Lunch Tree Hill Trail

Lunch Tree Hill Trail is a 0.5-mile lollipop loop from Jackson Lake Lodge up to a knoll above Willow Flats. Allow 20 to 45 minutes for the paved climb, interpretive stops, and the view. It’s a good pick when you want a quick outing without taking on a longer hike; the climb is short but averages about a 10% grade.

Start behind the northwest corner of Jackson Lake Lodge’s back deck and follow the signs uphill to the hilltop. The trail makes a short loop around the knoll and returns to the lodge. The path is paved, but the grade comes on quickly, so this feels steeper than the distance suggests.

From the top, look across Willow Flats toward Jackson Lake and the northern Teton Range. The view is the reason to make the climb; frame the open flats in front of the mountains if you’re taking a photo. Interpretive plaques along the walk cover the area’s geology and wildlife.

A large rock at the top carries a plaque honoring John D. Rockefeller Jr. The hill is also tied to a local park story: it’s rumored that Rockefeller and Yellowstone superintendent Horace Albright discussed the Jackson Hole Plan here.

Park at Jackson Lake Lodge and follow the trail signs from the back deck. The lodge has restaurants and shops if you want to pair the walk with a meal; those are back at the lodge, not on the trail. The park lists the walk for spring, summer, and fall. A general park entrance fee applies, with no separate activity fee or reservation required. Pets aren’t allowed.