String Lake – Your Best Bet for Swimming in Grand Teton

Directions – Google Map
Map of String Lake

In my humble opinion, String Lake is the best place to swim in all of GTNP.

Period.

…but since this is your vacation, and you are most likely here reading this article because you are doing vacation research and not willing to accept blanket, declaration statements (I wouldn’t either!), here are the reasons and facts why:

Easy to Get To

From the Moose Entrance Station, drive north for 10 miles to the North Jenny Lake Junction. Turn left here and take a right at the stop sign to follow the road to the String Lake area. Continue to the end of the road (passing the first parking lot where canoes and kayaks portage) to park at the picnic area.

String Lake Driving Map

Once parked, head towards the mountains, past the picnic area, until you hit water.

You don’t need to hike into the backcountry for this one. (But you can go on hikes from here and come back and swim when you are done, see our String Lake Hiking Trails – Something Here for Everyone).

Drive up, park, jump in.

Shallow

String is a very shallow lake. Especially compared to its southern neighbor Jenny Lake, and its northern neighbor Leigh Lake. At some parts of the lake, you can walk all the way across it and the water won’t get above your waist.

String Lake

String Lake does have a deep section. The farther southwest you go in the lake, the deeper it gets, towards Jenny Lake.

Warmer

String Lake is warmer than other lakes.

Ha, ha, well, I can’t prove for sure that it is, but you can feel a difference in the water temperature between shallow and deep water. Remember, String Lake is a glacier-fed lake and it is always going to be cold, so “warmer than other lakes” is a very small victory.

It’s Beautiful

I know other front-country lakes have the Tetons in the background, but with String Lake being so narrow, the Tetons are RIGHT THERE! You can literally swim/walk across the lake and be on the Tetons.

This is a harder thing to do on Jenny, Leigh, and Jackson Lake.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms don’t do much to boost the scenery, but there are bathrooms by the parking lot. While they are not great, they are a step up from port-a-potties and useful for changing clothes and emergencies.

Crowds

I know I always tell you to go early in the day to avoid the crowds but, to swim at String Lake, you want to go later in the day. Go in the afternoon and early evening during the hottest part of the day.

So that means there may be many people there doing the same thing.

Now, this is the most important tip I can give you about crowds at String Lake: go around the first bend in the lake.

String Lake

Many people stay at the main part of the lake, the part right off the parking lot and where kayaks and canoes portage. This is the easiest place to set up chairs and towels and has close access to the bathrooms.

Go around the first bend to the north towards Leigh Lake. It is still shallow and there will be fewer people there. As you keep moving north, usually there are less and less people. There are fewer people because not everyone knows the lake is shallow all the way up to Leigh Lake.

And, if you really want to leave the crowds behind, you can walk over to Leigh Lake. Leigh Lake does have some shallow, sandy areas on the eastern shore that you can swim and wade in before it drops off into deeper water.

Leigh Lake

If you decide on the Leigh Lake option, wear good walking shoes and be prepared to walk about 4 to 5 miles round trip. Two-ish miles to get there (to the sandy beach areas) and two-ish miles back.

Know Before You Go

• You may want to wear water shoes. The lake bottom is both sandy and rocky in places.
• Carry and know how to use bear spray. Bears are often seen here.
• Bring sunscreen and reapply often. You’ll be surprised how fast you can get a sunburn at this high elevation.
• Bring plenty of drinking water.

Bear Safety
Using Bear Spray
How to Use Bear Spray Video
Buy Bear Spray

Have any questions or comments about swimming at String Lake? Please let us know in the comment section. We’d love to hear from you!!

Keep Your Eye Peeled for a Moose!

Jenn Cunningham
Founder, Explore GTNP