Sight · Grand Teton National Park
An easy wetlands loop with two ponds and Teton Range views.
Overview
Map
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 area
Colter Bay: Lake Views, Artists and Lunch“Colter Bay's waterfront is ahead, with an easy lake view from the visitor center's deck. Start there to look across Jackson Lake toward Mount Moran.”
Plays on the road 0.9 mi from Swan 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
Swan Lake is a named lake reached on the Heron Pond-Swan Lake loop from Colter Bay. The easy 3.1-mile loop winds through forest and wetlands, with views of the Teton Range. It suits a relaxed walk with two water stops; plan for the full circuit and its 320 feet of climbing.
From Colter Bay, the route reaches Heron Pond before continuing to Swan Lake. The trail is relatively level, but exposed roots and rocks make the footing uneven. Pets aren't allowed. No reservation or separate activity fee is required; the park entrance fee applies.
Both ponds are home to birds and other wildlife, though sightings aren't guaranteed. When a Teton view opens, keep some water or marsh grass in the foreground to show the landscape around the mountains.
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
EasySwan Lake Trail1.9 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayA short lake walk through meadow and pines to lily-pad shallows.
EasyHeron Pond Trail2.9 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.7 mi awayLily pads frame a quiet pond beneath the Teton skyline.
ModerateHermitage Point Trail9.5 mi · 5.5 hr · 0.8 mi awayA boulder shore opens onto Jackson Lake and the Tetons.
EasyHeron Pond-Swan Lake Loop Trail3.1 mi · 1.8 hr · 0.8 mi awayAn easy loop linking two ponds beneath the Tetons.
EasyColter Bay Lakeshore Trail2.2 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.9 mi awayTwo shoreline loops trade forest walking for big Teton views.
EasyLunch Tree Hill Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 3 mi awayA quick climb for Willow Flats and a wide Teton view.
EasyWillow Flats Trail4.4 mi · 2 hr · 3.2 mi awayEasy old-road walking through willows with the Tetons ahead.
ModerateGrand View Point Trail5.8 mi · 3.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayThree lake views make the long lodge approach worth the climb.Sight · 0.5 mi awayHeron PondWaterfowl and mountain reflections reward the shore spur.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayColter Bay CorralA guided ride brings the Tetons into view from horseback.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayColter Bay Marina & Boat LaunchRent a boat or launch yours beneath the Tetons
Restaurant · 0.9 mi awayRanch House at Colter BayA seasonal Colter Bay meal with a little ranching history.
Campground · 0.9 mi awayColter Bay Tent VillageBunks, canvas walls and a wood stove among the pines.
Visitor center · 0.9 mi awayColter Bay Visitor CenterA compact ranger stop with Indigenous art and a lakefront deck.
Lodging · 1 mi awayColter Bay CabinsA historic log-cabin base near Jackson Lake.
Store · 1 mi awayColter Bay General Store & LaunderetteA practical resupply stop with ready-to-eat food, showers and laundry.Parkwolf’s Grand Teton ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
