The Best Place To Swim In Grand Teton National Park
String Lake In Grand Teton NP
I am a sucker for any trail that leads you to a cold alpine lake. Grand Teton National Park did not disappoint in this respect. In fact, it offers plenty of short, easy family-friendly hikes that take you to blue clear waters surrounded by the backdrop of beautiful mountain vistas. Score!
String Lake is the best place to swim in Grand Teton National Park. It is shallow, so although it is still very cold, it’s not quite as freezing as some of the other lakes in the park. The sandy bottom of String Lake is also easy on the feet making it a very kid-friendly lake to enjoy. My girls brought their snorkel masks and had a blast. Be forewarned though, the water is cold!
Shallow water of String Lake
You’ll find a lot of people at String Lake, because visitors can park at the nearby picnic area and walk a short distance to its shore. We spent the day here, bringing our inflatable tubes and enjoying a picnic and swim along with dozens of folks on tubes, canoes, SUPs, etc. Although it’s a popular spot, t’s still beautiful.
Everyone floating on String Lake
Leigh Lake Trailhead
To avoid some of the crowds, you can park at the picnic area and proceed to the north end of the parking lot where you’ll find the Leigh Lake trailhead. This flat, easy trail leads you along the eastern shore of String Lake on the way to Leigh Lake. Simply walk this beautiful trail, and you’ll leave most of the crowds behind.
At the 1/2 mile mark, you’ll find a small sandy beach on the northern end of String Lake and a bench to enjoy the view. With this short walk, you could even pack your towels and inflatable tubes to enjoy at this picturesque spot.
Leigh Lake Trailhead
Flat, easy trail
Beach at the 1/2 mile mark
Spend some time here and then continue on the trail another 1/2 mile or so to where the trail splits right to go to the Leigh Lake canoe portage area or left to continue toward the bridge crossing the Leigh Lake outlet.
Leigh Lake Canoe Portage
Go right following the signs toward the portage area, and you’ll have views of Leigh Lake, a beautiful wildflower meadow, and a fun rock to climb. This was a quiet and beautiful area that not many seem to visit.
View of Leigh Lake from the canoe portage area
Leigh Lake Outlet Bridge
From the portage area, return to the trail junction and this time, take the trail leading to the bridge. Cross the bridge and have fun climbing the large boulders, skipping rocks, and listening to the sound of the roaring water. We turned around after crossing the bridge and returned to the picnic area making our hike just over 2 miles roundtrip.
Bridge over Leigh Lake Outlet
Want A Longer Hike in Grand Teton National Park?
If you want a longer hike, you can extend either of these trails. From the Leigh Lake trailhead at the parking lot, you can hike 3.7 miles past the canoe portage area to the north end of Leigh Lake or you can cross the Leigh Lake Outlet bridge to loop around String Lake for a 3.4 mile roundtrip hike. I’d like to return to hike the Leigh Lake trail with its impressive views of Mount Moran and more sandy beaches.
See NPS description of String and Leigh Lakes.
Tips For Visiting String Lake in Grand Teton National Park
Arrive early (before 9am) or arrive later in the afternoon (after 5pm). It’s a popular spot so finding parking can be a challenge.
Bring bear spray. We saw a bear walking off trail in the opposite direction of us during our hike. Some folks stopped to observe but we zoomed on!
Bring mosquito spray. Once you stop walking, the mosquitoes are happy to greet you.
Wear good shoes for walking on this somewhat rocky terrain.
Pack an inflatable tube. We wore swimsuits under our clothes and packed small inflatable tubes in our backpack to inflate later at a less-crowded beach area along the trail.
Directions
From the Moose Entrance Station of Grand Teton National Park, drive north for 10 miles to the North Jenny Lake Junction. Turn left here and take a right at the stop sign to follow the road to the String Lake area. Continue to the end of the road to park at the picnic area.
Where To Stay When Visiting Grand Teton National Park
If you are lucky enough to get reservations inside the park, we loved the cabins at Signal Mountain Lodge. It’s a great central location to explore the north and south sides of the park. You’ll also find plenty of lodging options in nearby Jackson, WY.
Staying inside the national park is ideal for minimizing driving and maximizing your time in the park. That being said, lodging options are expensive and fill up quickly, so reservations should be made as soon as possible, even a year in advance.
The park’s Jenny Lake Lodge is the most expensive and desired of the bunch ($500+) and has not been included here due to its price and difficulty (read “impossibility”) of getting a reservation.
Signal Mountain Lodge and Dornan’s Spur Ranch Cabins offer the best price point for location and amenities and are our top two choices for lodging.
This is our personal list of places that we have stayed in previously, have been recommended by friends we trust, or we have bookmarked as possibilities for future visits. Determine your budget, and you’ll find plenty of options. Note that summer season in this area is relatively expensive.
VRBO Lodging Options in Grand Teton National Park
You’ll find plenty of VRBO options in nearby Jackson Hole, Teton Village, and Wilson. All locations are good and offer more space and amenities than the lodging found inside the park.
One of a Kind Cabin Located Within Grand Teton National Park. VRBO 437520. I have always wanted to stay here, but alas, it is quickly booked. A 2 bedroom rustic cabin with the national park in your back yard. It’s located just 10 minutes from the park entrance.
Beautiful Creekside Condo in Scenic Downtown Jackson Hole! VRBO 349987. For those who want more amenities, this 2 bedroom condo is located downtown within walking distance to shops and restaurants yet 15 minutes to the national park. You’ll find plenty of other vacation rentals in Jackson.
Gorgeous Condo in perfect location! SPECIAL RATES! VRBO 153720ha. I like the location of this 2 bedroom condo. “The location is one of the most desirable since you are near everything of interest: downtown Jackson (6 miles), the Teton Village ski area where Jackson Hole Ski Resort resides (3 miles) and Teton National park which connects with Yellowstone for an easy day trip (3 miles).” There are several more condos in this particular area if this one is booked. Consider VRBO 2149627 for example.