Jackson Lake, Taggart Lake, and Mormon Row
2 / 5
On Day 2 in the Tetons, we got up early for the second morning in a row. We hiked the Lakeshore Trail, a flat 2 mile loop near our campground that goes through forest along the edge of Jackson Lake. The Tetons brought the views like always, but as far as wildlife on the trail… a single robin.
View from Lakeshore Trail
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At 10 AM, we boarded a scenic boat tour of Jackson Lake. The guide shared how the Tetons differ from other ranges because they rise abruptly without foothills, making them especially striking. We also learned the name Grand Teton comes from French trappers, who looked up at the jagged peaks and decided to call them "les trois tétons" — the three breasts. Classy.
Another interesting tidbit: when a bear in the park earns the title of “problem bear,” they sometimes relocate it to the backcountry near Mount Moran. So if you're thinking about climbing that mountain, keep an extra eye out. Mount Moran is popular for winter ascents. People wait until Jackson Lake freezes over, ski across it, do a 13 hour climb and then ski back down in about 30 minutes. I’ll skip that one—only because of the tale of the problem bears, of course. In addition to spectacular views and good stories, we also spotted a bald eagle sitting on its nest.
After the boat ride, we took a break for lunch at the camper. We then set out on our afternoon hike, but first made a quick stop at the Teton Glacier Turnout, a favorite from the day before, just to soak it in one more time.
We hit the Taggart Lake Trail, a 3.8 mile loop with moderate elevation gain and plenty of great views along the way. A thunderstorm rolled in while we were on the trail, but we kept going. Taggart Lake was quiet and still, with low clouds hanging over the peaks and a soft light reflecting off the water.
We ended the day at Mormon Row, home to a row of historic barns and old homesteads framed by the Tetons. The setting sun broke through the clouds, casting light across the fields, and to top it off, a rainbow appeared. On our way back to the campground, we spotted two pronghorn antelope against a backdrop of the bison herd. Not a bad finish for a day that started with just a robin.
Another interesting tidbit: when a bear in the park earns the title of “problem bear,” they sometimes relocate it to the backcountry near Mount Moran. So if you're thinking about climbing that mountain, keep an extra eye out. Mount Moran is popular for winter ascents. People wait until Jackson Lake freezes over, ski across it, do a 13 hour climb and then ski back down in about 30 minutes. I’ll skip that one—only because of the tale of the problem bears, of course. In addition to spectacular views and good stories, we also spotted a bald eagle sitting on its nest.
After the boat ride, we took a break for lunch at the camper. We then set out on our afternoon hike, but first made a quick stop at the Teton Glacier Turnout, a favorite from the day before, just to soak it in one more time.
We hit the Taggart Lake Trail, a 3.8 mile loop with moderate elevation gain and plenty of great views along the way. A thunderstorm rolled in while we were on the trail, but we kept going. Taggart Lake was quiet and still, with low clouds hanging over the peaks and a soft light reflecting off the water.
We ended the day at Mormon Row, home to a row of historic barns and old homesteads framed by the Tetons. The setting sun broke through the clouds, casting light across the fields, and to top it off, a rainbow appeared. On our way back to the campground, we spotted two pronghorn antelope against a backdrop of the bison herd. Not a bad finish for a day that started with just a robin.