Lakes Near Jackson: Grand Teton Lakes & Hikes

Jackson, Wyoming sits in the middle of some of the most spectacular lake country on Earth – the glacial lakes of Grand Teton National Park and the Gros Ventre. This guide rounds up the best lakes near Jackson for hiking, fishing, boating and scenery, with how far each one is. It’s part of our Wyoming Lakes Database.

Table of Contents

The Grand Teton lakes
Beyond the park
What to do
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest lake to Jackson, WY?
What is the best lake near Jackson for swimming?
What lakes can you hike to near Jackson?

The Grand Teton lakes

Jenny Lake – about 20 minutes north, the crown jewel of Grand Teton, with a shuttle boat to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Jackson Lake – about 45 minutes north, the park’s largest lake, with marinas, boating and trophy lake trout.
String Lake and Leigh Lake – the best swimming and paddling lakes in the park.
Taggart and Bradley lakes – easy day-hike lakes at the foot of the Tetons.
Phelps Lake – in the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, with its famous Jumping Rock.

Beyond the park

Lower Slide Lake – about 40 minutes northeast in the Gros Ventre, the lake created by the 1925 Gros Ventre Slide, with boating and pike fishing.
Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake – in southern Yellowstone, about 1.5 hours north via the park.

What to do

The lakes near Jackson are mostly about scenery, hiking and paddling rather than big-boat recreation: hike to Taggart, Bradley or Phelps; swim or paddleboard at String Lake; take the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake; or boat and fish for lake trout on Jackson Lake. Trout fishing in Grand Teton uses a Wyoming state license (Yellowstone has its own park permit). All of this is bear country, so carry bear spray, and arrive early – trailhead parking fills fast in summer.