for a short picnic lunch (far away from the squirrels) and after that took the boat back to the visitor center.

In total, we spent about 5 hours in the Jenny Lake area, which still left us with a long afternoon to fill in Grand Teton NP.

 

Other beautiful places and things to do in Grand Teton NP

One of our other favorite places in Grand Tetons was the scenic Jenny Lake Road, as well as the beautiful String Lake.

We also drove the scenic Signal Mountain Peak Road, but found it not worth the long drive up. It’s nice to see if you have the time, but if you have better plans, don’t feel bad skipping it.

If you are looking for other ideas on what to see and do in Grand Teton, you can drive one of the scenic roads like e.g. The Kelly Loop, go and see the famous Mormon Row Barns, Shane Cabin, or the scenic Schwabacher’s Landing spot.

String Lake in Grand Teton National Park
String Lake is simply stunning
 

Since Grand Teton NP was also one of the last stops of our 2,5-week American road trip, we spent the rest of the day relaxing by the lake at our hotel.

There are also organized tours that you can do in the area. One of the most popular tours is this 4-hr wildlife safari adventure, or this extremely popular half-day tour that covers the main highlights.

For a truly unforgettable experience in Grand Teton, consider a hot air balloon flight with amazing sunrise views of Grand Teton NP, a helicopter flight above the mountains, or this highly-rated whitewater rafting trip from Jackson (rafting is one of the top things to do in this area in the summer!).

But if you only have one day in Grand Teton National Park, I think you will not be disappointed if you choose to do the Jenny Lake boat ride in combination with a hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It’s one of the absolute best things to do in Grand Teton NP and is popular for a reason.

READ ALSO: Best Yellowstone Tours

Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park
View from Jenny Lake shuttle boat
 

Best places to stay for exploring Grand Teton National Park

There are many accommodation options in the neighborhood, and most people choose Jackson Hole or Teton Village as their base for a Grand Teton Holiday.

There are also several extremely well-located accommodations in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, but you have to book well in advance to secure those. For that, see accommodations in Moran.

The nicest lodges in Grand Teton are Jackson Lake Lodge and Jenny Lake Lodge, but also Signal Mountain Lodge where we stayed has a stunning location and really good cabins. Once again, if traveling in high season, you’ll have to book these a year in advance!

READ ALSO: Best Hotels Near Yellowstone National Park

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and private accommodations in Jackson Hole. This is the most popular place to stay in the area, with the biggest choice of accommodations and facilities. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay.

   

What to know before visiting Grand Teton National Park

  • Grand Teton National Park has an entrance fee. If you are visiting multiple American National Parks in one year, it’s best to buy America The Beautiful Pass.
  • Many scenic roads in Grand Teton, including the road to get to Jenny Lake, are closed between November and May.
  • Avoid driving at night – there is lots of wildlife in the area and accidents are quite frequent.
  • In high season, you need to book your accommodations well in advance. We booked ours a year upfront.
  • Grand Teton is a bear country, so it’s wise to carry bear spray if you go hiking to less popular areas or at less popular times.
  • You can see the best of Grand Teton in just one day, and many people do just that, devoting more time to the nearby Yellowstone National Park. However, with so many lakes, hiking paths, bike trails, wildlife, and a variety of activities Grand Teton is also a wonderful vacation destination for nature lovers looking for a quieter vacation. We met many people spending their yearly summer holiday here.
  • If you can, plan to spend more time in this area. Be sure to check our guide to the best things to do in Jackson Hole. Jackson town is a popular base for visiting Grand Teton National Park, but there’s so much more to see and do nearby than that!
 

So, this is our short guide for an unforgettable day in Grand Teton National Park.

I hope that this helps you plan your own perfect day trip to Grand Teton NP. Have a great trip!

READ ALSO: Best things to do in Yellowstone

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

Best day trip in Grand Teton National Park, WY - Jenny Lake and hiking to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
What to do in Grand Teton National Park in just one day
 
Jenny Lake and hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon - Grand Teton NP, Wyoming USA

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kassandra

Sunday 5th of June 2022

Hi! My husband and I are going to Yellowstone and Grand Teton in October, do you know what we could do for an itinerary in Grand Teton?? I know Jenny Lake closes at the end of September so I am not sure if we would still be able to do the hikes or if there are other activities you recommend!

Jurga

Monday 6th of June 2022

Hi Kassandra, from what I see, you can book a boat ride on Jenny Lake for October and these wildlife tours run at that time of the year as well. So I think you should be able to do quite a lot and pretty much everything described in our article, except hiking at higher elevations. However, we haven't been to the region at that time of the year, so I can't really help you further. But I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to fill one day in Grand Teton at any time of the year. Have a great trip!

Julie

Tuesday 31st of May 2022

We are planning our first trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks the last week of June. Your website has helped me get the lay of the land, must see lists, and easy hiking info. We only have a week, so making a plan ahead of time is a must. Thank you so much!

