String Lake is the best place to paddle board in Jackson Hole, especially for beginners: it’s shallow, motor-free and sheltered, and Mount Moran and the Cathedral Group rise straight out of it. For a quieter, wilder paddle, carry your board over to Leigh Lake; for something bigger, try Jenny Lake or Colter Bay on Jackson Lake.
Jackson Hole works for paddling because Grand Teton National Park has a chain of clear, snow-fed lakes right at the foot of the mountains, plus the Snake River winding through the valley. The trade-offs are cold water, a short season, afternoon wind, and a few rules you need to know before you launch: a park boat permit and a mandatory invasive species inspection.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: String Lake, launching from the canoe launch lot early in the morning.
- Most scenic and quiet: Leigh Lake, reached by a short carry from the north end of String Lake.
- Classic Teton view: Jenny Lake, from the boat launch off Lupine Meadows Road.
- Big-lake day: Colter Bay on Jackson Lake, staying inside the bay.
- A river: the 5-mile beginner stretch of the Snake River from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek.
The best places to paddle board in Jackson Hole
String Lake
Directions
Best for: beginners and families. Flat water, no motors.
String Lake is a small, shallow lake between Jenny Lake and Leigh Lake, and the National Park Service describes it as a popular spot for picnics and swimming. No motors are allowed, so the only wakes come from canoes and other paddlers.
Where to launch: The String Lake canoe launch is at the middle of the three parking lots in the String Lake area, off the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive. There’s no boat ramp; you carry your board to the water. Restrooms, water and more parking are at the String Lake picnic area in the farthest lot.
Good to know: The park says the area gets very congested in summer from late morning through the afternoon, so arrive early. Bears are often seen around String Lake: stay at least 100 yards away and store food in the bear boxes.
Leigh Lake
Directions
Best for: a quieter, more adventurous paddle. Flat water, no motors.
Leigh Lake sits just north of String Lake, under Mount Moran. No roads reach it, so the only ways in are on foot or by boat, and it’s far less busy than String or Jenny.
Where to launch: Paddle to the north end of String Lake and carry your board over the short portage to Leigh Lake. The Leigh Lake trailhead at the north end of the String Lake area is the closest parking.
Good to know: Leigh Lake is bigger and more exposed than String Lake, so wind can build quickly. Wear your life jacket and turn back early if it does.
Jenny Lake
Directions
Best for: confident paddlers who want the classic view of Cascade Canyon. Flat water with some motorboats.
Jenny Lake is the park’s most famous lake, tucked right against the peaks. It allows paddle boards, kayaks and other non-motorized boats, plus motorboats up to 10 horsepower, so it’s busier than String Lake.
Where to launch: The Jenny Lake boat launch is reached by car from Lupine Meadows Road: turn off Teton Park Road at Lupine Junction and follow the signs to a small gravel parking area. You can’t drive to it from the main Jenny Lake visitor area. There are no facilities at the launch, and the park asks you not to park there unless you’re launching a boat.
Good to know: Watch for the shuttle boats crossing the lake to the west shore, and keep clear of their route.
Jackson Lake (Colter Bay)
Directions
Best for: experienced paddlers, and calm mornings. Big lake water with motorboats.
Jackson Lake is the park’s largest lake, a dammed reservoir on the Snake River with Mount Moran and the northern Tetons along its west shore. Motorboats and sailboats use it, and its size means wind and waves can build fast.
Where to launch: The park lists boat launches at Colter Bay, Signal Mountain, Spalding Bay and Leeks. Colter Bay is the most sheltered option: stay inside the bay and around the shoreline rather than crossing open water.
Good to know: The lake is cold and big enough to be dangerous if you fall in far from shore. Stay close to the bank and come off the water if whitecaps appear.
Snake River (Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek)
Directions
Best for: river paddlers with some moving-water experience. River current.
The Snake River through Grand Teton isn’t whitewater, but the park warns that it’s a complex braided river with strong current, shifting channels, logjams and snags. The gentlest stretch is the first 5 miles below Jackson Lake Dam, which the park rates as a beginner section with calmer water and few obstructions, passing Oxbow Bend.
