Hiking Green River Lakes & Exploring Jackson (Wyoming Road Trip Pt II)
The previous three days of this trip took us into the Wind River Range. We spent a few nights truck camping in Bridger-Teton National Forest and the second in the backcountry, backpacking a section of the Continental Divide trail in the Wind River Range.
Having experienced three incredible nights at the beginning of the trip, the bar was set high. We were overwhelmingly impressed with Wyoming so far and only more excited to continue on.
The second leg of this trip included hiking to the Green River Lakes and exploring the town of Jackson.
Part 2: Green River Lakes and the town of Jackson
Day 4
Spotting the same moose, a lakeside lunch, and more hiking
At this point in the trip, we were really feeling fortunate with our wildlife encounters. What we believe to be the same moose as the night before, was back in the area the next morning. We enjoyed coffee while watching it from a distance before heading out of camp and on to our next plans.
This destination was originally going to be a one-night backpacking trip. Again, a bit ambitious to have, not one, but two backpacking trips on the itinerary. While this trail would have make for an incredible backcountry trip (that we hope to go back and do one day), it was short enough to complete as a day hike.
When we arrived at the trail, our plans had changed yet again, but this time for the better. The views were better than we imagined and we found a perfect spot right on the lake. We decided to hold off on hiking and go back for our chairs. We sat and enjoyed lunch, a cider, and a quick swim, or cold dunk rather, before completing the hike.
The hike itself was a 7-mile loop to an upper lake. We completed the 7-miles with a perfect view of the mountain the entire way, but the hike was painful, literally. We were both sore and hurting from the days before and by the last two miles, we were hiking in silence - just wishing to be back at the trailhead.
We spent the majority of the day in this area and made camp just a few minutes down the road. A very rough and bumpy road it was. It’s a good thing the hike was so incredible because the drive in was less than enjoyable.
Day 5
Coffee, reaching our limit with mosquitos, lunch in town, and laundry day
By day five, we were hiked out so it’s a good thing that this day was a town day. We drove a few hours to Jackson. Located in the Jackson Hole valley, Jackson is a popular tourist destination for those visiting the area. Home to a handful of ski resorts, the famous antler arches in the town square, and a charming downtown, Jackson was definitely a highlight among our stops.
We grabbed coffee at Snake River Roasting Company before strolling through downtown. We made our way in and out of shops and stopped for lunch at Roadhouse Brewery. We enjoyed good beer and an even better bison burger.
We weren’t ready to leave downtown just yet so after visiting the famous antler arches, we made our way to another brewery – Snake River Brewery, home to one of the best ciders we’ve ever had. So good, in fact, that we grabbed two packs on our way out of town to enjoy at home.
The rest of the day was filled with errands, something we make time for whenever we’re on the road. We did laundry, grabbed groceries, and reset before preparing to take on the third leg of this already amazing trip.
Day 6 (morning)
Arial tram, more hiking, and wine!
What better way to see views of the Tetons than to ride a tram to the top of a mountain?
We were excited for this one. Not just because we didn’t have to hike to the top of a mountain, but because we didn’t have to hike AND there were waffles waiting at the top. If you ever find yourself in Jackson, this is a stop we highly recommend!
After purchasing tickets, we took the Jackson Hole Tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. The tram ride was roughly 2.5 miles and rose over 4000 feet. It was a climb and we were welcomed at the top by incredible views. We enjoyed our time here, snacking on one of the most delicious waffles we’ve ever had.
After snapping a few pictures, we decided that we weren’t done putting miles on our feet and chose to do a quick hike from the top of the mountain down to another gondola. The 3 miles of incredible views made the decision well worth it… not to mention we had wine waiting for us when we got to the bottom.
We were headed to Jackson Hole Winery! We relaxed, enjoyed our wine, and took in the view before preparing for Grand. Teton National Park.
Check out the final installment of our Wyoming blog where we explore Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks where we were greeted by the largest amount of wildlife we’ve seen anywhere in our travels.
That’s it for now!
Catch ya in the next one.
Taylor and SethRe
Hi, we’re Seth and Taylor and we love sharing all things related to outdoor adventure!
We love anything that gets us outside — hiking, biking, backpack, road tripping, and so much more! We love sharing our adventures and hope it helps YOU get out to see more.
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