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.