Hidden Falls, Teton National Park

Distance: 4.9 Miles
Elevation Gain: 606 Feet
Location: Moose, Wyoming

Tucked behind Jenny Lake inside one of the most beautiful National Parks in the US, Grand Teton National Park, the trailhead to Hidden Falls offers a few different route options and access points. On a cool, early summer day we decided to take the Jenny Lake Loop trail around the lake to soak in as much of the park as possible on this short hike.

With some leftover snow from the Wyoming winter, as well as rain from the night before, the trail was a bit slippery in some places. However, a good shoe and smart foot placement makes it no more than a fun challenge.

After making our way around Jenny Lake (about 2.5 miles) and to the backside of the trail, the fun really began. The crowd picks up a bit at the Hidden Falls trailhead due to the boat drop off point nearby (more on that later). The trail begins to steepen up just a bit as you begin to hear the sounds of loud, rushing water. About half a mile into the Hidden Falls trail you meet the Cascade Creek, a strong-flowing creek that runs from the top of the Teton mountains and into the nearby Jenny Lake.

The most exciting part of our hike came just under a mile in from the start of this new trail. A small crowd began to gather and point into the trees so we hustled over to see what the rest of the hikers had spotted. And, lucky enough, only 30 or so feet from the trail, we saw two young grizzly bears. And a friendly little marmot.

After the quick pit stop to witness the beauty of these two bears we continued our hike to the viewpoint of Hidden Falls. A towering 100 foot cascading waterfall that flows year round.

We sat for a moment, taking in the views and the fresh air before heading to the next stop, Inspiration Point. A short addition to the 4.5 mile hike is an uphill, mile long stint that offers views of Jenny Lake and the surrounding areas of Grand Teton National Park.

The start of some rain picking up made us opt for the easy boat ride across Jenny Lake which offers a beautiful and unique view of the Teton mountains nearby.

All in all, this short hike was a fantastic way to see a bit of everything in Grand Teton NP. From wildlife to waterfalls and mountains, this is a hike I’d love to do again soon and highly recommend for anyone able to take the time to do so.