String Lake Hiking Trails – Something Here for Everyone

Directions – Google Map
Map of String Lake

String Lake Hiking Trails

Many hikes, from beginner to advanced, start and end here at String Lake.

Here we will discuss specifically the trails close to String Lake.

String Lake provides many trail options for hiking – short, long, medium, flat, varied elevation, in and out trails, and loop trails.

String Lake to Leigh Lake Overlook/Portage

Distance: 2.0 Miles RT Elevation Gain: 90 ft Trail Type: In and out Difficulty: Easy

One hike we do every year (especially with little kids and/or non-enthusiastic hikers) is the hike to Leigh Lake Overlook/Portage. It is the trail marked in red on the map.

Map of Hiking Trail from String Lake to Leigh Lake Portage in red

It’s a short hike, about one mile to Leigh Lake (Leigh Lake Overlook/Portage), and then one mile back. It’s a flat hike that follows along String Lake, giving you lake views with the Tetons in the background.

String Lake

As you walk along String Lake, you get an idea of how shallow the lake is, good for swimming, wading and playing around. You’ll know you have reached the overlook when you see the long wooden stairs. Go down the stairs and touch the water to see how cold it is.

Leigh Lake Portage Steps Photo by: Denis LeBlanc

Leigh Lake to Bearpaw Lake

Distance: 7.4 miles RT Elevation Gain: 110 ft Trail Type: In and out Difficulty: Moderate

If you do the Leigh Lake Overlook/Portage hike and reach the overlook, and want to keep hiking, you can backtrack from the overlook to the fork in the trail (about 1/10 of a mile) and continue on walking along Leigh Lake for as long as you want to go. It is the trail marked in purple on the map.

Hiking Map Continuing on from Leigh Lake to Bearpaw and Trapper Lakes

It’s an in and out trail, so you can go all the way to Bearpaw and Trapper Lakes (7.4 miles RT) or follow the trail for as long as you want and turn around anytime.

Leigh Lake

NOTE: The 7.4 miles RT is from Leigh Lake to Bearpaw Lake, to get back to the parking lot, you still need to go back along String Lake which is another .9 miles. So, round trip from the parking lot is actually 9.2 miles

Leigh Lake Looking West

As you walk along Leigh Lake you’ll notice it is not as shallow as String Lake. It is shallow for a while, but drops off quickly and is very deep. Deep water is colder water and therefore String Lake is preferable for swimming. 🙂 You will know you are at the end of Leigh Lake when the trail veers into the trees and into a more open field area. To continue on to Bearpaw Lake, you’ll come to a junction on the trail. You can go to the right and see two camp spots in the trees bordering the east shore of the lake. To get to Trapper Lake, you will have to retrace your steps to the junction and go left.

Bearpaw Lake – East Side

Going left at the junction will put you on the western side of Bearpaw Lake and you’ll find more camps spots. Then you continue on the trail to Trapper Lake.

Trapper Lake

Again, this is an in and out trail, where you will leave the way you came.

We like walking up to Bearpaw and Trapper lakes, but many people turn around at the end of Leigh Lake.

All options are worth your time and it comes down to personal preference.

Hiker’s Note: This hike is a good one to do early in your vacation to get your “hiking legs”. The distance is long for a good workout, and the elevation is flat, so you won’t be gasping for breath like the high elevation gain hikes. If you are going to do a high elevation gain hike during your stay, consider “practicing” with a long, low elevation gain hike like this one.

String Lake Loop

Distance: 3.8 miles RT Elevation Gain: 275 ft Trail Type: Loop Difficulty: Easy

Another hiking option is to hike around String Lake. The String Lake Loop Trail is another option for you if you want to keep hiking after going to Leigh Lake Portage (the stairs). From the stairs, turn around and retrace your steps back to the footbridge on String Lake. It is the trail marked in blue on the map.

Map of String Lake Loop Trail in Blue

This hike has more variation in elevation, not as flat as Leigh Lake trail. This trail pulls away from String Lake on the north and west sides and brings you around to where String Lake feeds into Jenny Lake.

String Lake Footbridge found before Leigh Lake

This footbridge is an excellent place for pictures.

View on String Lake footbridge looking towards Leigh Lake

After crossing the footbridge you will start up a moderate climb through the forest and come to Paintbrush Canyon Junction, keep heading straight and you will start to descend and eventually see views of String Lake once again, this time from the west side of the lake.

View from String Lake Loop Trail

When you come to Jenny Lake Junction, head left and you will soon come to another footbridge over String Lake outlet. Cross the bridge, turn left and follow the trail until you are back where you started.

Summary

• Leigh Lake Overlook/Portage is a great hike for little kids
• While hiking along String Lake, keep an eye towards the mountains for views and places to swim
• There are many sandy areas along Leigh Lake that are great for pictures and wading
• Along the eastern shore of Leigh Lake, the water is shallow, but it drops off into deep water
• Definitely have bug spray

Bear Safety
Using Bear Spray
How to Use Bear Spray Video

More questions about the hiking options at String Lake? We’d love to hear from you! Please let us know in the comments section.

Keep Your Eye Peeled for a Moose!

Jenn Cunningham
Founder, Explore GTNP