I’ll start by saying I’m biased. Grand Teton National Park is my favorite (so far) out of the 22 we have been to. It was also my daughter’s first National Park at 1 year old. Grand Teton National Park is underrated as being a family friendly travel destination in my opinion and there are tons of activities, including easier hikes for everyone to enjoy. Here are 4 of the best kid friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park.
Phelps Lake Hike
There are a few ways to get to Phelps Lake that are more kid-friendly. Parking for all is at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve (LSR Preserve). The preserve is limited to 50 cars, and someone will direct you to your spot if you arrive between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You have a better chance of finding parking if you arrive earlier or get there after 4 p.m.
There are two trails you can follow to the lake, and they can be looped as one. To the left, you can follow the Lake Creek Trail. Go to the right to follow the Woodland Trail. If you choose to do the loop, they connect near the lake for a total of 3.2 miles with 269 elevation gain. Trail info HERE.
We have had to turn around and re-attempt this trail because we saw a sow and cubs (who would not budge out of the way). While on any trail in Grand Teton National Park, be prepared for wildlife encounters, carry bear spray, and know how to use it.
Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Hike
Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake are popular hikes that double as one of the best kid friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park. There is one parking lot and then some overflow parking on the road. This is one spot you’ll want to get to fairy early or later in the day to beat the crowds.
The trail starts off to the right, you’ll cross a bridge then pass a horse farm. There will be some elevation gain from this point and then it’ll flatten out. If you want to only see Taggart Lake and shorten the hike to 3 miles as an out and back, you’ll want to stay to the left at the split. For Bradley Lake, stay to the right. If you’re doing the 6 mile loop you can decide which way you prefer since they connect. Trail info HERE.
The shorelines of the lake are not as open as some of the other lakes within the Park, but it does make a good spot to enjoy a lunch. If you bring food, please remember not to feed the animals and keep the wildlife. wild.
String Lake and Leigh Lake Hike
This is the place we tend to always go back to, no matter what. String Lake and Leigh Lake are my personal favorites, plus they’re super family friendly spots.
You don’t have to hike at all to see String Lake, but I do recommend if you can, take the hike over to Leigh Lake. If you’re new to hiking, you’ll want to look into the day hike 10 essentials. You’ll want to park in the last lot, which is considered the Leigh Lake Trailhead, but it connects the entire shoreline of String Lake which is full of spots to put your feet in the water or have a picnic.
String Lake is more shallow than many other lakes, so it’s warmer than many other bodies of water in Grand Teton National Park (which is still not technically “warm”). It draws in the crowds once the weather heats up. Leigh Lake is less crowded and a bit cooler. To get to Leigh Lake, you’ll take the trail which is about 1.8 miles out and back and relatively flat, but you can turn around when you’d like. Trail info HERE.
Right: String Lake
Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point Hike
This is the most popular of all of the kid friendly hikes in this post. The parking area is very crowded but it is a larger lot. I’d still prepare to try to beat the crowds on this one since the shuttle boat wait time can be long.
If you take the shuttle across the lake, it cuts the hike down significantly. You can see Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point in a 1.8 mile out and back hike. There is a 419 elevation gain. If you are short on time or prefer less elevation, you can skip Inspiration Point and just visit Hidden Falls. Inspiration Point has some steeper drop offs, so even though kids can do it, I’d keep them close or wear the smaller, wilder ones. Trail info for the entire hike from the boat shuttle HERE.
If you want to explore more of this area and make a day out of it, instead of taking the shuttle, start by hiking towards the left and hike around Jenny Lake. You can branch off to Moose Ponds for another kid friendly option.
Final Thoughts
I hope that if Grand Teton isn’t on your radar, you one day consider it as it truly is a magical place. If you plan on going to Grand Teton and are worried that it wouldn’t be a good fit for your family, I hope this post has helped you decide since there truly is so much to do for families of all ages. As always, please remember to leave no trace while visiting our National Parks. There are plenty of other hikes in the park that are also kid friendly, and plenty of other must see spots, but these are the best kid friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park.
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