Willow Flats Trail

Willow Flats Trail is a 4.36-mile out-and-back, round trip, from the south side of Jackson Lake Lodge's lawn to the old bridge over Pilgrim Creek. It follows an old access road through willow wetlands, cottonwoods and patches of forest. The grades are easy, but this feels more like a long lowland road walk than a backcountry trail. Allow about two hours, longer if you stop to watch birds or take in the Tetons. If you mainly want the broad mountain view, the lodge lawn gives you that without the full walk.

From the lawn, a paved path drops to the gravel road; follow it north toward Pilgrim Creek. The first open stretch looks over willows and wet ground toward the Teton Range, with dry rocky moraine and sagebrush beside it. The willow growth is thick, so you cannot see far into the marsh. After a small stream crossing, the road enters trees and the mountain view closes for a while. Openings bring back rocky ground, cottonwoods and more willow patches before the bridge over Pilgrim Creek, the mapped turnaround. Return the same way.

This is the old road that once served as an access route toward Yellowstone, and park or concession vehicles may still use it. The changing wetland, forest and dry openings make the walk more interesting than its broad gravel tread suggests. Birdlife is a stronger reason to keep going than a single destination: reports from the route describe sparrows, warblers, eagles and Sandhill Cranes, though sightings vary and the willows hide much of the flats.