Jurga

Wednesday 1st of June 2022

Glad to help, Julie. Have a wonderful trip!

Josephine Ong

Wednesday 13th of October 2021

We are planning to visit grand teton this coming december 26 to december 28. However, i am having second thoughts since after reading your article, it seems that there are no shuttle boat going to hidden falls and inspiration point. Does it mean, we have no chance of seeing these places while in Wyoming?

Josephine Ong

Thursday 14th of October 2021

@Jurga, thanks for this information

Jurga

Wednesday 13th of October 2021

Hi Josephine, Grand Teton will normally have lots of snow in winter, so no, it's not the time to go hiking. There are many other great winter activities though - skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, it's also a good time to see wildlife, etc. So while it's not comparable to a summer visit, it can still be very enjoyable! Take a look also at our guide to things to do in Jackson Hole for some suggestions for all seasons. You can also opt to visit Yellowstone in addition to Grand Teton. There's a really nice winter tour that visits both parks, I see they have a 27/12 departure day as well, but not sure if this would fit with your travel plans... Hope this helps.

Diane

Sunday 7th of March 2021

Hi Jurga! Thank you so much for your tips! You make me wish I could go tomorrow! We are visiting the end of August, early September and are planning to visit Grand Teton, then Yellowstone, then Glacier National Park.. I was thinking of staying 2 nights in Jackson Hole- I don't know yet what time we'll fly in and day 1 may be just a travel day. On day 2 we would visit GTNP. Should we stay in Jackson Hole again that night or continue straight to Yellowstone the second night? I'm planning to follow your one day itinerary for GTNP. I have accomodations for 4 nights right in Yellowstone, then we would drive to Glacier. Right now I have 2 nights in St. Mary's and 2 nights at Cedar Creek. I'm wondering if I could change it to 3 nights instead of 4 or should I keep it at 4 nights because our first day will be spent driving? Your advice is invaluable! Thank you!

Jurga

Sunday 7th of March 2021

Hi Diane, sounds like an amazing trip you have planned! For where to stay after visiting Grand Teton, ideally, you would stay around Moran - we have suggestions and links in our article. See the 'Best places to stay for exploring Grand Teton National Park' section almost at the end. However, accommodation there is very limited, so if you don't find a place to stay, you'd have to either return to Jackson or continue to Yellowstone for that night. The rest of your question isn't very clear to me - are you wondering if you need 4 nights in Yellowstone or whether you should change your 4 nights (2+2) to 3 in Glacier NP? I guess this all depends on your flights (if you are flying) and also on what you are planning to see and do. In Yellowstone, having 4 nights means that you'd have just 3 full days which is a nice amount of time to see the main things without having to rush everywhere. You'll definitely not get bored. Then, the drive between Yellowstone and Glacier NP will take you the whole day, indeed. So you'll be tired and won't be to do much that day anymore. So having 2 nights at St Mary's will just give you one full day there, which I think is worth it. The same with Cedar Creek - the first day, you'll drive through the park to get there and can see a lot of places on your way. But if you want to explore Glacier NP deeper, then I think you'll be glad to have one extra day there as well. So if you can, I think I'd keep your 4 nights in Yellowstone and 4 in Glacier NP. And see if you can find a place in Grand Teton for one night - that would save you some driving. PS Here you can also find our itinerary suggestions for Yellowstone and also itinerary suggestions for Glacier National Park. Have a great trip!

Kassie

Sunday 27th of December 2020

Hi Jurga,

Your blog has been so helpful so far in helping me plan a trip to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons this May. I was able reserve a campsite for 4 nights at the Madison campground in Yellowstone (5/19-5/23). We are flying into Bozeman and are staying overnight there so we can get to the park early the following morning. What would you recommend as far as an itinerary? I really would like to get into Grand Teton for at least one day. I'm struggling with making the most our time since there is so much to cover!

Thank you so much!

Jurga

Monday 28th of December 2020

Hi Kassie, glad that you found a campsite and the location is great for exploring Yellowstone. For how to plan your time in Yellowstone, please check our Yellowstone itinerary suggestions. For Grand Teton, I see that the the tour that includes the Jenny Lake boat ride already runs in May, so you can probably do that and maybe even hike up to Inspiration Point. Alternatively, you can just drive the scenic roads in Grand Teton, check out some nice viewpoints, maybe try to see wildlife by going early in the morning. Here are some things you can do in Grand Teton in addition to the Jenny Lake boat and hike: Antelope Flats and the historic barns along Mormon Row. The scenery at Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, String Lake, and Schwabacher Landing on the east shore of the Snake River. With just 4 nights in Yellowstone, I really wouldn't spend more than 1 day in Grand Teton. You'll need that time in Yellowstone. Hope this helps.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.