Sight · Grand Teton National Park
A short walk leaves the busier String Lake shore behind.
Overview
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Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Teton Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Teton National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Teton audio tourRecorded for this place
String and Leigh Lakes: Picnic, Paddle or Walk“String Lake is coming up, a good place to stop for a picnic or time on the water beneath the Tetons.”
Plays as you drive up to Leigh Lake in the Parkwolf Grand Teton Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…We have been driving around with the audio tour and it has been informational and spot on. The whole family has been impressed. We used it for Yellowstone and Grand Teton.”
Guide
Leigh Lake is a mountain lake north of String Lake, reached on foot or by boat and known for its Teton views. The usual day visit follows an easy 1.8-mile round trip to the southern end, with about 110 feet of climbing. It is a good choice when you want a quieter shoreline than String Lake without taking on a steep hike.
The path follows String Lake's eastern shore to Leigh Lake's southern end. It is mostly flat, but includes five or six stairs, roots, branches and rocks. There is no road to the lake; the Leigh Lake lot commonly fills in mid-summer, so an early start helps.
Continuing farther along Leigh Lake's eastern shore brings more beach access and a less obstructed view of the water and surrounding mountains. That extra stretch is the better place to frame an open-water photo. The String and Leigh Lakes area is also used for swimming and picnicking. Nonmotorized boats can reach Leigh Lake after a portage from String Lake, giving paddlers another way to visit its quieter water.
Bears are commonly active around the Leigh Lake trails, and snow can linger on some routes here until mid-July. Check current trail and bear advisories before setting out. Dogs are not allowed on the Leigh Lake hike, and overnight backcountry stays require a permit.
Wildlife
172 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
195 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
32 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,816 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
614 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
738 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Teton. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyString Lake Loop3.7 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.7 mi awayEasy lake circuit, gentler east shore, climbing west ridge.
EasyLeigh Lake Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.7 mi awayA short lakeshore walk ends where String meets Leigh.
ModerateBearpaw and Trapper Lakes Trail9.2 mi · 5 hr · 0.7 mi awayLong lake shores lead to Bearpaw, Trapper, and a view of Moran.
ModerateBearpaw Lake Trail7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.7 mi awayA long forest walk to Bearpaw Lake, with little climbing.
ChallengingHolly Lake Trail12.8 mi · 8 hr · 0.9 mi awayA full-day climb from String Lake to a high alpine lake.
ChallengingPaintbrush Canyon - Cascade Canyon Loop19.9 mi · 12.5 hr · 0.9 mi awayTwo canyons, one high pass, and a long day in the Tetons.
ChallengingLake of the Crags Trail4.6 mi · 7.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA steep, unmaintained climb through Hanging Canyon to two alpine lakes.
ModerateForks of Cascade Canyon9.4 mi · 7 hr · 2.3 mi awayA high canyon walk whose hardest steps come before the big views.
Picnic area · 0.7 mi awayString Lake Picnic AreaA shady lakeside lunch spot with swimming and Teton views.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayCathedral Group TurnoutA quick roadside view of the Cathedral peaks and fault scarp.
Lodging · 1 mi awayJenny Lake LodgeA seasonal cabin stay with five-course dinners and Dude Ranch roots.
Scenic pullout · 1.5 mi awayMountain View TurnoutA wide Teton panorama without a hike
Sight · 1.8 mi awayCascade Canyon TurnoutA quick roadside glimpse into glacier-carved Cascade Canyon.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayJenny Lake OverlookA classic lake-and-canyon view with almost no walking.Sight · 2.2 mi awayBearpaw LakeA modest stop before the more scenic Trapper Lake.
Sight · 2.4 mi awayInspiration PointA rocky climb buys a wide-open look across Jenny Lake.Parkwolf’s Grand Teton ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
