Jenny Lake Loop

Starting from the Jenny Lake Trailhead, you'll follow a well-worn path along the eastern shore where the lake shimmers like hammered metal against the Teton skyline. The east side is flat and social — expect company. Once you cross the String Lake bridge and swing around to the west shore, the trail gets quieter and the views get absurd: the Cathedral Group rises so steeply from the water that your neck will hurt from looking up. You'll pass junctions for Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, both worth the short detours. The trail surface is mostly packed dirt with some rocky stretches on the west side, and the full loop takes three to five hours at a comfortable pace. This is the trail for hikers who want a Grand Teton postcard without a Grand Teton sufferfest — all the drama, none of the altitude sickness.