The view from Inspiration Point draws thousands of visitors each year. Jenny Lake lies below to the east and the Teton Range towers to the west. On a clear day, you can see the Yellowstone Plateau to the north, the Absaroka and Gros Ventre ranges to the east, and the Snake River Range to the south. You feel as though you are high in the mountains, yet you are only 420 feet above the lake below. You are standing at the mouth of Cascade Canyon that slices through the heart of the Teton Range inviting you to explore.

Some hikers circle around the north or south end of Jenny Lake to reach the west shore. Others take advantage of the Jenny Lake Shuttle Boat (fee charged) and shorten the hike by roughly 2 miles each way. From the west boat dock, the first half mile leads you to Hidden Falls and then the second half mile climbs steeply to Inspiration Point. Crews have been working on the trails to improve the visitor experience. The Civilian Conservation Corp constructed the original trail during the Great Depression. They carved the final switchback out of the rock cliff! Imagine the challenges they faced...

Data:
Distance - 6.0 miles (9.7 km) RT; via shuttle boat - 2.0 miles (3.2 km) RT
Total Climbing - 700 feet (213 m); via shuttle boat - 420 feet (128 m)
Time - 4 hours; via shuttle boat - 2.5 hours
Difficulty - Moderate to Strenuous

Name Origin

This viewpoint offers a spectacular panoramic view of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole to the east and the Cathedral Group to the west.