Don’t treat Inspiration Point like the finish line

The shuttle isn’t the mistake. Treating Inspiration Point like the finish line is.

We’ve been to Grand Teton more times than we can count, and this is one of the biggest things we tell our friends before they go.

Get there early. Jenny Lake parking fills quickly, and arriving early gives you a better chance of seeing wildlife.

Take the shuttle across. No reservations. Boats generally leave every 10 to 15 minutes. Adult tickets: $20 round trip or $15 one way.

2026 hours: June 6 to September 7, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. September 8 to September 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Take the boat, hike to Hidden Falls, continue up to Inspiration Point, then keep going into Cascade Canyon. The climb to Inspiration Point is the steeper part. After that the trail gets much more gradual. Continue as far as you want.

Bonus: continue to Lake Solitude for a much bigger day. Using the shuttle both ways, about 14.4 miles round trip with roughly 2,670 feet of elevation gain.

At the first boulder field, stop and listen for pika chirping between the rocks. For moose, check near the water and in the trees along the north side of the trail.

Carry bear spray. Stay alert. Give wildlife plenty of space.