Outbound Collective logo

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. 

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app
Download GPX File

Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Forest
Lake
River
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildlife

Hidden Falls & Jenny Lake Loop Reviews

Went in the peak of the summer season when the trails inside the park were pretty well frequented. Because you can take the ferry across Jenny Lake this area specifically become very accessible to families and the multitude of tourists. With that being said, we still got a chance to be in solitude near the waterfall and even had a close encounter with a brown bear while eating lunch in the area. A beautiful place no matter the season!!

It's a fun hike and there are beautiful views of the valley but the falls don't compare to those in the PNW. Still a stunning sight to see if you're looking for one of the better falls in the area.

Sure, the Jenny Lake Area is one of the top tourist attractions in GTNP, but we hiked this trail in mid-July and didn't feel like we were overwhelmed by other hikers. Plus, we figured we'd be seeing other people along the way anyway so we were prepared to run into other hikers. That being said, I still felt like there were plenty of times when we were hiking just by ourselves. Plus the falls are absolutely beautiful. The trail will take you on the backside of Jenny Lake and often times you will feel like you're hiking in the PNW because the vegetation is so lush.

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

Let Adventure be your Destination in Wyoming

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.

Learn More