Grand Teton--Hermitage Point Trail

 The Hermitage Point trails on Colter Bay, Jackson Lake looked like a good option on paper.  However, they had much more ascent/descent and rocks than we expected.  Definitely worth doing once if you are in the area.  Spectacular vistas of both lake and mountains and pleasant quiet forest riding.  If you are looking for autumn color, there is basically none. We parked at the Cabin Road overflow parking lot.  Park personnel told us we could park anywhere in Colter Bay area where our rigs could fit and didn't block traffic. (except where prohibited or noted otherwise.) The horse corrals have a small parking lot, but I assume they want it for horse rental customers during that season.  When the season closes about the third week in September they close the road.

Showing Cabin Road overflow.  It is "drive through"--no place to turn around and depending on time of year may be crowded.

Track for September 26, 2019.  Total mileage=13.3; Elevation=6,522' to 6,909'.  Ascent/Descent=1,630'  Trail conditions=40% hard pack dirt with gravel; 35% moderately rocky with hard pack dirt; 15% soft dirt; 10% very rocky.  The trail system may be extremely confusing unless you have a good map.  Some examples are shown below.  I took a photo with my phone and referred to it while on the trail.  

First choice of trails.  We opted to do the COUNTER clock wise loop  (keeping to the right) and that was an excellent decision because the views and trails were better.  If we were to do it again, we'd go both DOWN and BACK on the west part of the loop and then add in the other loop over to Swan Lake from Heron Pond.

Typical of much of the trail.

Just approaching Heron Pond.

Heron Pond

The western portion did have its share of downfall, but all of it was passable.  This particular one we found a way around.

More of the forest.

Typical of a good portion of the trails...rocky.

Some spectacular views just before getting to the "bottom" of the peninsula.

Taken on the eastern side.

This is typical of about a third of the eastern portion...sagebrush and rocks.  There are some views of Jackson lake and wetlands, but almost none of the mountains.

Eastern portion

Eastern part with a view of Third Creek.

Swan Lake view.  This is worth seeing.

A couple of forest portions where the trees are SOOOO straight.

This is our view of the horse corrals as we came back.  The horse rental operation stopped about 10 days ago and the "ROAD CLOSED" sign prevented us from parking here.  We were able to park in the Cabin Road overflow parking area, which is about 1/3 mile from the corrals where we found the access trail.

Grand Teton--West Jenny Lake

This trail is accessed by foot from the String Lake Trailhead parking.  However, that is now prohibited to horse trailers.  Parking is at the Cathedral Group turnout.  We parked there on September 24, 2019 and were the only horse trailer there.   Refer to the other postings on Grand Teton for more information and other rides in the area.

(click on any photo for enlarged images.)

The small red arrow shows the correct turn (North Jenny Lake) to access the Cathedral Group Turnout (which is designated for horse trailer parking.)  The large red arrow shows the turnout.  The red trail shows the route to Leigh Lake Trail.  The aqua trail goes to the West Jenny Lake Trail.

Cathedral Group Turnout parking

My GPS failed to upload our route, so I super-imposed it (YELLOW) on last year's track (BLUE).  Our total for the day about 8.5 miles on this out and back track.  Trail conditions:  15% soft dirt/grass/sage;  20% dirt/gravel mix; 45% extremely rocky; 20% moderately rocky.  3 road crossings; About 8 bridges; 

Head south through the sage parallel to the road.

Until you reach the horse crossing.  Follow the trail for a hundred yards or so, then branch off to the right and join a trail again.  That trail will take you across two road crossings.

One of the road crossings.

When you arrive at this bridge, you've got the correct trail.

When you reach an intersection keep to the left to Jenny Lake.  The right side goes up around String Lake.  That's another ride.  See the post on String Lake.

The trail travels along side the ridge next to the lake.  There are many rocky spots and steep drop offs, but the scenery is spectacular.

 

Once you've ridden about two miles, the forest begins.  Trail is a little better here and the forest is amazing.  Cross several bridges and there is another intersection.  Do NOT keep to the left.  That trail is for hiking only.  Pay attention to the signs.  Head right.  Here the trail becomes quite steep and rocky.  Lots of uneven rocks, stairs and ledges.

Much of the trail looks like this...

and this.

At close to 4 miles in, there is another intersection just as you enter Cascade Canyon.  The "hiking" trail from Hidden Falls intersects here.  We did not proceed any further up Cascade Canyon because we had enough of the rocky trail.  Our horses were troopers and did it all barefoot, but as senior citizens in our seventies with knee and hip problems, the constant un-even ground and rocks was exhausting.  We headed back.  I know many have ridden their horses clear up the canyon and I say "hats off" to you.  Shoes or boots might make the horses more comfortable, but wouldn't affect the effect on humans!

More typical trail.

Parking area as we returned.  We had a fan club waiting.  So many people wanted our picture.  Many cars stopped along the road and took photos.

Grand Teton--Emma Matilda Lake

I have been wanting to do this ride for the last two years.  After much research and re-con, we decided to try it. Next time, we might do the loop around Two Oceans Lake, which I understand is shorter and more level.  We omitted the side trails. It is a long 2.5 hour drive from Pinedale, but worth doing at least once. We didn't arrive at the parking area until 11:30 am.  We finished the ride and left by 4:30 pm and it took us 40 minutes just to drive through Jackson in the "slow down" hour. 

The YELLOW arrow shows the pull out where to park.  There is turn around room and room for barely 3 small rigs or one large one.  The PINK arrow shows the turnoff to PACIFIC CREEK road.  It is about a mile or so past the Moran Entrance Station.  This road is all paved.

This is the map I took a photo of with my phone so I could refer to it on the trail.

Our track on September 18, 2019.  Total mileage=about 11.3.  Ascent/Descent=1,775'.  Elevations=6,643' to 7,323'.  Trail conditions:  Soft dirt, 60%;  Dirt with some gravel, 30%; Moderate gravel and rocks, 8%, Quite rocky, 2%.  Downfall quotient=about 20.  We chose to go counter clock-wise and I am so glad we did. The upper trail seems quite traveled, but the lower portion is mostly deep forest and had a couple of downfall places that looked impassible at first, but we creatively got around them. A barefoot horse in reasonable condition should have no problem. 

This is looking back at the parking pull out.  Three rigs there today.  I was really surprised to see others there.  They were local people and knew of this prime parking area to avoid the crowds.

After a few miles, the views open up.

The "Upper" trail portion is a mix of forest, meadows, view points and sagebrush benches.

View of Emma Matilda just before we descend to the south side.

View of the Tetons and Jackson Lake.

One of the trail markers.  We chose not to go up to Grand View Point this time. It went back up the rocky hill we had just come down.

Typical of the sagebrush meadows on the south side. 

There was ONE lake access point where the horses could drink.

Lookout Rock Sign.

View from Look Out Rock.

After Look Out Rock, there are a few views like this, but it is mostly filtered, then the trail goes through deep old forest.

All the photos I took in the deep forest didn't turn out.  All I can say is Wow.  What an epic forest--This part of the trail is hardly used at all.  I saw one reviewer called it a "waste" because there were no lake views.  I didn't care.  Loved this quiet, peaceful forest.  I was surprised that there was so much downfall.  I thought it would be better maintained in a National Park.

After a few miles of forest riding, we crossed this bridge.  As we were crossing it, the six riders who parked in the same place caught up with us.  This was about a mile from the parking area.

These riders were going at a faster pace, so we let them pass.

Old Topo map of the lake.