Where to launch: Launch below Jackson Lake Dam and take out at Pacific Creek Landing. The park says the water at Pacific Creek is swift, so scout the landing before you launch.
Rentals and lessons: Rendezvous River Sports (945 W. Broadway, Jackson) rents paddle boards and teaches lake and river SUP lessons. If you’re new to moving water, take a lesson before trying the river.
Good to know: Below Pacific Creek the river gets harder. Pacific Creek to Deadmans Bar is intermediate, and Deadmans Bar to Moose Landing is rated advanced; the park says many accidents happen there. Spring flows are very cold, fast and muddy. Inner tubes, air mattresses and float tubes are banned on the river.
Rentals near the park
Dornan’s Adventure Sports (12170 Dornans Road, Moose), by the park’s Moose entrance, rents paddle boards by the hour or day for the lakes. In town, Rendezvous River Sports (945 W. Broadway, Jackson) rents boards and runs lessons. Either way, the board still needs a park boat permit and an AIS inspection before it goes in the water.
When to go
The paddling season in Jackson Hole is short, mostly June to September. The lakes are fed by snowmelt and stay cold even in August, so a fall in can take your breath away.
- Early summer (June): snowmelt season. The Snake River runs high, cold and muddy; stick to the lakes.
- July and August: the most settled weather and the busiest lots. Paddle early, before the crowds and the afternoon wind.
- September: quieter, with fall color around String Lake and Oxbow Bend, but colder mornings.
- Time of day: mornings are usually glassy. Summer afternoons often bring wind and thunderstorms; get off the water at the first sign of either.
Dress for the water, not the air. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear, and our Trip time calculator helps you plan a lap of String Lake or a run down the river.
Rules and safety in Jackson Hole
Grand Teton National Park rules:
- Boat permit: every watercraft, paddle boards included, needs a Grand Teton boat permit. It was $25 for non-motorized craft at the time of writing, sold on Recreation.gov and at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose, the Jenny Lake Ranger Station and the Colter Bay Visitor Center.
- Invasive species inspection: every boat entering the park must stop at an Aquatic Invasive Species inspection station. Paddle boards (solid and inflatable) are exempt from Wyoming’s AIS decal, but they still have to be inspected.
- Where paddle boards are allowed: the Snake River and Jackson, Jenny, Phelps, Emma Matilda, Two Ocean, Taggart, Bradley, Bearpaw, Leigh and String lakes.
- Entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle for 7 days, or $70 for an annual park pass, at the time of writing.
Wyoming and park safety rules:
- Life jacket: carry a Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. Wyoming requires children 12 and under to wear one on a paddle board, and the park requires everyone under 13 to wear one. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle.
- Wildlife: stay at least 100 yards from bears, and use the bear boxes for food.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Jackson Hole?
String Lake. It’s shallow, sheltered and motor-free, with a short carry from the parking lot. Go early in the morning, before the lot fills and the wind picks up.
Do you need a permit to paddle board in Grand Teton National Park?
Yes. You need a Grand Teton boat permit ($25 for non-motorized craft at the time of writing), and your board must be inspected for aquatic invasive species before you launch. You’ll also pay the park entrance fee.
Can you paddle board on Jenny Lake?
Yes. Launch from the Jenny Lake boat launch off Lupine Meadows Road. Expect small motorboats and the shuttle boats, and go early for calm water.
Can you paddle board on the Snake River?
Yes, paddle boards are allowed. The 5 miles from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek is the park’s beginner section. The stretches below Pacific Creek, and especially Deadmans Bar to Moose, are for experienced river paddlers only.
What size board should I bring for the Teton lakes?
An all-round board is fine for String and Leigh lakes; a longer board handles wind better on Jenny and Jackson. Our Board Fitter suggests a size from your weight and how you’ll paddle. Read what are the best conditions for paddle boarding to judge the wind before you go.
