Lunch Tree Hill

Lunch Tree Hill is a small hilltop above Jackson Lake Lodge, reached by a signed interpretive walk with a view over Willow Flats and the northern Teton Range. It is a worthwhile add-on when you are already at the lodge and want a short uphill walk to an open panorama; it is not a flat stroll.

The signed loop is roughly half a mile. The paved path climbs steeply, averaging about a 10% slope. Published climb estimates range from 80 to 110 feet, so treat the gain as approximate; allow about 20 to 45 minutes. Start behind the lodge at the northwest corner of the back deck and follow the signs. Pets are not allowed. There is no separate activity fee or reservation, but the park entrance fee applies.

Willow Flats spread below the hill, with Jackson Lake and Donoho Island beyond and the northern Teton skyline behind them. Grand Teton and Mount Moran are the prominent peaks to pick out. For a photo, keep the flats in the foreground and the range above them, then shift your framing to include the lake and island.

The wetlands are known for moose, beaver and sandhill cranes. They may be distant from the overlook, so binoculars help; wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

A plaque at the hilltop points to the story behind the name: John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Horace Albright, a Yellowstone superintendent, are said to have shared a picnic here and discussed the Jackson Hole Plan. The park presents the meeting as a rumor, so enjoy it as local lore rather than a documented event.

The trail begins at Jackson Lake Lodge, whose restaurants and shops make it easy to combine the walk with a meal or a supply stop. Those services are at the lodge, not on the hill; the attraction itself is the short climb, interpretive route and view.