When Grand Teton National Park was first founded in 1929, it included only the major peaks and six glacial lakes at the mountains’ feet. However, over the ensuing decades, the park expanded to its present size, now showcasing more lakes than you can count. Recently, a local woman made it her mission to swim in each of the park’s named lakes. This project took her several years. (No word on how many times she got hypothermia; even in the hottest part of summer, few lakes here get above 45 degrees!) Grand Teton National Park’s lakes aren’t merely numerous, but also of very varying character. There are tiny high alpine tarns tucked into basins hidden from below, as well as Jackson Lake, one of the largest (forty square miles) and deepest (up to 430 feet) mountain lakes in the country. We recommend a visit to the latter, as well as to any or all of the five below.
Holly Lake
Hidden about halfway up Paintbrush Canyon—although it will feel like it’s higher!—Holly Lake’s greenish waters are ringed by steep rock walls with even higher mountains towering above. You can experience Holly Lake on a day hike, camp here overnight, or stop by while doing the 20-mile Paintbrush to Cascade loop hike.
Lake Solitude
Whether you choose a 16- or 19-mile out-and-back hike from the Jenny Lake trailhead (the distance varies depending on whether you take a ferry across Jenny Lake), Lake Solitude is easily the park’s most popular backcountry lake. This is not without good reason. At 9,000 feet in the back of Cascade Canyon, Lake Solitude reflects the Cathedral Group—the Grand Teton, Teewinot, and Mt. Owen—especially at sunset.
Bradley and Taggart Lakes
Bradley and Taggart lakes are among the original six lakes of Grand Teton National Park. While they’ve been joined by dozens of other lakes, they’re still worth a visit, particularly because the hiking trails to both are among the shortest and flattest in the park. Taggart, positioned at the mouth of Avalanche Canyon, is the more southerly of the two, while Bradley Lake, being smaller, attracts far fewer visitors.
String Lake
If you’re looking to swim, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), kayak, or canoe, String Lake, located immediately northwest of Jenny Lake, is the ideal spot. Rarely deeper than five feet, the water warms up quite nicely—into the low 50s, at least. Picnic areas line the eastern shore, and a hiking trail circles the lake, making it perfect for a relaxing day outdoors.
Jenny Lake
Named for the Shoshone wife of the famous trapper “Beaver Dick” Leigh—there’s also a Leigh Lake in the park—Jenny Lake is the heart of Grand Teton National Park. You can escape the crowds by exploring the lake’s northeastern shore, accessible via a one-way scenic drive or on the passenger ferry that operates across the lake all day during the summer.
