Inspiration Point via Leigh Lake Trailhead

Inspiration Point overlooks the famous Jenny Lake and sits at the mouth of Cascade Canyon, which just happens to be one of the prettiest places in America. While the view from the point itself might not take your breath away, the hike along the way definitely will. A large and beautiful bridge takes you across String Lake and along a creek running into Jenny Lake from the north. The views of the various lakes below the peaks in the distance with rolling green hills in the foreground make for an awesome start to the hike. As you bend around the lake you'll reach a sign directing you up Cascade Canyon toward another fork that eventually takes you to the lookout. The switchbacks here get a bit steep, but the views at the top are phenomenal.

Once you reach the top there is a final sign that points toward Inspiration Point. If you have the time, checking out the first mile of Cascade Canyon by heading west for a bit is always worth it. Any time of year, this place is straight out of a fairytale. It won't add too much time to the overall adventure, and you'll regret skipping it if you haven't seen the area before.

The eastern views across Jenny Lake don't have many large mountains in the near distance, but looking west back up canyon has some great jagged sights of granite walls and peaks. You can hear Hidden Falls along this trail, but they have shut the inter-connect for restoration purposes, so you'll need to head back down to Jenny Lake and then south to reach it. You can also cut this hike's distance down greatly by taking the boat tour across the lake from the eastern dock.

I prefer to start out at the Leigh Lake Trailhead rather than the String Lake Trailhead, even though it's a longer hike. Not only is there way more parking at Leigh Lake, which is important in summer, you miss some amazing views of String Lake unless you park at the Leigh Trailhead. It is worth hiking the extra mile on flat terrain: From Leigh Lake Trailhead, simply follow the paved lakeside pathway southwest and you will see the bridge that takes you across toward Jenny Lake. Bring your bear spray!